Grand Moving

[David ilvedson]

Well I got tired of that "pick up the tail end of the piano" 
stuff, which means lift the piano board/piano up so you can roll 
a dolly under, long ago.  When I worked with ProPiano long ago 
we did the following...
#1...Moving board is positioned on the dolly before the piano is 
tipped.
#2...Block of whatever is positioned under the butt end of the 
board so it doesn't move down with the weight of the piano.
#3...Lyre removed, then bass leg and piano is lowered onto butt 
end of board.  The right spot is just inside the board rail.  
#4...Now simply tip the piano over onto the board.  I don't mean 
give it a heave and step back.  I mean tip it with control and 
it will end up on its side, on the board, on the dolly with NO 
PROBLEM! 
#5...Position it on the board by sliding this way and that so 
the lid overlap is up against the board and the bass 
cheekblock/key slip is up against the board's butt. 
#6...Strap it up and guess what you don't have to dead lift the 
end of the piano/board to install the dolly...

David ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA



> From:          Wimblees@AOL.COM
> Date:          Sun, 15 Nov 1998 23:10:23 EST
> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject:       Re: Grand Moving
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

> In a message dated 98-11-15 22:35:31 EST, you write:
> 
> <<  List:
> 
>   Would appreciate any suggestions on the moving of a grand. We have the
>  dollie and the
> 
>   piano skid. We have moved verticals before but never a grand. What steps
>  would you
> 
>   take to get it on the dollie/skid safely. 
> 
>   Thanks in advance.
> 
>   Arthur >>
> 
> 
> Moving a grand piano on a skid board is actually easier than moving a vertical
> piano. 
> To put the grand on the skid board, remove the lyre, and loosen the bass end
> leg. Pick up the bass end and have someone remove the leg, then lower the bass
> end corner of the piano onto the skid board. Then tip the rest of the piano
> onto the skid board. After you have straighten it out, put on some blankets,
> and strap it down. Pick up the tail end of the piano and put the dolly under
> the skid. From there you're on your own as far as putting on a truck or
> trailer or moving into the new location.  
> 
> To put the piano back on its own legs, reverse the above procedure. The
> hardest part will be picking up the bass end of the piano to put on the third
> leg. For this you do need a strong back.  Some movers put the lyre on the
> piano before tipping the piano on the two legs. If you put a folded up blanket
> under the lyre, the piano will tilt high enough for you to put the third leg
> on without having to hold it up. I never do this, though, because I would
> rather strain my back a little than repair a crushed lyre. 
> 
> Willem Blees
> 
> 
> 
David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net