[pianotech] Grand Piano Tilter

[Greg Newell]

Roger and list,

                I still think that there is too much possibility to drive
upwards something that was designed to have something hanging from it. There
is, on some pianos, very little distance between the top of the drop screw
and the bottom of the pin block. With some “rebuilds” this distance is
incredibly small to the point of not even being there. With any compression
at all from underneath you take a very real chance of driving the drop
screws into the pin block. On a soft block it might be ok since the screws
will likely simply leave a mark in the block. In the case of a dense block
it would be possible to actually strip the drop screw in the flange from the
screw being pressed into the flange rather than the threads turning to raise
or lower the screw. This can also happen with an improperly seated action
that jumps off of the keybed. If there is enough flex in the keybed I
maintain that it could happen from tilting the lyre attachment point too. 

 

Greg Newell

Greg's Piano Forté

www.gregspianoforte.com

216-226-3791 (office)

216-470-8634 (mobile)

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Roger Gable
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:38 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grand Piano Tilter

 

Greg,

   There was a story going around this area years ago that a local piano
mover tilted a 9' Baldwin on the lyre and damaged the keybed to the point of
needing replacement, be I never saw it first hand. I find that story unusual
since I've never heard of any similar incident, or even the slightest
warpage of a keybed via lyre tilting, although conceptually I see it to be a
possibility. Very few pianos are made without a lyre stretcher, which
spreads the weight over a broad area. I've used this tilter on my rentals
(Yamaha and Steinway) for about 7 years and I've never had any warpage
issues with the keybed.  Crawling under the piano is a negative, but keep in
mind this tilter is designed so that one person alone can tilt a piano and
install the last leg. 

   In about 2 years I plan to have a "dead weight" lifter designed to enable
the "one person" concept to be incorporated in the installation of the piano
dolly under the skidboard, then I could move these big things until I'm 80
years old. 

Roger Gable

P.S. Sales Pitch: The Gable Tilter is currently only 14.5 lbs. and 32" x
21.5" x 5". Piano Horse is 29 lbs. and 48" x 24" x 7"

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Greg Newell <mailto:gnewell at ameritech.net>  

To: pianotech at ptg.org 

Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 5:34 PM

Subject: Re: [pianotech] Grand Piano Tilter

 

I think I saw a picture of this somewhere. It gives me the same pause as
tilting down with the pedal lyre itself. That part of the keybed is not
designed to carry weight. With the Piano Horse it supports the piano over
almost the entire length of the keybed and you don’t have to crawl under the
piano either. 

 

Greg Newell

Greg's Piano Forté

www.gregspianoforte.com

216-226-3791 (office)

216-470-8634 (mobile)

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Larry Fisher RPT
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 5:54 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Grand Piano Tilter

 

I've seen it, I've tried it, and I'm going to buy one  ..............   when
Roger goes to production with it.

 

It's got a few minor glitches to be dealt with but the basic design is a
great idea.  It's bolts to the underside of the piano in the same holes as
the lyre  ........   and that's where the glitch is  ....  the distance
between holes and the fastener type.  Once it's fastened, the process is
safe and easy as ever for MOST grand piano moves.  I tried it out at the PNW
Conference in Bellevue, WA and purposely stopped in the middle of the tip to
see just how much control I had.  I could ever so gently lower the piano
onto the skid using my body weight alone.  Roger weighs about 50 pounds less
than I and isn't quite as tall and so if he can use this thing, anyone can.
BTW, if ya really gotta know, I'm about 6 foot at 210 pounds.  

 

Lar

 

 

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