kaarel@csri.toronto.edu (Kaarel Truuvert) (01/31/89)
I want to move an upright piano from my parents' place to my place. There are, however, two problems: - it's darned heavy - it wont fit around a certain narrow hallway corner right-side-up. The solution to the first problem is to hire piano movers to do the job. So the first question is: can anyone recommend a good, cheap piano moving company? Since the piano will need tuning afterwards, I'll lean more towards a company that moves and tunes as well. A possible solution to the second problem is to turn the piano on its end. So the second question is: can one turn an upright piano on its end without doing damage to the insides? Many thanks in advance. Kaarel Truuvert kaarel@csri.utoronto.ca Dept. of Computer Science kaarel@csri.toronto.edu University of Toronto
snell@utzoo.uucp (snell) (01/31/89)
In article <8901301908.AA17048@willcocks.csri.toronto.edu>, kaarel@csri.toronto.edu (Kaarel Truuvert) writes: >I want to move an upright piano from my parents' place to my place. There are, >however, two problems: >- it's darned heavy A cut-off, price-wise, for most companies is an upright of 48 inches height. Gets a _lot_ more expensive if it is bigger (ours is BIG). Part of moving a large piano is strength. Part is technique. Get a professional to do it, and 1) no ones back will be put out, and 2) the piano will not be dropped. >- it wont fit around a certain narrow hallway corner right-side-up. Unless there is something wrong with the piano, it will certainly be able to go on end without problem (it was gotten in there somehow...). They will pop it on rollers, on end for the flat part, and likely just `beast it' down the stairs. This is NOT a problem. >The solution to the first problem is to hire piano movers to do the job. So >the first question is: can anyone recommend a good, cheap piano moving >company? Since the piano will need tuning afterwards, I'll lean more >towards a company that moves and tunes as well. Having recently moved a 1000+ lb upright, I would suggest you get a specialist to do each. Otherwise, you will simply get a company which subcontracts the tuning (and thus keeps a big chunk). Good tuners are rare enough that they can stay as busy as they want working freelance, and it will not cost you more to hire one separately. And, in future, if you want the same tuner, you will have to keep lining the moving companies pocket (unless the tuner moonlites). I was very satified with the piano move done by The Piano Mover: 881-1015. It cost $75 to go 3km, 6 steps at each end. This is very standard, and every company charges extra for go up and down flights of stairs. I am satisfied with my tuner: Benny Chan--293-4325, cost $45. I would be very surprised if you can get a piano moved and tuned for < $100. -- Name: Richard Snell Mail: Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1 UUCP: uunet!attcan!utzoo!snell BITNET: snell@utzoo.utoronto.bitnet INTERNET: snell@zoo.toronto.edu
stuart@hcr.UUCP (Stuart Thompson) (02/01/89)
In article <8901301908.AA17048@willcocks.csri.toronto.edu> kaarel@csri.toronto.edu.UUCP writes: > >I want to move an upright piano from my parents' place to my place. There are, >however, two problems: >- it's darned heavy >- it wont fit around a certain narrow hallway corner right-side-up. > >A possible solution to the second problem is to turn the piano on its end. So >the second question is: can one turn an upright piano on its end without doing >damage to the insides? > I'm not sure about the insides of the piano but you might try consulting: 1) J.T. Schwartz, M. Sharir, "On the Piano Movers Problem I: The Case of a Two-Dimensional Rigid Polygonal Body Moving Amidst Polygonal Barriers," Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics, Vol. XXXVI, 1983. 2) J.T. Schwartz, M. Sharir, "On the Piano Movers Problem II: General Properties for Computing Topological Properties of Real Algebraic Manifolds," Rept. 41: New York University Department of Computer Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, N.Y., 1982. 3) J.T. Schwartz, M. Sharir, "On the Piano Movers Problem III: Coordinating the motion of Several Independent Bodies: The Special Case of Circular Bodies Moving Among Polygonal Barriers," Rept. New York University Department of Computer Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, N.Y., 1983. Take this advice with a grain of salt, but it really is an interesting problem! ___________________________________________________________________________ Stuart E. Thompson HCR Corporation, Inc. {utcsri,utzoo}!hcr!stuart Thompson's corollary to Parkinson's law: In a closed system, the number of bugs existing expands to fill the inspection capacity available.
nick@aimed.UUCP (Nick Pemberton) (02/02/89)
In article <8901301908.AA17048@willcocks.csri.toronto.edu>, kaarel@csri.toronto.edu (Kaarel Truuvert) writes: > > I want to move an upright piano from my parents' place to my place. There are, > however, two problems: [description of narrow corridor problem] Have you considered taking it apart. Usually uprights can be disassembled such that the action, pedals, keyboard and supporting woodwork are moved in separate pieces. The largest part is then the soundboard. I had to do this to move our upright, and it wasn't too bad (and it was easy enough to transport with a bunch of friends) Hope this helps, Nick -- Nick Pemberton UUCP: !{utzoo,utai}!lsuc!aimed!nick AIM, Inc Bus: (416) 429-4913 Home: (416) 690-0647
malton@csri.toronto.edu (Andrew Malton) (02/03/89)
For piano moving: if you value the instrument have it done by a good professional firm. Banging about maybe alright for Ikea tables but not for a four thousand dollar (plus) musical instrument. Mine was moved across the city and tuned for about $120, which I consider reasonable (Lowrey did it). Don't trust anyone who tunes then and there, it needs a month at least to get used to the new climate. *Don't take it apart* unless you're a piano builder or it's one of those (nothing wrong with it we just had it repainted...) bar pianos. The tone of a nice old instrument can be permanently ruined by dismantling it. /a