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Upright Tilter

  • 1.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-13-2009 12:26 
    From David Boyce <David@piano.plus.com>

I've finally bought an upright piano tilter, or Bench Truck as they're 
sometimes called in the UK, after promising myself for years.  Not many 
around - Heckschers had none, and Fletcher & Newman only one left.  It 
came today. Very nice and sturdy. I'm now gonna find a pretext to put 
every single customer's piano on its back......

Best regards,

David.


  • 2.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-13-2009 13:02 
    From Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>

David Boyce wrote:
> I've finally bought an upright piano tilter, or Bench Truck as they're 
> sometimes called in the UK, after promising myself for years.  Not many 
> around - Heckschers had none, and Fletcher & Newman only one left.  It 
> came today. Very nice and sturdy. I'm now gonna find a pretext to put 
> every single customer's piano on its back......
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> David.


Be careful. They can (both) bite.
Ron N


  • 3.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-13-2009 15:23 
    From Paul T Williams <pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu>

Yes! Ron...

Especially with Steinway 1098's

Paul




Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> 
Sent by: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
05/13/2009 02:08 PM
Please respond to
pianotech@ptg.org


To
pianotech@ptg.org
cc

Subject
Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter






David Boyce wrote:
> I've finally bought an upright piano tilter, or Bench Truck as they're 
> sometimes called in the UK, after promising myself for years.  Not many 
> around - Heckschers had none, and Fletcher & Newman only one left.  It 
> came today. Very nice and sturdy. I'm now gonna find a pretext to put 
> every single customer's piano on its back......
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> David.


Be careful. They can (both) bite.
Ron N


  • 4.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-13-2009 16:07 
    From Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net>

Hi David, 



Tilters vary.  Sometimes folks alter them--like having extra toe length welded on.  The best suggestion I've seen was by Dave Davis (wonder if he still has the pictures, though they did appear in the PT Journal), that is to use straps to secure the tilter to the piano.  I have some of those straps with the ratcheting device (might be the same kind Dave uses).  I tilt with a lot more confidence these days. 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

near Peoria, Illinois 



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 5.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-13-2009 23:43 
    From "James Johnson" <jhjpiano@sbcglobal.net>

I find my tilter indispensable.  I have one that folds up and is fairly easy 
to carry.  One word of warning.  Be sure you keep the forks solidly biting 
into the bottom of the piano as you set it back into the upright position. 
I get the piano up to the position that the rear casters just begin to touch 
the floor, then I push the top of the piano away from the tilter while 
pulling the puller towards me, keeping the forks supporting most of the 
weight until the front casters touch the floor.

Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when the 
rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the tilter 
and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed about 
6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his 
accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano 
tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a real 
good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and rolling 
on the rear casters that is so dangerous.

Good luck,
Jim


    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 6.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 08:18 
    From "Kerry" <kerrykean@att.net>

Where can I get one of the folding tilters nowadays? I had one when I was at
the university and loved it, but I think I got it from Tuners Supply which
is long gone. The non-folding ones are too long for my car.

Kerry Kean
www.ohiopianotuner.com



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 7.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 13:11 
    From paul bruesch <paul@bruesch.net>

Schaff has a folding one... or at least it's in my 2003 catalog, listed as a
"Modern Shop Repair Truck" on p13.  I don't find one in my Pianotek catalog.

Then there are all those retired tuners that don't need theirs any more,
which is how I acquired mine.

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN

On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM, Kerry <kerrykean@att.net> wrote:

> Where can I get one of the folding tilters nowadays? I had one when I was
> at
> the university and loved it, but I think I got it from Tuners Supply which
> is long gone. The non-folding ones are too long for my car.
>
> Kerry Kean
> www.ohiopianotuner.com
>
>
> 
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 8.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 18:22 
    From "Kerry" <kerrykean@att.net>

Paul,

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my original post - what I meant was not the one
that folds up flat, but rather the one that also folds in half. It ends up
as something like 2.5 ft square, and fits easily in a trunk. I haven't been
able to locate one, so if anyone knows who sells them or has one for sale,
I'd be grateful.

 

Kerry Kean

 

  _____  

From: paul bruesch [mailto:paul@bruesch.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 3:11 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter

 

Schaff has a folding one... or at least it's in my 2003 catalog, listed as a
"Modern Shop Repair Truck" on p13.  I don't find one in my Pianotek catalog.

Then there are all those retired tuners that don't need theirs any more,
which is how I acquired mine.

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN

On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM, Kerry <kerrykean@att.net> wrote:

Where can I get one of the folding tilters nowadays? I had one when I was at
the university and loved it, but I think I got it from Tuners Supply which
is long gone. The non-folding ones are too long for my car.

Kerry Kean
www.ohiopianotuner.com



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 9.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 19:04 
    From paul bruesch <paul@bruesch.net>

Never knew there was such a thing!

On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 7:21 PM, Kerry <kerrykean@att.net> wrote:

>  Paul,
>
>
>
> Sorry, I wasn?t clear in my original post ? what I meant was not the one
> that folds up flat, but rather the one that also folds in half. It ends up
> as something like 2.5 ft square, and fits easily in a trunk. I haven?t been
> able to locate one, so if anyone knows who sells them or has one for sale,
> I?d be grateful.
>
>
>
> Kerry Kean
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* paul bruesch [mailto:paul@bruesch.net]
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 14, 2009 3:11 PM
>
> *To:* pianotech@ptg.org
> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter
>
>
>
> Schaff has a folding one... or at least it's in my 2003 catalog, listed as
> a "Modern Shop Repair Truck" on p13.  I don't find one in my Pianotek
> catalog.
>
> Then there are all those retired tuners that don't need theirs any more,
> which is how I acquired mine.
>
> Paul Bruesch
> Stillwater, MN
>
> On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:18 AM, Kerry <kerrykean@att.net> wrote:
>
> Where can I get one of the folding tilters nowadays? I had one when I was
> at
> the university and loved it, but I think I got it from Tuners Supply which
> is long gone. The non-folding ones are too long for my car.
>
> Kerry Kean
> www.ohiopianotuner.com
>
>
> 
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 10.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 17:45 
    From John Formsma <formsma@gmail.com>

On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:43 AM, James Johnson <jhjpiano@sbcglobal.net>wrote:

I find my tilter indispensable.  I have one that folds up and is fairly easy
> to carry.  One word of warning.  Be sure you keep the forks solidly biting
> into the bottom of the piano as you set it back into the upright position. I
> get the piano up to the position that the rear casters just begin to touch
> the floor, then I push the top of the piano away from the tilter while
> pulling the puller towards me, keeping the forks supporting most of the
> weight until the front casters touch the floor.



Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter
maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being careful
when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an automatic thing
rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.

Or maybe there are different tilters???  Mine came from Schaff some 7 or so
years ago.  Were older ones different, requiring straps of some sort?



>  Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when the
> rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the tilter
> and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed about
> 6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his
> accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano
> tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a real
> good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and rolling
> on the rear casters that is so dangerous.
>


Scary to think about, and I've read about this in the past.  And I've always
been extra careful when using my tilter.  But nothing like this even comes
close to happening with mine.  Never have used straps around anything, but
perhaps ought to.


-- 
JF


  • 11.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 20:42 
    From Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>

John Formsma wrote:

> Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter 
> maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being 
> careful when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an 
> automatic thing rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.

There's that word again, John. Nothing is intuitive for 
someone to whom it isn't obvious. "Intuitive" works backward 
100%, but not so dependably the other way. I've always done 
what Ed described too, and haven't dumped one of the hundreds 
I've tilted yet, but there's still time.


> Or maybe there are different tilters???  Mine came from Schaff some 7 or 
> so years ago.  Were older ones different, requiring straps of some sort?

I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think 
they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).


> Scary to think about, and I've read about this in the past.  And I've 
> always been extra careful when using my tilter.  But nothing like this 
> even comes close to happening with mine.  Never have used straps around 
> anything, but perhaps ought to.

I've never used the straps either, but Murphy says it's 
probably not a bad idea. Necessary at the bottom only.
Ron N


  • 12.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 03:35 
    From Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>

On 5/14/09, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:

> I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think
> they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).


I think we're referring to the three wheeled,
folds-up-small-enough-to-put-in-my-Aveo, variety, right? I've had mine
about that long, too.

They DO change, however.  They're no longer in the catalog.  (At
least, I can't find one in my 2007 edition...)


-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr.,
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076


  • 13.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 07:14 
    From John Formsma <formsma@gmail.com>

On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 4:35 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>wrote:

> On 5/14/09, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think
> > they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).
>
>
> I think we're referring to the three wheeled,
> folds-up-small-enough-to-put-in-my-Aveo, variety, right? I've had mine
> about that long, too.
>

Mine has four wheels. It's black.  Fits decently in the front seat of my
Accord if the head rest is removed. A blanket is good for protecting the
door and console from scratches.

-- 
JF


  • 14.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 09:25
      |   view attached 
    From Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>

On 5/15/09, John Formsma <formsma@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 4:35 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer
> <hoffsoco@luther.edu>wrote:
>
>> On 5/14/09, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>> > I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think
>> > they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).
>>
>>
>> I think we're referring to the three wheeled,
>> folds-up-small-enough-to-put-in-my-Aveo, variety, right? I've had mine
>> about that long, too.
>>
>
> Mine has four wheels. It's black.  Fits decently in the front seat of my
> Accord if the head rest is removed. A blanket is good for protecting the
> door and console from scratches.
>

This is the tricycle I'm talking about. (folded)

-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr.,
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076


  • 15.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 11:51 
    From John Ross <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>

I have one of those.
Got it at Tuners Supply, in the late 70's.
The supplied clamps, are useless. One fell off, and I foolishly thought that 
one would hold it.
Wrong.
The piano slipped off, and the tilter acted like a rake handle, and hit my 
hand into my face. It broke my watch crystal, and I had 2 black eyes, and 
needed rhynoplasti to fix my nose.
I used the straps for a while.
But now I am just careful.
I hold the piano, and tilt the tilter back. It grabs the bottom of the piano 
and then I pull back. I reverse the procedure when raising it.
Never had a problem.
It takes one mishap to make you careful.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia.

    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 16.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-16-2009 06:30 
    From "Kerry" <kerrykean@att.net>

The one that folds up double was made from angle iron (probably steel,
actually). As I recall, the one Schaff sells was made of tubular steel.

 

Kerry Kean

  _____  

From: John Formsma [mailto:formsma@gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:14 AM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter

 

On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 4:35 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>
wrote:

On 5/14/09, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:

> I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think
> they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).



I think we're referring to the three wheeled,
folds-up-small-enough-to-put-in-my-Aveo, variety, right? I've had mine
about that long, too.

 

Mine has four wheels. It's black.  Fits decently in the front seat of my
Accord if the head rest is removed. A blanket is good for protecting the
door and console from scratches.


-- 
JF


  • 17.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 07:12 
    From John Formsma <formsma@gmail.com>

On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:42 PM, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:

> John Formsma wrote:
>
>  Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter
>> maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being careful
>> when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an automatic thing
>> rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.
>>
>
> There's that word again, John. Nothing is intuitive for someone to whom it
> isn't obvious. "Intuitive" works backward 100%, but not so dependably the
> other way. I've always done what Ed described too, and haven't dumped one of
> the hundreds I've tilted yet, but there's still time.


Well, I guess that's a point taken.  I get really "intuitive", though, when
I think about something weighing several hundred pounds falling upon my
person. <G>  Ergo, doing everything to keep one's body from being crushed
necessitates keeping one's body more situated behind the tilter ... almost
forcing one to keep the "toes" of the tilter forced up against the bottom
board as the piano is raised.



> I've never used the straps either, but Murphy says it's probably not a bad
> idea. Necessary at the bottom only.
> Ron N



Yes, that would be intuitive. <G>

-- 
JF


  • 18.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 07:19 
    From "Gerald Groot" <tunerboy3@comcast.net>

Mine also folds up but, I also use two people.  One in the front and one in
back.  We interchange our services with one another as friend technicians
for nothing when we do this.  

As I set the piano up, I grab hold of one of the back posts while he pulls
the top and pushes the bottom HARD with his foot forcing the piano down.
The 2nd the back wheels "engage" we start a quick, swift lift, push movement
to complete the set up.  This way, it can't get away from either of us and
if it were, it still isn't going anywhere as I have that back post in my
hand like a vise grip.  I do like the idea of securing it down however as a
better one, as I hadn't thought of that one before. 

This list is great for ideas like this and then some. 

Please everyone, just call me either "Jerry or Jer."  Gerald is way to
formal for me!  :-)))  

Jerry Groot RPT. 




    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 19.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 07:35 
    From Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>

On 5/15/09, Gerald Groot <tunerboy3@comcast.net> wrote:
> Mine also folds up but, I also use two people.  One in the front and one in
> back.  We interchange our services with one another as friend technicians
> for nothing when we do this.
>

I don't know if I've ever had help tilting, but one thing (intuitive?)
that I always do, when lowering, is to orient the rear casters so that
they are up. This way they contact the floor later and the piano is
closer to vertical.

BTW, I also always turn them up when taking grands off skids so that
they don't suddenly pivot and cause all kinds of excitement.


-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr.,
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076


  • 20.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 06:14 
    From "Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft" <AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com>

"Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when the rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the tilter and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed about 6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a real good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and rolling on the rear casters that is so dangerous."

Yes , it also happened to me once. Fortunately I suffered only damage to my ego. I now tie the piano to the tilter to avoid it happening again..

Al



  From: John Formsma 
  Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 7:44 PM
  To: pianotech@ptg.org 
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter


  On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:43 AM, James Johnson <jhjpiano@sbcglobal.net> wrote:


    I find my tilter indispensable.  I have one that folds up and is fairly easy to carry.  One word of warning.  Be sure you keep the forks solidly biting into the bottom of the piano as you set it back into the upright position. I get the piano up to the position that the rear casters just begin to touch the floor, then I push the top of the piano away from the tilter while pulling the puller towards me, keeping the forks supporting most of the weight until the front casters touch the floor.



  Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being careful when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an automatic thing rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.


  Or maybe there are different tilters???  Mine came from Schaff some 7 or so years ago.  Were older ones different, requiring straps of some sort?



     Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when the rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the tilter and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed about 6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a real good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and rolling on the rear casters that is so dangerous.





  Scary to think about, and I've read about this in the past.  And I've always been extra careful when using my tilter.  But nothing like this even comes close to happening with mine.  Never have used straps around anything, but perhaps ought to.



  -- 
  JF


  • 21.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-14-2009 05:11 
    From Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net>

I don't take the straps around the piano, but secure the tilter to the piano via the back posts.  You can draw up the tilter nice and tight to the piano that way.  Wish I had a picture. 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

near Peoria, Illinois 



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 22.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 06:25 
    From Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>

On 5/14/09, Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> I don't take the straps around the piano, but secure the tilter to the piano
> via the back posts.  You can draw up the tilter nice and tight to the piano
> that way.  Wish I had a picture.
>

So you put the straps where those useless clamps which come with the
folding tilter are supposed to go, right?  w/o modification those
things slip right out from behind the posts.


-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr.,
Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076


  • 23.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-14-2009 07:30 
    From Dave Davis <dave@davispiano.com>

Hi Barb,

I can't find?the picture, (it was PTJ?April/May of 2004 or 2005, I think)?but your description is good. The ratchet straps are cheap at most hardware or auto parts stores. Just thread the strap through a backpost or two, then around the tilter closest to the backposts and ratchet it up snug. I figure that every time I don't break a leg or scratch a customer's hardwood floor the straps and extra 45 seconds to put it on have been well worth it.

Dave Davis, RPT




________________________________
From: Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 5:02:04 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter


I don't take the straps around the piano, but secure the tilter to the piano via the back posts.? You can?draw up?the tilter nice and tight to the piano that way.? Wish I had a picture.
?
Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, Illinois


    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 24.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-14-2009 06:25 
    From Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net>

Right.  That's why I was so happy to adopt Dave Davis's recommendation of using the ratcheting straps. (I searched the archives and can't find the pictures.)  I still have those useless clamps--in fact, I've been cleaning up my garage, found them, and wondered if there was something they might be useful for.  Any ideas?  Or should I take them to be recycled?  It's always a plus to get rid of something... 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

near Peoria, Illinois 



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 25.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 09:07 
    From "Joe Goss" <imatunr@srvinet.com>

ear rings?<O((
  
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 26.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-14-2009 20:19 
    From "pgmilkie@juno.com" <pgmilkie@juno.com>

A strap around the top of the piano tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a real good idea.  




Ratchet strap through the back posts and around the the metal of your lay back touching the back post.

Piano and lay back will be as one.

Paul Milkie

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  • 27.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-15-2009 09:33 
    From "Scott Helms, RPT" <tuner@helmsmusic.net>

I had a similar mishap years ago with my tilter on a school piano. The
original casters had been replaced with a large-wheeled truck that was
bolted to the piano. I guess I was young & stupid (well, at least stupid),
because I didn't forsee the danger and didn't strap the tilter to the
piano. I was lowering the piano back down, and the second the back wheels
hit the floor, they rolled out away from the tilter, and the top back edge
of the piano slid all the way down to the bottom of the tilter, where it
caught the forks like stepping on a rake. WHAP! The tilter flew up and hit
me square in the cheekbone. Of course the piano was making this horrible
racket, and I was seeing stars (literally). My guardian angel was working
overtime, because I suffered nothing more than a nasty purple bruise on my
face - nothing broken. But boy, did I learn my lesson! I keep my ratchet
straps tied to the tilter at all times now, so that I NEVER forget to use
them - they are now a part of the tool. How much more effort does it take
to throw a strap on the thing? Even if the original casters are frozen and
I'm on shag carpet, I will still use a strap. If nothing else, it gives me
a LOT more peace of mind.

I would love to find one of the models that folds in the middle too; mine
is from Schaff about 10 years ago, and it's about 4' long when it's
folded. Not real easy to throw in the trunk. Does anybody know who sells
one of the middle-folding ones?
-- 
Scott A. Helms, Registered Piano Technician
www.helmsmusic.net






> On Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:43 AM, James Johnson
> <jhjpiano@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>
> I find my tilter indispensable.  I have one that folds up and is fairly
> easy
>> to carry.  One word of warning.  Be sure you keep the forks solidly
>> biting
>> into the bottom of the piano as you set it back into the upright
>> position. I
>> get the piano up to the position that the rear casters just begin to
>> touch
>> the floor, then I push the top of the piano away from the tilter while
>> pulling the puller towards me, keeping the forks supporting most of the
>> weight until the front casters touch the floor.
>
>
>
> Isn't that pretty intuitive in the use of a tilter? I've used my tilter
> maybe some 10+ times, and have always HAD to do this, just by being
> careful
> when tipping it up.  If one goes slow, it seems this is an automatic thing
> rather than something you have to focus on intentionally.
>
> Or maybe there are different tilters???  Mine came from Schaff some 7 or
> so
> years ago.  Were older ones different, requiring straps of some sort?
>
>
>
>>  Years ago, a good friend of mine didn't follow this procedure and when
>> the
>> rear casters contacted the floor, the piano rolled forward off the
>> tilter
>> and came crashing down, crushing several bones in his leg.  He missed
>> about
>> 6 months work because of this little mishap.  Needless to say, since his
>> accident I have been extra careful.  A strap around the top of the piano
>> tying it to the tilter, as well as one around the bottom, would be a
>> real
>> good idea.  It is the bottom of the piano coming off the tilter and
>> rolling
>> on the rear casters that is so dangerous.
>>
>
>
> Scary to think about, and I've read about this in the past.  And I've
> always
> been extra careful when using my tilter.  But nothing like this even comes
> close to happening with mine.  Never have used straps around anything, but
> perhaps ought to.
>
>
> --
> JF
>


  • 28.  Upright Tilter

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-15-2009 13:12 
    From "James Johnson" <jhjpiano@sbcglobal.net>

I have one of the models that folds in the middle and is very easy to move 
about.  The one thing that I don't like is that when it is assembled, it 
isn't nearly as tall an the ones that only fold lengthwise.  This makes them 
more difficult to use on a large upright because you don't have as much 
leverage because the handle is so much lower.  My shop tilter is much easier 
to use but not very portable.


    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
                                                        Original Message


  • 29.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 13:36 
    From Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>

James Johnson wrote:
> I have one of the models that folds in the middle and is very easy to 
> move about.  The one thing that I don't like is that when it is 
> assembled, it isn't nearly as tall an the ones that only fold 
> lengthwise.  This makes them more difficult to use on a large upright 
> because you don't have as much leverage because the handle is so much 
> lower.  My shop tilter is much easier to use but not very portable.

Mine is the big one that only gets narrower when collapsed. I 
once got one of the little triangular double folders from a 
retiring tuner, tried it once, and sold it to the first 
interested party that came along.

I've always driven a pickup, so portability isn't a problem.
Ron N


  • 30.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-15-2009 10:42 
    From "pmc033@earthlink.net" <pmc033@earthlink.net>

YEAH!  That's IT!  I had mine stolen years ago.  You really could put it in
your Aveo.  And it didn't take all that much room.  Maybe we could ask
somebody to make a bunch of these.  Jansen & Sons?  Schaff?   High School
metal shop?
	Paul McCloud
	San Diego


> [Original Message]
> From: Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco@luther.edu>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 05/15/2009 9:30:06 AM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Upright Tilter
>
> On 5/15/09, John Formsma <formsma@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 4:35 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer
> > <hoffsoco@luther.edu>wrote:
> >
> >> On 5/14/09, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> > I've had mine, from Schaff, over 30 years. I don't think
> >> > they've changed (except they get gold and flaky with age).
> >>
> >>
> >> I think we're referring to the three wheeled,
> >> folds-up-small-enough-to-put-in-my-Aveo, variety, right? I've had mine
> >> about that long, too.
> >>
> >
> > Mine has four wheels. It's black.  Fits decently in the front seat of my
> > Accord if the head rest is removed. A blanket is good for protecting the
> > door and console from scratches.
> >
>
> This is the tricycle I'm talking about. (folded)
>
> -- 
> Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
> Luther College, 700 College Dr.,
> Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
> 1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076


  • 31.  Upright Tilter

    Posted 05-21-2009 13:37 
    From Barrie Heaton <piano@a440.co.uk>

In message <4A0B109B.4050703@piano.plus.com>, David Boyce
<David@piano.plus.com> writes
>I've finally bought an upright piano tilter, or Bench Truck as they're
>sometimes called in the UK, after promising myself for years.  Not many
>around - Heckschers had none, and Fletcher & Newman only one left.  It
>came today. Very nice and sturdy. I'm now gonna find a pretext to put
>every single customer's piano on its back......
>
>Best regards,
>
>David.
>


Be careful with Damon school pianos when tilting the extended back toes
can push the piano off the cradle The piano shoots off down the school
hall and the cradle get you big time   learnt that one the hard way 20
years ago  I got some webing only need it  on school pianos Other piano
to watch are pianolas the cradle can tilt back quite easy

You will fined it to be one of the best investment you have made you be
amazed  how many UK tuners don't do castors in schools or struggle  I
charge ?280.00 to put on a set of safety castors in schools

Next piece of kit is a grand Jack a must when fitting A frames to grands
do a lot of them as well


Barrie,






-- 
Barrie Heaton      PGP key on request           http://www.a440.co.uk/
AcryliKey Ivory Repair System UK ?              http://www.acrylikey.co.uk/
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