How to Move a Chickering Grand Piano
Chickering pianos have been well known since the nineteenth century, and are prized for their richness of sound. Piano builder Jonas Chickering set up his piano-building business in Boston in 1823. Although a Chickering grand piano is extremely heavy, it is possible to move with the correct equipment and at least one helper. A DIY move can save a lot of money. However, the instructions below are for a rough-and-ready move -- if your piano is valuable, or you are worried about scratches and scuffs to the piano finish, you might want to consider hiring professional piano movers.
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Things You'll Need
- Van with ramp or tailgate lift
- Blankets
- Straps
- Dolly
- 2 or more people
- Wrench
- Marking tape
- Marker pen
- Clear plastic bags
Instructions
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1
Prepare the piano for the move. Remove the pedal mechanism and the piano music stand. The pedal mechanism will likely have screws and bolts which attach it to the piano body. Seal this hardware in a plastic bag and tape it to the pedal mechanism so it doesn't get lost.
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2
Face the piano as if you were going to play on the keyboard. With marking tape and pen, label the three piano legs: number 1 is the leg to your right and closest to the keyboard; number 2 is the leg to your left and closest to the keyboard; number 3 is the leg furthest from you, at the far end of the piano body.
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3
Close the piano lid (to protect the strings) and the keyboard cover (to protect the keys).
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4
Bring the dolly alongside the piano, next to Leg 2. Spread out a blanket on the dolly.
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Position at least one person at the corner of the piano nearest Leg 1. Remove Leg 1 from the piano body -- your helper will need to hold the corner of the piano up once the leg is removed.
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Position all helpers around the piano body, and tip the piano onto the dolly. The side of the piano between Leg 2 and Leg 3 will be flat on the dolly.
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Remove Legs 2 and 3 from the piano body. Place the hardware for each leg in a plastic bag, and tape it to the corresponding piano leg. Place all three piano legs in the van.
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8
Wrap blankets around the piano body, and use moving straps to secure the wrapped piano to the dolly.
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9
Position helpers on both sides of the piano dolly. Be very careful the piano does not tip -- it will have a high center of gravity on the dolly. Roll the piano and dolly out to the van, and up into the body of the van via a ramp or tailgate lift. Use more straps, or rope, to secure the piano and dolly to the sides of the van.
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10
Drive to your destination, taking care to avoid bumpy roads and sharp turns. Bring the piano and dolly out of the van and into the new building location.
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11
Remove the straps and blankets from the piano body. Attach Legs 2 and 3 to the piano body. Tip the piano body upright, with a helper holding up the corner nearest Leg 1.
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12
Attach Leg 1 to the piano body. Re-attach the pedal mechanism and any other loose parts which were removed for transit.
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Tips & Warnings
Give the piano about two weeks to settle into its new environment, and then have it looked over and re-tuned by a professional.
The more people you have available to help move the piano, the less weight each individual will need to lift. While it is possible to move a grand piano with as few as two people, the task is definitely easier with more helpers.
Most moving trucks larger than a cargo van come with a loading ramp. Such trucks can be rented in-town for as little as $20 per day, which greatly reduces your piano-moving costs.
As with any heavy lifting, take care of your back and body! Follow safe lifting procedures and do not attempt to lift anything that is too heavy for you.
Keep children and pets well away from the piano when it is being moved.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Piano image by Guillaume BAUDRY from Fotolia.com
