Piano Delivery
An art in its own right
Expect the unexpected
Piano Delivery
The art of piano delivery is expecting the unexpected. A common misnomer: A piano is put out of tune once moved. A piano is not put out of tune by moving it, if the firm that are delivering the piano are professional and are delivering the piano on professional piano truck or dolley, as they are often called. We’ve all watched the old Laurel and Hardy sketch where they are bumping the piano down the street on its castors. Then possibly it could be true but as a rule, when moved professionally, re-tuning is not required. After the piano has settled to its new environments heat and humidity for around a month or so, then a tuner may be required if there is a noticed change in tone.
When Height Becomes Length
Here is a classic problem when delivering a piano that is too long to go around the corner. The removal team then up ends the piano onto a trolley or skate, then the height of the piano then becomes its length: making the piano in effect much shorter. The flat back of the piano always goes back to a wall or doorway, then the only factor left is the depth, which if measured correctly prior to purchase shouldn’t be a factor. This is also true of staircases and landings, but should this be the case, it should be double checked by a stair expert. Yes, they exist!
The template above serves to show the principle: the white line is the height measurement and the red line the depth. If in any doubt, make a template. In these days of Amazon sending cardboard on a relentless basis, we all have some awaiting recycling, I’m sure.
Steps & Stairs
It may not look like it is worth mentioning, they’ll be fine with it! Steps are always fun, two or even three generally no issue, get the ramps out and the piano is in. The picture above not so much. Yes, it was done but not without a revisit with the appropriate methods and expert assistance to hand. Always forward as many pictures as possible to the difficulties they might encounter, this won’t necessarily mean extra expense, but a revisit undoubtedly will. By the way, the initial picture at the top of the page was a piano collection down in Bath that had not mentioned any possible “issues” on site.
