Rippen Piano - transporting

[Sonya]

Hi. we have a Rippen upright piano (I think that it may be a Carillon) that we'd like to move from a house to a flat, but nobody can remember how to fold in the keyboard for transporting (or how to get it out again, once it has arrived)! Since the Rippen factory seems to have closed some years ago, does anybody have any ideas / suggestions on where to get help? Thank you.

[lalburas]

Hello, I am in a similar situation as you were. I can remove the panel below the keyboard and the keyboard cover, and then fold down the keyboard, but I can't figure out how to reassemble it for moving. Did you ever get a satisfactory answer to your question? I would love to know. The movers are coming in a week. Thanks!

[Colin Nicholson]

send us a picture of the piano as it is now - preferably with all panels removed

[Johnkie]

From what I remember there are just two large screws situated at the back of the keybed that secure it to the metal frame. Undo those two screws and the whole keyboard simply drops down making the front perfectly flat with no sticky out keyboard bit !

They used to come from the manufacturers mounted on a strong piece of plywood and encased in a strong cardboard container, both of which came in very handy for those to be used on all sorts of things !!

The Rippons were at lot better than the Lindners because the keys were changed from dreadful plastic and spring-steel components back to the normal wooden keys that had, and continue to this day, to give good service.

Unless there is a particular problem that requires the keyboard to be released ... I wouldn't bother. The bottom line is that pianos are easier to move when the keyboard is in place, and any mover that is used to moving a piano normally, will find it much more difficult, and less safe. Not only that, but there was always a danger of breaking or catching parts when putting things back together ..... if you didn't know what you were doing!!

[vernon]

I'd leave it with the keyframe in situ unless there is the unlikely chance that there really isn't enough space to manoeuvre. Competent movers won't bat an eyelid. Don't forget it can go on it's end with no detriment to it's works to do tricky turns.

[lalburas]

I am sending a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your quick responses!

Colin, I am uploading four photos of the piano: as it is, a closeup of the interior side, the removed keyboard, and with the lower panel set in place (but not attached). I've also sent an email with these photos to aapianotuners. Perhaps these will help in visualizing the situation.

If it's not possible to re-assemble the piano in a "cabinet" configuration, I will leave it with the keyboard up for moving. I have hired a mover with experience in moving pianos so I'm relieved to know that it will not be a problem leaving it in its "piano" configuration.

Thank you again, everyone who responded. Your advice was very helpful.

Louise

[joe]

Agree with previous posters,why on earth would you need to remove the keyframe ?.

[vernon]

I didn't realise it was already "dismounted."
Move it like that for ease then just put it together again.
I've done dozens in the past but have not the faintest recollection of the proceedure now!
As mentioned-- two screws I think.
The were delivered by a lone taciturn Dutchman in a very large specialised truck and all the pianos were in boxess in seperate cubicles- all on rollers. He rolled them out on his own down the tail lift,into the shop.Job done.
He would then continue up the one-way street ( the wrong way as always did), turn right into the thronged pedestrian precinct and away-countering the distressed cries of traffic wardens with "Nix Inglish"
That was puzzling as he was pretty fluent with us

[lalburas]

Vernon, you painted a delightful picture of the lone Dutchman! Thanks for that description. :-)

I've sent more photos to Colin (via email) to see if he can describe the cabinet re-assembly process. If he's not able to, I will move the piano as is, or in its piano configuration. I must admit, I'm being quite persistent about this question, as I think the ability to "morph" the piano into a cabinet is a very clever feature and I would hate to lose the ability to do that. We bought the piano in 1985 from an older Scandinavian man who knew how to reconfigure it, but he has since passed away.

[Colin Nicholson]

To everyone ....
Louise emailed me with various photos showing the keyboard collapsed.... I think we all thought that she wanted to re-assemble it? However, it turns out that Louise knew how to collapse/assemble it - and she wanted to know how to assemble the fallboard back onto the piano in its dismantled state - hence the gap between the top & bottom boards.

I cant see how the fallboard will go back, since those blocks of wood at each end are now facing the wrong way (facing forwards) - and they need to be facing upwards to rest the keyslip rail & fall back onto those blocks.

I've also suggested to reassemble it completely back to what it was - I think much easier for the removal guys to balance it, otherwise it would be top-heavy and no grip on the front.

Although these pianos can save space, when its folded up, the fallboard just becomes a spare bit of wood!!

Any other suggestions?