In MMD 97.08.28, D. L. Bullock said, in part:

> Put the pedal lyre on and screw down with the lyre braces, if
> possible.  Now use a moving pad (quilt) and fold it up until it is
> about 4-5 inches thick.  Lay it on the floor so that the pedal lyre
> will sit on it when the piano is flipped.

I love it when piano movers use this stunt for letting the piano down.
There's always some extra spare change generated for my business,
repairing the pedal lyres that end up mangled by this method.

One should never depend on a pedal lyre to adequately support any portion
of the weight of a grand piano. The pedal lyre supports, braces, and
attachment devices were never intended to protect the lyre from the
sideways forces that bear on it when the piano is tilted onto or off the
lyre.

I would summarily dismiss any mover that attempted to use that trick at
any institution, or dealer's showroom, or private home where I could
exercise any authority, and I would make sure that the piano-owners'
community would be warned off that mover.

Doug Rhodes