Many thanks to all who posted responses to my appeal for techniques
and/or tools to make it possible to tip a grand onto its feet by myself
without getting crushed in the process.  Once again, the Internet
and MMD at their finest.

Couple of responses focused on using the lyre as a means of aiding in
the process.  I can appreciate this might be possible for a modest
conventional grand, but a fully loaded reproducing piano is another
matter.  I feel intuitively uncomfortable with using the lyre for
leverage and support and would not use this approach to tip a
reproducing grand onto its feet.

In any case, in my original post, I indicated the piano in question is
a 1912 Mason 6' foot pumped grand.  As with most foot pumped
player grand pianos, the pumps and reservoirs are located in a large
drop box affixed to the bottom of the keybed.  While such a box
might theoretically be stronger than a conventional lyre, such a tip
maneuver would just not be possible.  The bottom left corner of the
box would make contact with the floor while the piano is still at an
acute angle with the tip barely starting.

Couple of suggestions included kind offers of plans, photos, sketches,
etc., which will be very much appreciated.  If by chance they come
to me by mail, I'll be sure to scan them and squirt them over to Jody
to post on MMD for all to access.

Stay tuned for final result..........

Regards,

Terry

Terry Smythe                   smythe@mts.net
55 Rowand Avenue               smythe@freenet.mb.ca
Winnipeg, MB, Canada  R3J 2N6  (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax)
http://www.winnipeg.freenet.mb.ca/~smythe