M100 vs flight of stairs

[Guest]

Hello all! I've been reading the postings here with great interest as I have recently come into a M100 that's in pretty good shape. The only thing lacking mechanically is that the reverb stopped functioning a while back, but I'm hoping that I'll find that's it something easily fixed, like a tube. I've downloaded the service manual and was surprised to learn that there are some small lightbulbs in there. My fingers are crossed that getting the reverb back is as easily as replacing a bulb!
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But before that, I need to move the organ from my garage to my basement and that's the reason for my first post on the Forum. All the search results I've found on moving an organ discuss using a dollies of one form or another, but nothing addresses my particular situation so I hope someone has already done this and can offer some guidance. I have 12 stairs leading down to my basement, and the M100 is wider than the stairway by about a foot, so I will have to take it down sideways. What's my best option? (A quote from a local piano mover is $190 so I'd like to do it myself if possible)</p>

Right now I'm leaning (no pun intended) toward using 3 people--2 on the bottom (downstairs side) to hold that end of the organ up, and one on the upper side to walk the other end down one step at a time. Or, would some sort of "skid" arrangement using planks and straps to slide it down be better? I'm just very reluctant to use gravity as a helper! This would be a lot simpler if I could just grab the back with an appliance dolly! </p>

I know that someone else has been there/done that, so any advice is greatly appreciated!</p>

Rick in St Louis
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[TheAdmiral]

Re: M100 vs flight of stairs

Walking it down will work fine. Be sure to lock the TG bolts down. Easiest way is to use a skid of heavy cardboard or plywood. Make sure there is some friction as you don't want it to slide too fast. Keep those 2 friends (soon to be former friends) on the lower end to brake it. I'll be going thru St. Louis Wednesday and I'll wave!

[toasterDude]

Re: M100 vs flight of stairs

[quote user="InnerFyre"]


M100 that's in pretty good shape. The only thing lacking mechanically is that the reverb stopped functioning a while back, but I'm hoping that I'll find that's it something easily fixed, like a tube. I've downloaded the service manual and was surprised to learn that there are some small lightbulbs in there. My fingers are crossed that getting the reverb back is as easily as replacing a bulb!</P>


[/quote]</P>


It's possible that getting the reverb back will be even simpler than replacing a bulb or a tube. The L100 and M100 series used RCA connectors between the reverb tank and the power amp - these connectors tend to oxidize over time, in my experience even to the point where no signal gets through at all. Simply unplugging, spraying with contact cleaner like DeOxit, and plugging back in (add a little side-to-side twist for good measure) will often bring everything back.</P>


As far as moving it: you have the right idea. Just be sure to take more care of everyone's backs, than the M100. If you drop the M100, bummer, but another one will always come along for another $75. M100s are cheap, doctors ain't! Good luck with it though.</P>


TD</P>


(PS heck for that matter, if you drop the M100 it'll probably be fine! They built these old Hammonds like battleships.)</P>

[Bobmann]

Re: M100 vs flight of stairs



IMHO, don't do the skid thing. That is a recipe for disaster. One slip and the guys on the bottom are squashed.
I moved my H-395 up a flight of stairs...it outweighs the M by 150 lbs or so.</P>


Go one step at a time...the 2 at the down side of the stairs hold the organ from the bottom, the guy(s) at the up side of the stairs set it down one step at a time. Slow, but sure. If the guy at the top can be on the side of the organ rather than the top, it will be easier on their back. Two people on top is better yet, but your staircase has to be pretty wide.</P>


Bob</P>

[Guest]

Re: M100 vs flight of stairs



I took my M3 downstairs with my neighbor not too long ago. Once the TW Generator is properly locked down you can do almost anything with it as you would with any piece of furniture. Except this one is a few hundred pounds...</p>

We took it sideway to turn in the stairs and then we could re-tilt it back up so we brought it down the stairs upside down. the only thing you ve to be careful with is the pedal board. make sure you don't put any weight on it. </p>

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good luck.
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[Guest]

Re: M100 vs flight of stairs



Thanks to everyone for all the great advice. My daughter and son-in-law were visiting this weekend and I thought maybe he and I could handle it since he's young and strong and I'm old and, well, big. The two of us rassled it over the the top of the stairs and then good sense kicked in and the M100 now occupies a nice spot in the corner of the living room until we can get a second pair of strong hands on the downstairs side to help me walk it down one stair at a time..
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But I'm happy to say that after re-inserting all the tubes and the phono plugs on the reverb unit, the reverb has returned. Reverb 1 and Reverb 1+2 worked from the get go, but Reverb 2 alone took a while to come in. All the drawbars are working and after playing it for about 15 minutes the organ picked up significantly more volume as well. All in all, I think this is going to work out. I'll bet it would sound nice with a leslie, but I'm way too much of a hack to justify that expense.
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