Lowrey Holiday Deluxe Weight/Moving

[travolta]

Hi all! I'm considering picking up a 1970s Lowrey Holiday Deluxe from a family friend for free, and I'm curious if anyone has any information about how much it likely weighs?

I'm a bit of an organ novice, and don't know how I'll like this model/how well it will work, so I don't really want to invest $$ into hiring movers to transport an organ that I'm getting for free. Can anyone advice on organ moving in general, and if its possible for two adults to move an instrument like this up one flight of stairs?

Any tips or info would be appreciated!

[Organfella]

Hello and welcome to the Forum. There were several Lowrey models which went under the sub label "Holiday" therefore one would need more information. A picture ot two would likely suffice but since you appear to be new to the Forum, you may only be allowed to post pictures after a few more posts. Perhaps our Moderator, who happens to be a Lowrey expert, might post them for you, besides give you some information you require.
Lowreys are nice organs, however, since the one you got is already 50 years old, you might expect some issues but the price is right.
Luck
Nico

[andyg]

If it is a 1970s Holiday, it will almost certainly be one of four. 1) A TLO series, if it has a cassette deck it would be a Holiday K or TLO-K. 2) A TLOK-S. In name, the last of the TLO series but bigger and heavier. 3) A TGS model. Different beastie completely and bigger still. 4) A D325. Last Holiday of the 70s. Not quite so big physically but 'chunky' for want of a better word!

'Holiday deluxe' suggests a TLO-K, which is the smallest and lightest of the four. A photo would let me ID it positively.

IIRC, weights would be in the 200-220 lbs region. Not much more than that. You can move them upright or on their back in a van/car, depending on the organ and vehicle. No precautions needed for that. Can two people move one up one flight of stairs. I've done that on more than a few occasions. Four people, one at each corner, would be better.

[travolta]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! How do I know which moderator to get in touch with? Thank you for baring with me as I learn the ropes here!

As far as the organ goes, I know that it has a built in cassette deck, if that narrows things downs at all, and I was able to find a link to an image on google which looks the same as the organ I'm considering. I'm not sure if I'm able to post links either, but I've tried including it below if you'd like to take a look.

https://www.shoppok.com/sheboygan/a,...nd-du-Lac-.htm

[travolta]

Thank you Andy! You replied just as I posted my response. Let me know if you can view the photo that I attached and get a positive ID, and thanks very much for the helpful information!

[Lazlo]

For free - it's a good organ with some interesting sounds, such as the Wow-Wow (green tab on the far right). Tape deck is probably a bit redundant, or not. If it's still working it can be useful. AOC (maroon tab on the right) adds big textures too (that only works with both hands on both manuals playing simultaneously).

Weight wise and moving: well, these aren't light. But they're not Hammond heavy. The problem with these spinets is where to grab it. You can up-end it and use blankets to prevent scuffing. And you can grab it from the base underneath, or just swivel and slide or load it onto a flat bed with wheels no problem. Two fit people can move it reasonably hassle free. But of course, the more the merrier.

Lazlo
UK

[you795a]

It looks like a TLO-K. They are not super heavy. I moved one of those models a couple of times. I actually still have one.

[andyg]

Yes, that's definitely a TLO-K. Around 200lbs IIRC but I'm sure one of my friends can find out the exact weight. I'll ask and report back.
Lifting, the safest way! Roll the organ to a 45 degree angle. Person #1 grabs it by the feet. Person # 2 grabs left hand under the keyboards and right hand in the hand hold at the back. Lift until the lower end of the organ is about a foot off the ground. You can now walk it comfortably. Can't tell you how many hundreds of times I've had to do that!

Up-ending and placing on a piano dolly is another way. If you use a dolly with the organ horizontal, make sure you position it where it won't damage the pedals.

It's not a tall organ, so it will go into an estate car, SUV or large hatchback OK. And it will be perfectly OK lying on its back.

Lazlo - tape deck still working are four words that never went together, even when the organ was new! :)

[Organfella]

If that tape deck works I will eat my non-existent hat. I have three Lowreys each with its own tape deck - all three are suitable door stops. These have been discussed often on this Forum and I have yet to hear of one that works. As for the rest of the organ, well, you got yourself a nice one there. Might have to replace some capacitors in the power supply some time. I had two TLOK-SA which is a similar layout and replaced the caps on both. Gave them away to folk who needed them more than I do. Both still playing happily.
Nico

[Larrytow]

Not much to add here, as the others already gave good advice. You need to be aware of the front legs on those when going up the stairs though. Depending on the house layout, it can be pretty easy to get them hung up on corners, stair steps, and so on. I've even heard of people snapping one off that way. On most spinets those front legs actually help stabilize the organ - they are not just decoration.

[andyg]

Legs? Legs! None of ours ever had legs over here! :)

[you795a]

I just had to check my TLO-K and mine does indeed have legs.;-)