Harp Trolleys - F A Qs.
Q: Which trolley is best suited to my needs?
A: Robert Webster’s aluminium trolleys are now
adaptable from ‘Two wheelers’ to ‘Stairclimbers’ (ie. from 1 wheel each side to
triple wheels each side) and vice versa-
simply by purchasing the required wheels which come with full fitting
instructions.
This should
save harpists some of the difficulty of deciding which type of trolley to
buy. Details and prices available upon
request.
Q: Which type of trolley is the most popular?
A: Over the last 15 years we have sold in excess
of 600 harp trolleys. The vast majority,
and in particular, those bought by professionals and orchestras, are ‘two
wheelers’.
The reasons
being: 1) they are very maneuverable in an orchestral situation and anywhere
else with tight corners, 2) the ‘Compact’ trolley is smaller and lighter in
weight –around 6 kilograms, 3) it is usually no problem placing the harp, with
trolley attached, into your car- this is a significant time and space saver. These trolleys were the 1st to make
this routinely possible.
Q: What are the pros and cons of the
‘stairclimber’ trolley?
A: The advantages are only apparent if you
regularly have a great number of steps to cope with. And then we would still advise assistance. A downside is that you cannot rest part way
up a staircase, or relax at all until you reach a landing. This means you will be carrying the entire
weight of your harp until you come to rest at the top or bottom of the
staircase. Children and adolescents
should not get the impression that their chosen instrument will suddenly be
lighter in weight, or easy to carry up and down staircases. The safest staircase strategy is always to
enlist help.
All
stairclimber type trolleys must run on 4 wheels when on a flat surface. All wheels being parallel to each other so
they roll beautifully forwards and backwards.
But to turn a tight circle requires that they slide sideways on the
ground rather than revolve. This can
take some effort!
The
‘Stairclimbers’ lack of maneuverability on the flat, and extra weight are a
constant drawback.
Q: Why not pneumatic wheels? They must help over bumpy ground?
A: We have experimented with these and, in spite
of improved performance over smooth and slightly bumpy surfaces, they have two
drawbacks. Though air filled tyres
absorb the uneven terrain very well, they also tend to bounce. Harps are top heavy and once your harp starts
to rock from side to side as it bounces from wheel to wheel, either you have to
stop to stabilize it, or…… it falls over.
Secondly,
sooner or later you’ll get a puncture.
Q: I have an Erard harp and I am concerned that
it will tip forward too far on your trolley?
A: All our trolleys require your harp to be
tilted forward so the rear feet are +/- 40mm off the ground. Concert harps easily remain stable at this
angle. Small harps or relatively top
heavy harps such as Erard Grecians and Gothics are less stable. If you have any anxiety about this, we can
modify your trolley so the rear feet are lifted just +/- 25mm. This is a ‘no cost’ option available only on
the Compact model, and when carried out from new. It is fully reversible – at a nominal cost
for parts, instructions, and postage.
Please ask if you think you need this option.