I would have put up a thread to mention this, but I had an attack of Real Life...

The ABC New Inventor's show - http://www.abc.net.au/newinventors/

Stashway Foldable Piano Body
http://www.abc.net.au/newinventors/txt/s1714003.htm

video clip for demo there too

The Stashway Foldable Piano Body is a portable stand for an electric keyboard that looks like a grand piano. It folds up into a neat unit, which can be easily transported to a gig in the back of a station wagon, without the need to hire the expensive removal trucks and piano turners which would be associated with bringing a "real" grand piano. It gives a classy look to the occasion - and you can even lean on it for the smoky piano bar effect!

How does it work?

The Stashaway is technically a "Foldable Keyboard Support", according to the patent. The object of the design is to create a light-weight, easily transportable stand for an electric keyboard that looks like a grand piano.

The Stashaway is made from fibreglass with an aluminium frame. It weighs 35kg and has a wheeled trolley built into its design to make it easier to transport. It is strong enough to lean on - even jump on if you feel the urge to do a Peter Allen impersonation!

When the lid is lifted, a picture of the strings inside the body creates a reflection on the underside of the lid, like a real piano.

The name "Stasaway" is written across the front of the piano in emulation of "Steinway".

Assembly takes about two minutes, and it is even quicker to take apart, making it excellent for a quick wrap at the end of a gig.

When folded the whole unit fits into the back of a standard station wagon or larger hatchback. It comes with a cover for transporting, which protects the finish on the piano body, but it is designed to be robust, to cope with being lugged around from gig to gig.

It is designed to hold pretty much any standard digital piano keyboard (up to 1.33m long) but it is preferable to have one with the plugs at the back as this makes it look more realistic. It is also best to have a keyboard with 88 keys as this replicates the look of an acoustic piano keyboard.

Felt panels at each end of the keyboard can be adjusted or cut to cover neatly any space left by a shorter keyboard.


CONTACT DETAILS:
www.stashway.com