On Tue, 20 Feb 1996 JIMRPT@aol.com wrote: > Les; > Thanks for the prompt reply. The fallboard decal was original (or appeared > to be) and the trap work is different from the Duo-Art, there is no > connection, and apparently never was any connection, from the shift pedal > (una-corda) to the trap work on the bass side of the piano; or on the treble > side for that matter. As to whether or not there was a mechanism for the > hammers to be raised, there does not seem to have been any allowances made > for that and there was no mechanism as such with the piano. I have called > Steve at S&S about this and he confirmed that some Stein's had Ampico > Reproducers, however they were not able to answer my questions. This was a > strange bird for me too. > There is the standard Duo Art hinged box on top of the action cavitybut > there is where the similarity ends. (no drawer) > Les this is a first time for me too !! I've never seen anything like it from > Steinway. > I can make a lever arm, push block and groove the backrail--I am just hoping > that someone will know of a better way > Again Les, thanks for such a quick response. > Jim Bryant (FL) > Jim, since my last post I checked with some of my sources, too, and as you found out a VERY FEW Steinway Ampicos were produced, essentially as custom installations. Thus your piano is very rare, and thus potentially very valuable. It was unclear from your original post as to whether you have all the player parts or not. If you do, it would probably be a good idea to consider rebuilding the player mechanism as well as the piano itself. The fact that the piano has no drawer however is REALLY puzzling, if indeed it is an Ampico. If you don't rebuild players yourself, and you do have the parts, you might want to find someone who rebuilds both Ampicos and Duo-Arts and have him take a look at it for you. BTW, if you do have the player parts the Duo-Art expression box is immediately identifiable by it's two. large, spring-loaded pneumatics which face foward, each controlled by accordian pneumatics at the back. If you can respond back as to whether or not you do have the player mechanism, I can further check my resources. This is certainly a rare and interesting instrument. Les Smith lessmith@buffnet.net
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