Knabe Ampico Grand, Roll Cabinet and 600 Rolls
By Jeff Hickey, forwarded by Les Smith
[ Editor's note: The following was independently submitted by both
[ Les Smith and Terry Smythe
Jody: I'm forwarding this to the list because of the relative rarity of the instrument, roll cabinet and number of rolls offered. Anyone interested can contact Jeff directly for more information.
Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net
> Subj: Quest for a home....
> From: TunerJeff <TunerJeff@aol.com>
> To: Folks looking for an unusual piano.
>
> Dear Folks,
> Got the most amazing phone call from a customer recently. Now have
> a most unusual set looking for a home. A reproducing grand with
> matching roll cabinet and 600+ Ampico Player Rolls in excellent
> condition.(Owner is an interesting type, too. He and three buddies
> developed a machine for copying player rolls for the Shakey's Pizza
> franchise in California... back when every pizza parlor they opened came
> equipped with a player piano for atmosphere. Small world.)
>
> Here's what the guy has to offer (...I think it's extremely interesting!);
>
> <<The "legend" behind the piano is that it was commissioned (or simply
> purchased??) as a set by the Dunlop Family in the early '20s.
> (Yup... the tire magnate...)>>
>
> Knabe Reproducing Grand #95041 (Ampico-A Player Mechanism) 5'6''
> length Art Case Walnut (very clean) in Louis XIV style. (Rare to be
> Walnut, more so in Art Case) Included are the matching bench and Ampico
> Roll-Cabinet, same finish & style mind-you! ...and more than 600 Ampico
> player-rolls in superb condition.(Including quite a few of those huge
> long-play monsters).
>
> The Ampico Roll-Cabinet (decal on inside of door) stands over 4-foot
> tall, 15-inches deep, 27-inches wide and stands on matching legs to
> bench & piano... and same finish, WOW!
>
> This has been a set since it's purchase, and dude wants it to stay that
> way. The player mechanism was re-built in the near past... all hoses
> and tubes appear fresh and supple... and it plays beautifully. The
> Knabe nameplate on the keycover is... a gold plaque! Not a decal or
> inlay.
>
> Owner's research came up with the idea that only 12 to 14 of these were
> built. Overall it's in outstanding condition. (<Hammers & re-stringing
> would be nice>) Who would be interested in such a creature? Who would
> purchase such a creature? ...not always the same thing, is it? ;)
> I've been a tuner/technician for 16+ years in various areas and never
> seen such an interesting combination
>
> We're currently living at the Edge-of-the-Known-World here, on the
> Oregon Coast ...so I don't think I can find a buyer willing to spend
> more than, oh say... about 50 bucks for it. It's value is more in the
> 20 to 40K range. Suggestions and input would be welcome. I'm just
> seeking a decent home for an unusual set; An Art-Case Reproducing
> Knabe, Ampico Roll-Cabinet, and 600 player-rolls.
>
> Thanks for the help,
> Jeffrey T. Hickey
> RPT Member; Piano Technicians Guild
> TunerJeff @ aol.com
> (541) 756-7701
> |
(Message sent Mon 3 Jun 1996, 13:55:41 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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