Re: Refitting an AMPICO Stack
By Terry Smythe
> From: William Boulton <104674.1765@compuserve.com>
>
> I am looking for input form anyone on refitting AMPICO grand actions. I
> have the opportunity to install an "A" action into a former Mason & Hamlin
> AMPICO. The problem is that the stack was scaled for a Chickering. Style
> and size not known. Any information would be appreciated.
I too have a similar situation. Some 15 years ago, I acquired a 1928 Marshall & Wendell AMPICO A in a Spanish art case, c/w matching bench. Its stack was missing. About 5 years later, I acquired a rough AMPICO A stack from another unknown instrument. After a near 10 year hiatus, I'm finally getting back to restoration and somewhere along the way I'll be attempting to fit this foreign stack to this piano. I would be very interested in working with you and sharing experiences on this project.
I understand that in some cases, it is possible to re-scale an AMPICO stack as a consequence of the factory drilling the complete stack as if there were no breaks, then covering up some of the holes where blanks must be installed. I'm told that not all stacks can be re-adjusted this way because of differences in overall keyboard width. However, I am personally aware of a 9' Knabe concert grand that was fitted with a lesser AMPICO A stack by progressively splaying the pneumatics from center by ever greater amounts to line up with the push rod drillings.
I've been putting off this task for years, hoping that somewhere along the line, somebody will document how to do this. Perhaps it is not as difficult as I perceive it to be.
Thoughts of others?
Regards,
Terry
Terry Smythe (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax) 55 Rowand Avenue smythe@mts.net Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3J 2n6 smythe@freenet.mb.ca Home page: http://www.mts.net/~smythe
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(Message sent Mon 29 Jul 1996, 04:01:17 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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