In MMD 970825 Mike Knudsen inquires about a small player grand he
encountered and wonders if "Premier" was an American Piano Co. brand.

Absolutely not.  The Premier was a very mediocre small grand built
cheaply in NY from about 1920-1930.  The name was also used after 1931 by
Mathushek on small verticals.

At any rate, it is extremely unlikely that this instrument contains the
Ampico.  If it does, it was an aftermarket installation.  If the drawer
resembles that of the Ampico, the possibility exists of the piano being
equipped with an Amphion-built Recordo, or possibly an Art-Echo.  If it
were a factory installed Ampico, it would say so on the fallboard (if not
refinished) and the spoolbox would have the Ampico decal as well.  A
glance under the piano would probably indicate the mechanism fairly
quickly.

Although I can't imagine why anyone would, it is possible that the piano
was bought new with a Welte (licensee) system, which would also have the
spoolbox in a drawer.  The bottom-of-the-line American Piano Co. grand
equipped with a model A Ampico would have been the Franklin.

If Mike gets a chance, I hope he can look under the piano and give us
more information.

Dean Randall
mailto:pianolst@nwlink.com