In response to Craig Brougher's "unusual Chickering Ampico": This
sounds like it might be what is sometimes referred to as an Ampico
"Top Loader", or the "Baby" Ampico pictured in Bower's Encyclopaedia.
It is fairly common in the East.
It had single valves of the ball bleed type, but was otherwise a
relatively normal Ampico A. It used a roll motor like that used in
the grands, and a "bowden wire" linkage between the tempo control
and the governor.
As originally tubed, there was enough slack to allow the spool frame
to be moved out of the way for tuning. Those of us comfortable with
player pianos would, of course, take the few minutes necessary to
remove the top action rather than fight it, but you didn't have to.
They were very decent sounding instruments, like many of the late small
pianos, belying their diminutive size. I have a customer who owns one
of these. It was "restored" (not altered in any way from the original).
I am sure the owners would be happy to have a picture or two taken if
this would be of interest.
Bob Hunt
Kennebunk, ME
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