The discussion of whether or not to put an Ampico system in a Yamaha
still comes down to a question of historical ethics.  Is it ethical for
us today in 2001 to remove an Ampico system from its original piano?

I must confess that I don't understand the reproducing system well
enough to know whether 120 inches or 120 feet of water will make the
difference.  The fact is that the Mason & Hamlin was meant for that
Ampico system.  Once you remove it, to me it's the same as making a
tee-shirt out of a Rembrandt painting because you like the eyes and
think it would be a nice shirt.  I've exaggerated slightly but often the
extreme illustrates the point.  If you consider a reproducing piano to
be a work of art, then you will not remove the system from an original
If you consider it just another possession, the same as your coffeemaker,
then you may feel free to take the works out.

I still recommend the idea of finding an orphan set of Ampico
mechanisms and using them to build up your Yamaha Ampico.  In this way,
you can feel good doubly: you have not destroyed a rare work of art and
you have brought another one back to life in a new body (an organ
transplant?!)

I keep promising myself that I will restore my 1923 Knabe Ampico but
have been reticent to start as I understand the depth of commitment
that I will be making to precision in doing so.  My last excuse that
I couldn't find my glue pot but I knew that it was in my father's
garage somewhere is now gone as my father found it.

Eliyahu Shahar