Okay Craig,  at least we agree on a lot of the points you put in the
last post.  I too have seen many things over the past years that aren't
kosher; there will be jobs that were done badly and jobs that were
done well.  I've run into both myself.  This is part of the "life"
experiences of that piano.  Just like having the case painted red or
psychedelic colors in the 1960's.

But you had contact with them because the actions were still inside.
In fact, the reason that we know about these pianos and the other
automatic machines that exist today is because people cared enough
about them not to gut them.  I don't think they should go 80 years
only to be gutted "on my watch", so to speak.

I never had any problem with putting an Ampico action in the Yamaha.
What an educational experience that would be for all involved.  My
point is that you don't gut a piano in order to do it.  I have seen
B drawers and stacks for sale on the MMD and have offered to contact
people who have homeless Ampico parts for sale.

As you say, a new stack would have to be built to line up with the
different key frame.  It would be possible to use the blocks, fingers
and bolts and other parts to make the stack.  The first thing to do is
to figure out the cost of building a stack practically from scratch,
and then the cost of modifying the piano.  If one is not ready to stand
the cost of buying and restoring homeless Ampico parts, how much more
so the other costs involved?

It would be great to have the Yamaha on stage playing for thousands
of people.  I'd really like to see that.  But is that feasible for the
general public who may not know what an Ampico is?  Would that be a
one-time thing?  If it is, is it worth it?

Here is a more likely scenario.  The Ampico parts are gutted from the
Mason and Hamlin, and restored, and say they even make it to the Yamaha
that someone has been paid to modify to accept them.

At some point -- not 5 years or 10 years but, say, 30 or 35 years down
the road -- the Yamaha seems really kind of loud in the house, the stage
concert has taken place some years before, and there are other things
that are far more interesting now than the piano is.  "Let's sell it."

A collector may not want it because it isn't original, and the chance
of finding someone who wants it as an Ampico is slim.  I suppose the
action could be taken out and it could be sold as a regular piano.
Someone who really plays might really enjoy having a 9' piano, but that
drawer keeps hitting him in the knees.

Now, instead of having at least one Ampico (the Mason and Hamlin) you
have two straight pianos.  Right now there are thousands of Ampicos but
time, neglect, accidents, fires, and dealers who can get more for a
straight piano, will whittle them down to where there isn't any point
in cutting rolls for them anymore.

When was the last time you saw a really good Welte catalog of available
rolls?  What about the hundreds of Artrio Angelus's and Apollo's?
When the rolls aren't available anymore then they will really start
disappearing.  That's why the pianos that have actions now should be
protected.  There will be plenty lost without adding to the loss on
purpose.

I think that I have made my thoughts known on this subject for what
it's worth and I will now bow out.  If the validity of what I'm saying
can't be seen, there is no point in going on.

Tony Marsico