-- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD --

 [ In 011130 MMDigest Richard Stibbons inquired how Delcamp "met his
 [ end."  Mike Walter forwarded a nice article from the Keystone Music
 [ Rolls catalog, and I just now received permission to republish it
 [ in MMDigest.  -- Robbie

Robbie,  You certainly can reprint any information regarding J. Milton
Delcamp that was featured in my catalog.  I know the two surviving
daughters of Mr. Delcamp and have been told some fascinating stories
about him.

All my best,
Richard Groman
Keystone Music Rolls

 - - -

 [ From Winter 1996-1997 Keystone Music Rolls Catalog.  Reproduced with
 [ permission of the author, Richard Groman, and Keystone Music Rolls.

John Milton Delcamp

In August 1996 Keystone was contacted by a grandson of J. Milton
Delcamp, an Ampico recording artist.  As you may be aware very little
has been known of this important Ampico reproducing piano star so we
were extremely pleased to discover that many of his descendants live in
our area.  Recently we spent an enjoyable evening with two of J. Milton
Delcamp's three daughters, their children, and families.

John Milton Delcamp was born in the Norristown, PA, area in 1892.  He
studied at the famous Coombes Conservatory in Philadelphia.  Delcamp,
like many other talented pianists, accompanied silent films and this
eventually led to jobs making piano rolls.  The success at Republic
Roll Co. led to his employment by the American Piano Company.

In 1922 or '23 Delcamp joined the American Piano Company organization
(and Adam Carroll soon joined him from their former employer,
Republic).  Delcamp's musical talent and organizational skills led
to his appointment as head of the Popular Music Department at Ampico in
1925.  In addition to his work at Ampico, Delcamp often appeared on the
radio.

With the American Piano Company purchase of Mason-Hamlin Piano Company
in Boston it was decided that Delcamp would move to Boston in early
1928 and become an officer of this premier addition to the American
Piano Company brands of pianos.  A home in Boston was rented for the
Delcamps but before they could move he contracted tuberculosis.

It was decided that the Delcamp family should return to the Norristown
area for rest and recovery from tuberculosis.  The Delcamp's third
daughter was born in Norristown and shortly thereafter Mrs. Delcamp
was diagnosed with cancer and she died in 1930.  J. Milton Delcamp went
to the famous Eagleville Sanatorium in the Norristown area where he
died in 1931.  J. Milton Delcamp's parents raised their three
grand-daughters.

We hope to be able to share more information about this important
Ampico artist in the future.  In the mean time Keystone is proud to
offer a series of Ampico recordings that display J. Milton Delcamp's
artistry.