In the early 1980s I modified a small 1927 English Steck (not a
George Steck) former Themodist vertical piano to Ampico A system as
an experimental platform to begin work on a system for converting
on the fly.

I was able to get it to play Welte not too bad, but the problem was
that the IBM PC I was using (with special I/O boards) could only make
it through the conversion algorithm six times a second, whereas the
minimum I would go for (then) was 20 per second.  Now, it would be easy
to do a hundred or (way) more.  Whatever, the piano was thereafter set
up for just Ampico A and 88-notes with adjustable volume for the latter.

This thing is still resident with us and is taking up room.  An
absolutely splendid performer, there's nothing to do except to possibly
remote the (centrifugal) suction unit, which can still be clearly heard
notwithstanding sound insulation.  It has a calibrated Bodine motor
roll drive and a much-modified tracker bar to potentially play Ampico
A, Ampico B, Welte Licensee and Duo-Art roll.

The stack (Bilon) is perfect, and divided to permit individual access
to E, F and F# which, now, are all "wired" to treble for Ampico.  It
hand-plays fine, too, as the action is in excellent condition.  New
hammers (Ronson?) and restrung just before I rebuilt the pneumatic
system.  Holds tune amazingly well.

If you're interested or know somebody that might be, I can send a
number of pictures by email or snail mail.  Am thinking of $1450, cash
and carry from our place in the Moon Valley (7th St and Thunderbird)
area of Phoenix.  The mistress of the house has stated definitively
that it must go.

I also have a Mason and Hamlin Ampico A (5' 8") which has been rebuilt
and refinished by Craftsman Piano here in Phoenix.  I rebuilt all the
pneumatic stuff (Larry Broadmoore rebuilt the pump to incorporate his
completely effective "anti-knock" modification).  It has been converted
to full computer control of all drawer functions with Bodine motor roll
drive.  Ampico is perfect.  It's now set up to play Ampico only, but
all the parts were retained if someone should ever want to convert it
back to "original".  Pictures available.  A breathtaking work of art
but, of course, much more expensive.

Jim Phillips
Phoenix Arizona