Hello all (particularly those along NY Interstate 81 from Syracuse
south to 380 to Rte 33 south to Bethlehem PA),

I'm the most-fortunate and still-beaming Canadian winner of that 1938
Steck Ampico spinet listed on eBay (MMD 05.04.24) by an owner just north
of Bethlehem, Pa.  I have admired these compact marvels ever since
assisting Ken Vinen with rebuilding his spinet a few years ago.
Financial and space considerations have forced me to be primarily an
Aeolian & Duo-Art guy, but after experiencing Ken's and others' spinets,
with their full, robust tone, I've yearned to own an Ampico model, if
one fell my way.

Now one has, and it couldn't happen at a more inconvenient time. I work
in a technical backstage capacity here at the Stratford Shakespearean
Festival in Southwestern Ontario, and we've just begun the hectic
rehearsals and previews leading up to Opening Week in late May/June.
Fortunately, the seller is willing to wait a month or two for pickup.

Here's the thing: Stratford to Bethlehem and back is an 18 hour flat-out
ordeal, no matter how much I enjoy driving -- and I do.  But my work
schedule rarely allows more than a two-day absence.  More often than
not, there is only one day between my performance duties.

I do have a great friend and fellow Duo-Art pipe organ buddy in
Syracuse, N.Y. (a mere 5 hours from me one way) who would be more than
happy to hold the piano temporarily.  However his Honda Element is not
big enough to carry it.  Amazingly, the spinet, on its back, is a
perfect fit slid into my Subaru GT wagon, although I expect I'll simply
rent a small van to transport it.

My earliest window of opportunity to retrieve the spinet is the weekend
of June 4-6, with a few more throughout the summer months.  If the
piano were already in Syracuse, it would be so much easier to drive a
van from Stratford to Syracuse in a leisurely fashion.

I'm pursuing all options from up here in Canada, but I thought it a
good idea to appeal to MMD readers familiar with the Lehigh Valley area
for any suggestions, recommendations of piano movers, or even personal
willingness -- and the necessary truck -- to transport, for a reasonable
fee, the piano from Bethlehem, Pa., to Syracuse, N.Y., in the next few
weeks.  No second floors or basements involved.  Detailed  maps and
door-to-door directions provided.

Please email me (sprocket7@sympatico.ca.geentroep) if this project
piques your interest or if you have suggestions (delete .geentroep
when replying).

Dave Kerr
Southwestern Ontario, finally looking like Spring.