Hello Bryan and MMD,  I was interested to read your description of
a type of Ampico with a spring motor for the roll drive [080815
MMDigest].  The mention of the mechanism being a "Standard" rather
than the usual Amphion-built system really caught my attention.

There was another variation on the spring-motor equipped Ampico
foot pumper that had an Amphion-built stack and pedal unit, and had
a spring motor for the roll drive plus a small conventional air motor
for the re-roll.  This has been somewhat described in an old AMICA
technicalities.  It is this style that I think is in the Marshall and
Wendell in the MMD posting of 8-13-08 ["Marshall & Wendell Ampico"].

The version with the Melville Clarke spring motor, the stack
obviously manufactured by Standard and a pedal unit similar to the
Amphion version (but different) is evidently very rare.  I have one in
a Franklin piano.  I have not been able to gather any information on
this instrument other than the references made by a number of American
Piano Company people who alluded to and described an instrument
allegedly built by Charles Stoddard (or under his direction) in the
"Kohler and Campbell" factory in 1922.

This instrument is a spectacular machine.  Restoring it was not
particularly difficult.  It was well thought out in every detail,
and it is without question the best foot operated upright player piano
I have ever played.  As an Ampico, it is equally good, able to play
very softly without missing notes and to play loudly when called on to
do so.  It is so efficient that it can easily be played with one foot!

For some reason, none of the technical historians has shown any interest
or even been willing to acknowledge the possible existence of this
Ampico variation.  One historian tried to convince me that it had to be
a forgery, possibly built by Tolbert Cheek.  I'm not a self-proclaimed
expert or historian, but after 40 plus years of restoring player pianos,
I know it is real.

I'd love to hear more about any other examples of this type of Ampico.
I can provide photos and specific details since I have totally restored
it and still own it.  I did the restoring twenty or more years ago, but
I still have my notes in a file.

Bob Hunt
Hunt Piano Company
Kennebunk, Maine