I acquired a 1926 Mason & Hamlin RBB piano in 1987 that is perhaps
the cleanest example of an Ampico piano that I have ever owned or
worked on.  The piano had been in its original Southern California
location for most of its life.  When that estate was sold, the
piano made two brief moves before I claimed it.   When I first saw
it in California, still in the possession of the housekeeper of
the original estate (first move), I discovered that Dick Carty had
rebuilt the stack many years earlier.  The rest was still original.

Now, today, the work that Dick Carty did long before I first saw
it is starting to show its age.  Pneumatic cloth on the stack is
becoming slightly stiff.  I expect that cloth is at least 40 years
old.  (I don't have those records, but I do have the service contract
for the piano when Ampico was still thriving in the late 1920s.)
Previously, I did rebuild everything aft of the stack, and it is
still in great shape.  Now, the stack and the drawer(s) will get my
attention.

The reason for this post is to offer help to anyone who might
be putting a replacement stack into a 7' Mason & Hamlin.  I have
retrofit several pianos, so I know the challenges.  The stack is
the most challenging task.  While my original stack is out of the
piano for the next two weeks, I can make scale sticks or patterns
for anyone in need.

I do realize that there are only 75 of these instruments in the
shipping register but, due to the excellence of the Mason & Hamlin
BB scale, most of the 75 instruments survive, and many are without
the original Ampico.

I can also provide patterns for mounting the expression components,
none of which are mounted directly on the beams.  In fact, this
Ampico is the most unique in layout.   The motor is in the center
with the pump aft, and all expression is in "mid-air" between the
beams.

Currently, my piano is driven from an original Ampico B drawer.
I will be restoring that drawer and the original drawer in the next
month or so.  Formally, I modified the piano to operated as the
special demo concert grands with a two stage pump.   The performance
is awesome.  After all current work is complete, I will offer some
YouTube performances.  Then, John Del Carlo and I will have dueling
RBBs!  (John's presentations are totally awesome, and represent the
highest quality on YouTube)

If you need help with a replacement stack, let me know.

Bob Taylor
Missouri
rtaylor@socket.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]