Someone near me (in Atlanta) has a 1929 art case Mason and Hamlin
Ampico "A" for sale, and I told him I'd try to find him a buyer.
He has no set price, preferring to take offers.  The piano is in
the 38,000 serial number range (year 1929) and is a model RT. ("R"
for reproducer, "T" for the 5'4" model that was renamed the "B" when
Aeolian and American merged.)

The finish is original, dark and crazed; mildew is apparent on the
drawer components (I've only seen it in photos) due to a high humidity
situation that was in the house for a while, and there were dogs in the
house with it (one of which, I am guessing, "marked" the pedals due to
the lividly green corrosion on two of them.)

It appears to have had a mediocre restoration long ago.  The plate was
painted but letters were not blacked; maybe restrung, some pneumatic
work done.  The owner says his family had it since the 1960s and never
had it restored, so I'm guessing that it was bought back then with this
work already done.  And, due to its overall condition, it would need,
in my opinion, everything done all over again -- and then some.  (Some
minor bits of carved appliqué are also obviously missing, from the
circumambulating video he sent me.)

I am also very skeptical about the ability of anyone to fully remove
the pet odors, so "buyer beware"!  I would insist, as I am now part of
this process, that anyone buying it pick it up themselves or have it
crated, to avoid some mover using the pads it was wrapped in, later,
on other, far cleaner pianos being shipped to unsuspecting, trusting
clients.  Obtaining a piano shipping crate from one of the nearby
stores and reusing it should be quite feasible, and I can help arrange
that.

Gordon Stelter
Atlanta, Georgia
lclgcnp@yahoo.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]