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MMD > Archives > January 2021 > 2021.01.17 > 05Prev  Next


FS: 1926 Marque Ampico Expression Player Piano
By Douglas Henderson

Our pedal Ampico expression player ("reproducing" piano) is equally
good as a responsive 88-note player. Not all of the Marque series was;
they performed expression rolls very well but were often slushy on
regular rolls due to large exhausters and design differences.

By the late '20s the Marque series was equal to the most responsive
88-note player plus performed Ampico expression rolls effectively
as well.

Unlike the electric Ampico with three or less dynamic ranges, the
Marque series had five playing levels, plus a transposer as well.
You watched a "pressure gauge" and that determined the range of the
expression rolls.

I bought this instrument a number of years ago when my business partner
Lois Konvalinka was living, and it was stored in another town 11 miles
away along with my 30-year inventory of Artcraft music rolls. Now,
I want everything to be under one roof, creating a few Ampico rolls
along with a steady flow of 88-note and Duo-Art expression rolls which
are my primary offerings.

I paid $600 for the piano, $2500 for the restoration by Bob Hunt, an
expert on Ampico players, $200 for voiced Abel (German) hammers by my
technician of forty years.

My 1830s house has three player grands used as references in arranging
and publishing music rolls. There is no room for this solidly made
upright piano in the building.

Due to a long, long wait for my orthopedic appointment at our
local hospital, little work is being done until my date arrives in
late January. Moving the roll inventory is far more involved than
I estimated so to give my business "a shot in the arm" (before a shot
in my hip socket), I am offering this Marque Ampico at $600 for January
19-20 only -- a great price for someone wanting a versatile pedal
player upright.

The instrument does not have to be moved immediately and can stay in
my building until it is emptied before being sold. It can roll out onto
a truck or trailer with ease.

Again, this Marque Ampico is $600 for those 2 days only. If not sold
I will offer it later in a 4-digit price. There are pictures on the
Douglas Henderson Facebook Page.

Douglas Henderson - Artcraft Music Rolls
Wiscasset, Maine
tel.: 1-207-631-1761
artcraft@wiscasset.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]


(Message sent Sun 17 Jan 2021, 23:28:37 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  1926, Ampico, Expression, FS, Marque, Piano, Player

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