Musselj@cadvision.com,

M >>In my own situation, I've accumulated 29 instruments over the¶
M >>past 26 years (including 11 repro grands, 2 repro uprights, 2¶
M >>nickelodeons, 1 circus band organ, 1 player reed organ, an¶
M >>upright Steinway 65/88 pumper, and a large 28" Kalliope upright¶
M >>disk music box, etc.).   For about 10-15 of those early years,¶
M >¶
M >Out of curiosity, where do you find all these instruments? I've been¶
M >looking¶
M >for a small band organ or a Steinway repro in need or serious repair for¶
M >years and have never even encountered a single example. I must not be¶
M >reading the right magazines or something... <g>

I'm a compulsive collector, and have been at it since 1968,
some 27 years now.    I've made the mistake of hanging on
to most everything that came my way, instead of *horse*
*trading* my way up into something really outstanding.
Oh well..........

M >Since you probably know what the market is like, do you
M >have any idea what a 5 foot 4 Knabe/Ampico B which is
M >entirely original (the mechanism is not functioning
M >and hasn't for at least 15 years) right down to the cover
M >underneath would be worth? The whole thing needs a rebuild
M >as the action is worn out and the board is cracked so it's a
M >MAJOR restoration.

Sounds like a good candidate for complete restoration within
the host piano.   Often lesser brand "B"s are bought for the
sole purpose of gutting them, and installing the mechanism
into a former (gutted) high quality reproducing grand such
as a 6'+ Mason & Hamlin art case piano.

Do whatever you have to do to make sure that piano does
not fall into the hands of a dealer inclined to gut and
destroy the mechanism.    Suggest you keep close tabs on
that instrument to ensure it does not suffer this fate.

A current AMICA Bulletin listed a comparable 1936 Chickering
5' 4" Ampico B, complete and unrestored, in the Boston area
priced at $6,000 ($US).    A fully restored 1940 Knabe 5' 4"
Queen Anne art case Ampico B in the same issue was priced
at $24,000 ($US) in the New York City area.

Regards,

Terry


•Terry Smythe               Sounds of Yesteryear
55 Rowand Avenue           Restoration and enjoyment of vintage
Winnipeg, Manitoba         automatic musical instruments.
Canada   R3J 2N6          
204) 832-3982              email:   smythe@mbnet.mb.ca


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* UniQWK #5002* Positive anything is better than negative nothing.