In a message dated 96-05-10 02:47:10 EDT, Darrell Clarke writes:

>
> I have restored, to varying degrees, a number of player pianos,
> including a Foster Marque AMPICO upright

Darrell,

Tell me about your Foster Marque AMPICO.  I have a Foster Marque AMPICO
also, made in 1924 according to the serial number and Pierce's Piano
Atlas.  Mine has several unusual features.  Normally, the Marque Ampico
used standard Model A expression systems.  Mine however, has no crescendo
pneumatics, the crescendo being accomplished by several various sized
bleeds on the input side of the expression pneumatic.  Also, there is no
"spring" pneumatic but rather a real mechanical spring.  The piano also
has a transposing tracker bar, unusual in a reproducing piano, a
pneumatic with an indicator to show pump vacuum, presumably to help
maintain a constant vacuum while pedaling, a pneumatic on top of the
spool box connected to the "automatic off/on" switch and an automatic
cutout assembly which is quite different from the usual Ampico device.
When I bought the piano, it was disassembled so I spent a lot of time
figuring out the tubing on the expression and cutout.  I came up with a
logical connection but it has never been confirmed by looking at
another similar piano.  I would be interested in any comments you might
have based on your own piano or that anyone else on the list might have
regarding these unusual expression devices.  (They look factory stock
original Ampico except for the variations noted.  The piano was
obviously built this way when new.  It has definitely not been modified
by anyone.)

Bob Conant