Re: Player Pianos
By Terry Smythe
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. |
(Message sent Wed 19 Apr 1995, 16:52:04 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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