Marque with no acute accent originally meant, in French, a royal
licence (for privateers, etc.) to attack a hostile state, and then a
royal licence to do anything.  From that it comes to mean, in English,
a make or brand, and (Philippe may correct me) "marque'" (with e-acute
accent) in French means "marked" in the pejorative antique-dealer's
sense of not being pristine.

The plain cooking Marque Ampico was a pedal-only instrument analogous
to the foot-pumped "half Duo-Art", sold for the non-electrified house-
hold, and which (others may know better) I believe roughly interpreted
the seven Ampico intensities only.  The pedal-electric version was the
outcome of one or more of the Australian Ampico dealers becoming des-
perate for sales in the Depression, and using spare Ampico expression
boxes to convert Marque Ampicos into true Ampicos while retaining the
foot-pump facility.

I would categorise one of these hybrids as historic, rare and highly
collectable.  But (for me) the value would depend on how good the
piano is !

If the actual instrument bears an acute accent on the final E in
"marque", that's news to me.  I thought it had none.

Dan Wilson, London

 [ Jeffrey, have an Ampico expert inspect the piano.  If it has the
 [ complete Ampico action _plus_ the foot-pump, then it is very rare
 [ and quite collectible.  But don't discard your old Pianola yet!  :)
 [ -- Robbie