I certainly agree with Andy Taylor!  I have seen hundreds of supposedly
"restored" reproducing pianos.  The majority of them have not been
carefully restored because those who restore them do not fully
understand their workings.

One of the saddest things I ever saw was a fine Mason and Hamlin Ampico
Grand, in my estimation, totally ruined!  The owner was talked into
having the bridge removed and a new one of different design installed.
The former glorious tone was rendered to that of a piece of junk!

I have seen pumps running at twice their speed to compensate for leaks,
and even a Duo-Art missing the expression system entirely!  One most
interesting Ampico upright had an electric coffee pot boiling water in
the bottom of the piano!  (The added humidity was supposed to be good
for it!)

Another Ampico had unit valves glued on with carpenters glue.  The
'technician' was so eager to hear the results before the glue was dry,
that much glue was sucked into the mechanism, and all the way to the
pump!

More reproducing pianos have been ruined and butchered than I care
to think about!  It takes twenty times (or more) the amount of work to
undo someone's stupidity than if the piano were left to the experts.

Bruce Clark