An article in the AMICA Bulletin, Vol. 35, No. 3, May/June 1998,
page 115, quotes a 1970 letter from Durrell Armstrong captioned 
"Instant Ampico Recordings".  This excerpt is interesting:

 "A great amount of money and time have been put into this project
  over the last ten years.  I am a contributor myself, as I loaned
  the original German-made Welte perforating machine, which I had
  previously purchased, to Jim Ballentine at this time since he
  needed something to start with.  Although the recording machine
  (also built in Germany) came with the perforator in my purchase,
  it was more of a curiosity rather than being practical to use,
  since it was so complex and elaborate a piece of machinery it
  would be doubtful that anyone could fathom the many features of
  the original purpose.  At any rate, such a recording had to be
  hand-punched over the machine's ink markings to make the master
  roll for the perforator.  A better and more modern system was
  designed by Ballantine. ..."

Whatever happened to these original German-made Welte recording and
perforating machines?  Maybe someone else could fathom the many
features.

Robbie Rhodes