[ Ref. Bill Daugherty in 190303 MMDigest ]

Hi,  We have a 1929 Chickering with an Ampico drawer type mechanism.
Shortly after getting the piano it suddenly played very softly;
a vacuum gauge test indicated a 50% drop in vacuum vs. spec.  No
loose tubes were found, but the problem was diagnosed as the vacuum
pump spill valve (curtain design) had failed.

The simple fix was dropping the pump out and replacing the curtain
valve material.  The Ampico piano mechanism has worked perfectly since.

Bruce Scott