•Hi Dave - Hope this will assist you. > When the transmission goes into rewind, it begins winding and the > shifter then slips a tiny amount out of rewind. This stops the roll > action and begins a tick, tick, tick as the tips of the pins hit > without locking in enough to pull the roll. I have stre...

•It is important to get things correct, and while I appreciate Robbie's comments to clarify things, this particular clarification is incorrect: >[ Using a restriction at the top seat of valve "D" makes the system >[ unbalanced and quite susceptible to the effects of stray leakage >[ at the pneumatic...

•Robbie, you wrote a caveat to explain what you meant by an unstable "valve." However I think you are still laboring under the misconception that someone at the factory occasionally placed a solid, airtight cardboard cover into the Ampico valve's top seat and shellacked it in. You wrote: >[ Sorry, I...

•Robbie, I think that you have probably overlooked something in the Ampico B schematic. Check also fig. 28. The C valve doesn't operate both A and D, just D. It is energized on reroll, and then only if the repeat switch is turned on. Otherwise, it energizes as soon as the roll comes off the trackerb...

•Hi again, I believe that my Ampico is in need of a major overhaul but at least for the next few months I don't have the time or energy to do it. Perhaps when I finish restoring my backlog of musical boxes (but they grow faster than I finish them). The other problem is that my glue pot is in Califor...

•Regarding Ampicos that won't play immediately, that is usually caused by an upside-down block valve whose travel is too great. If the player is of the Amphion-action type, then the chances are, that valve is in the stack. Remove its cover and listen for the valve. You can make it do this anytime yo...

•Hi Eliyahu, The problem with your unit is most likely the block valves. They need to be rebuilt. The primary valves most likely need to be rebuilt also. One way to get the unit to play without crawling under the piano is to shift the Play/Reroll lever very quickly from Play to Reroll and then back ...

•Can anyone tell me how J Milton Delcamp met his end ? There appears to have been a power struggle between him and Edgar Fairchild for the post of Ampico Chief Editor. Delcamp lost, of course, and died not long after. He must still have been a young man. Are the details known please ? (Perhaps Corri...

•Upon playing a music roll on my recently restored Haines Ampico, I noticed that it only plays at about half the intensity or force that it should. But when the 'automatic' switch is turned off, it then plays normally (at full force) without expression. I know that I have adjusted and regulated all ...

•In 011207 MMDigest Nathan Bello tells us his Ampico only plays at about half the intensity or force that it should. This could be a number of things. You mention it also looses quite a bit of suction whenever the sustain pneumatic is turned on. Remove the sustaining pedal mechanism and test it for ...

•Nathan Bello asked about a strange problem with an Ampico player. It plays full force when the automatic switch is turned off and weakly when it's on. With no more information than that, I'd say that's clearly an error in tubing it up. But you didn't make it certain that the bass plays exactly like...

•Hi friends, Nathan Bello wrote that he was having some problems with his newly restored Ampico A system when the system was in the reproducing mode. A couple of suggestion might be for him to check the tubing that goes from the tracker bar to the expression primary valves to make certain that it is...

•-- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD -- [ In 011130 MMDigest Richard Stibbons inquired how Delcamp "met his [ end." Mike Walter forwarded a nice article from the Keystone Music [ Rolls catalog, and I just now received permission to republish it [ in MMDigest. -- Robbie Robbie, You c...

•Regarding Terry Smythe's question on the public availability of a roll database with Ampico rolls included. I have begun the compilation of such a database, and it is available on the IAMMP web site, http://www.iammp.org/ Follow the link to the "Roll Archives". The database can be searched or brows...

•I have a 1936 Chickering Ampico B with an older rebuild. The treble plays too softly since the drier weather, but the bass plays fine. Is there a regulation to increase the minimum volume of the treble end? This model has the trombone-like 1st Intensity slide and not the two big set-screws. It seem...

•Hi all, Just a quick note to let everyone know that Spencer Chase is sending me the parts I need for the Ampico Air-Motor. Networks like E-Roll-Collectors and the MMD are truly invaluable. Many Thanks, John A. Tuttle

•Notes On Ampico "A" Grand Drawer Roll Tracking Improvements or "How I saved my rolls from destruction." Sincere thanks for these ideas go to several experienced rebuilders and AMICA friends. I hope that I do not embarrass any of them by my conclusions. They have helped me solve a problem with a pia...

•Ampico put out two variations of labels for the "Favorite Fifty" collection, one in the standard white and another where the background color is 'gold'. Does anyone know which came first? John W Miller Minnesota USA www.PianoRollStuff.com

•Ampico parts needed: I need a Ampico pump, mounting hardware for the drawer, and some parts for a stack. I would consider a complete Ampico mechanism. If anyone has parts or complete mechanism for sale please call 816-767-8246 or write . Parts are for a 1925 Mason Hamlin. Galen Bird ...

•Which of the following most accurately reflects the volume levels of a properly regulated Ampico at subdued, normal, and brilliant? pp |-------------------| ff pp |----------------------| ff pp |--------------------------| ff or : pp |--------------------| ff pp |-----------------------------------...