.....
Side views, matching 2-player bench. Case has 6 Federal style legs with cross bracing.
(East Rochester,
New York USA, manufactured by the
American Piano
Company who also made player mechanisms
for other companies
such as M&H, Chick, Knabe, et cetera,
per Pierce Piano
Atlas #10)
Priced @ REMOVED FROM THE MARKET
To be used as a Sample Listing with Owner's Permission.
Various views
of the baby grand player pianoforte.
Approximate 4'
to 5'+- case size.
Ampico Symphonique, c. 1928, serial number 91598
(serial numbers begin at 91500 in 1928!)
.....
Side views, matching 2-player bench. Case has
6 Federal style legs with cross bracing.
Registered piano tech (RPT) report summary:
Based on the RPT's letter report, there
has been significant rebuilding and repair of the player mechanism through
the years such that the piano is very much ready to enjoy and play. The
piano has original ivories in fair overall condition, original strings,
new hammers, minor soundboard cracking which does not apparently adversely
affect tone, pinblock & pins hold a tune on the original strings, dampers
are original, and the original action is in good mechanical condition.
The hammers are replacements. Based on the Photos and Data provided, the
case appears to be an original case which has not been refinished.
History of the Instrument and Seller Data
This is a "one family owner" piano which has been in the same family since the 1928 new purchase of the instrument by the seller's mother. The seller moved to the Providence area in 1968, and the same RPT has been maintaining the instrument since this time. Wow! That's pretty incredible!
The seller has not disclosed the reason for selling the piano, however, we suspect the seller is in the process of downsizing and or in the process of replacing the player piano with a more modern instrument. The RPT has provided the seller with an appraisal of "worth" for the instrument, and is relying on the Ole Bear to help market the piano to another loving, caring home.
P&G Report:
Ampico was one of the big player piano mechanism manufacturers in the early 20th Century in competition with Duo Art at the time. Ampico was made by the American Piano Co., East Rochester, NY beginning around 1916 according to Pierce Piano Atlas #10. These mechanisms were also placed into Masons, Chickerings, Knabes, Marshall & Wendell, J&C Fisher, and other pianos of the period. Pierce has Ampico serial number listings from 1920 to 1931 when they probably went out of business in the Great Depression. Duo Art Mechanisms were generally placed in Steinway, Weber, Steck, Stroud, Stuyvesant & Wheelock, and perhaps a few others, and appear to have been introduced in 1913.
The instrument is a partly rebuilt original instrument which appears to have had very good to excellent overall maintenance over the past 31 years. Restored Steinway grand cases generally command from a $10,000 to a $15,000+- market premium over non-player Restored Steinway grand cases, based on Bear's prior contacts.
The instrument's weaknesses appear to be the original strings and dampers, as well as the original case finish. These facets will please some purchasers, however, if one is comparing this instrument to a fully restored vintage "like kind" one can probably add from $2,500 to $4,000+- for a newly refinished case (depending upon the type of finish and the locale), and somewhere in the range of $1,500 to $3,000+- for new strings and dampers, depending on your technician and locale as Bear's best guess.
The RPT indicates the ivories to be in "fair condition", however, one cannot tell this from the photos that we have, since the photos seem to show good condition ivories.
With respect to the case finish...if the instrument were refinished, the buyer could choose whether or not to lighten the color of the case. This should be a gorgeous baby player refinished...and Bear's taste would be to keep the mahogany veneer as light and natural as possible...
This is an incredible opportunity to purchase a one family baby grand player piano with 50 piano rolls as well as a matching 2-player bench in the purchase price. There is some value in that it is owned and maintained by one family. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry has been fiddling with the "critter"... and as far as we can discern, somebody out there who's "into" baby grand players is probably going to be one happy camper buying this "little gem".
"As Is"
To have an extremely playable tonal vintage used instrument add: Acquisition Cost + $500 to $1,500+- Shipping & Insurance within the Continental USA + $100 to $200 for minor tune up after delivery + wait 10-20+ years for additional rebuilding work if you want to maintain the "critter" in "as is" condition.
If you want to refinish
the case and add new strings and dampers, you can spend perhaps $3,500
to $7,000+-, depending on what you do and your locale/region as a matter
of personal taste and the purchaser's judgment call. There are more mechanical
parts than the typical 12,000+- moving parts in a typical non-player grand
case pianoforte. The buyer is going to spend some money to maintain the
player mechanism as a fact of life. But,
you
as the Buyer have a fun "toy"
that you can play as well!
......................................................
Vintage
Player
Vintage Players
Priced @ REMOVED FROM MARKET
Several for sale from $1,500 to $20,000+
Yes,
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c.1928
Ampico Symphonique
Baby
Grand Player Pianoforte,
including
50 piano rolls and a matching 2-player bench, located in Rhode Island,
USA!
