Now collecting pianos
- Thread starter travis
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perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Beautiful! Nuff said!
Chuck
Chuck
It's always something.....
I'm with you, Travis. If I were going to own a piano again (we had the "family" baby grand for years, but wrote it into the deal when we sold our previous home), it would have to be an Ampico because I never learned how to read music, and even as a kid, pumping those pedals on a standard player was exhausting.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Gorgeous!!
Player pianos are the only ones I can "play"!Yes,pumping is tiring-but was satisfying.You could always look for a "Moto-Playo" bench-was a device for pumping pianos that didn't have a motor-you could sit on the bench and motor driven "feet" sticking out of it did the pumping for you-could be used on pump organs,too.You could sit on the bench and play while it pumpted the organ for you.
Years ago, a friend who had a player piano, got tired of pumping all the time to play. He mounted an old vacuum cleaner in the basement, and hooked the discharge up to a hose, and up to the piano.
Vacuum cleaners have been used as a power source for player pianos-but scorned by collectors-users would love the idea!
Travis
HI there, What is the brand name of the piano? I have two pianos here and a pipe organ. You can have the Ampico rebuilt if it needs it. If you can get this for a great price, go for it. See if you can get it for a reduced price. You may have to have the piano rebuilt too but it sure is worth it. It would cost less than a new grand to have it all up an running. I have a Waltham upright player, not an Ampico. These are very desirable pianos. Keep us informed please. Gary
HI there, What is the brand name of the piano? I have two pianos here and a pipe organ. You can have the Ampico rebuilt if it needs it. If you can get this for a great price, go for it. See if you can get it for a reduced price. You may have to have the piano rebuilt too but it sure is worth it. It would cost less than a new grand to have it all up an running. I have a Waltham upright player, not an Ampico. These are very desirable pianos. Keep us informed please. Gary
Gary,
It's an Ampico. The piano is a Fisher Bros. The styling of the piano caught my eye. Someday, the back room of my house will be turned into a family room with the capability of being a master bedroom. I kept staring at the listing and finally made an offer. Cross your fingers it's not totally messed up.
[this post was last edited: 3/26/2016-20:51]
It's an Ampico. The piano is a Fisher Bros. The styling of the piano caught my eye. Someday, the back room of my house will be turned into a family room with the capability of being a master bedroom. I kept staring at the listing and finally made an offer. Cross your fingers it's not totally messed up.
[this post was last edited: 3/26/2016-20:51]
Travis
I hope this all works out for you. It looks like you will have to rewire it from the looks of the cord. I think the style of piano looks what their idea is of Spanish cabinetry. Gary If you had a serial number, I can look up the age of it for you . Gary
I hope this all works out for you. It looks like you will have to rewire it from the looks of the cord. I think the style of piano looks what their idea is of Spanish cabinetry. Gary If you had a serial number, I can look up the age of it for you . Gary
funktionalart
Well-known member
Travis must be my twin...
Refrigerators and Pianos….we need less heavy-weight interests! Just had to post a set of pics of my own~hope you enjoy. 1897 Ivers and Pond.
Refrigerators and Pianos….we need less heavy-weight interests! Just had to post a set of pics of my own~hope you enjoy. 1897 Ivers and Pond.
The piano arrived
I had the piano moved from MI to a local piano shop. The legs are a bit wobbly. We're re-gluing those before getting it back together. It's had some rebuilding in the past. Until the piano itself passes, the ampico is being ignored. Then we will go onto the ampico and see how bad it is.
It's a fascinating design. That all being said, I have told the piano guy that I am not ready for a full restoration.
I had the piano moved from MI to a local piano shop. The legs are a bit wobbly. We're re-gluing those before getting it back together. It's had some rebuilding in the past. Until the piano itself passes, the ampico is being ignored. Then we will go onto the ampico and see how bad it is.
It's a fascinating design. That all being said, I have told the piano guy that I am not ready for a full restoration.
funktionalart
Well-known member
Travis~I hope it all goes well
There's nothing like having a piano in the house. Makes wonderful atmosphere--whether you play it or it plays itself. Looking forward to updates!
There's nothing like having a piano in the house. Makes wonderful atmosphere--whether you play it or it plays itself. Looking forward to updates!
Some progress
I am now well into this piano. The tubing was fine. Some of the pneumatics have gotten rebuilt. It's playing, but has some leaks still. The case is generally good. When the last person put it on a dolly, the blanket must have gotten wet. As a result, there are a couple patches where the finish is damaged. I really don't want to have this completely refinished. That would be expensive and I doubt it would look right. Very seldom does a restored item look like it did.
I am now well into this piano. The tubing was fine. Some of the pneumatics have gotten rebuilt. It's playing, but has some leaks still. The case is generally good. When the last person put it on a dolly, the blanket must have gotten wet. As a result, there are a couple patches where the finish is damaged. I really don't want to have this completely refinished. That would be expensive and I doubt it would look right. Very seldom does a restored item look like it did.
Travis and Allen
Travis and Allen, If you can find the serial numbers on the plates and let me know, I can tell you how old your pianos are. I have two pianos: A 1916 Waltham upright player and a 1980 Mason & Hamlin grand.
Fisher and Ivers and Pond were made during the "Golden Age" of piano manufacturing in the United States. It's too bad that we only have 4 American companies that are still in business. Steinway, Mason and Hamlin, Baldwin and Charles Walter. Good luck with the Ampico rebuild.
Travis and Allen, If you can find the serial numbers on the plates and let me know, I can tell you how old your pianos are. I have two pianos: A 1916 Waltham upright player and a 1980 Mason & Hamlin grand.
Fisher and Ivers and Pond were made during the "Golden Age" of piano manufacturing in the United States. It's too bad that we only have 4 American companies that are still in business. Steinway, Mason and Hamlin, Baldwin and Charles Walter. Good luck with the Ampico rebuild.
Small progress
I have thoroughly jumped down the piano restoration hole. The piano legs were wobbly. The bench was loose. Some of the pneumatics have been rebuilt.
The pictures are of the rebuilt bench. I also had the brackets for the piano action made. The original ones were pot metal and were disintegrating. Next up is to replace some of the key tops in the worst shape. The hammers will likely be replaced. The ones on the upper end are down to nothing. There's even a broken string to deal with.
I have thoroughly jumped down the piano restoration hole. The piano legs were wobbly. The bench was loose. Some of the pneumatics have been rebuilt.
The pictures are of the rebuilt bench. I also had the brackets for the piano action made. The original ones were pot metal and were disintegrating. Next up is to replace some of the key tops in the worst shape. The hammers will likely be replaced. The ones on the upper end are down to nothing. There's even a broken string to deal with.
vacerator
Well-known member
Art,
beautifull Piano! You don't see too many uprights anymore. Mostly spinets or baby grands.
I acquired an old upright in high school. It was really rough and scratched up. I sanded it smooth, then soaked it with linseed oil. I had it tuned, and it had a really nice sound. My folks had no room for it, so I sold it. If we'd had the room, I know one of us five would have learned to play it.
beautifull Piano! You don't see too many uprights anymore. Mostly spinets or baby grands.
I acquired an old upright in high school. It was really rough and scratched up. I sanded it smooth, then soaked it with linseed oil. I had it tuned, and it had a really nice sound. My folks had no room for it, so I sold it. If we'd had the room, I know one of us five would have learned to play it.
