The Trackerbar Stomp - 1914 Wm Knabe Ampico

This is a recording of The Trackerbar Stomp written by George Bogatko, for the 100th Anniversary of the Pianola, recorded on a QRS Piano Roll.

The piano roll is played on a 1914 Wm. Knabe Player Piano. I believe the player mechanism was built by Ampico. My research and piano technician says it's probably the earlier Stoddard-Ampico version. It is indeed an expression player, and used to be equipped with the "Flex-O-Tone" mechanism.

The piano is in 100% original condition. Although I must pump the bellows hard and fast to maintain the vacuum, I was told that the bellows are in great shape and what is actually leaking is the stack portion of the player piano. Someday, I will have this beautiful gold medal instrument restored.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Trackerbar
• Stomp

[Yalie06405]

Hmm. Maybe you could give me some guidance myxklptk. I have to pump like crazy to get it to play now and always. When I put it in reroll, it becomes very difficult to pump the pedals. The barely depress and the roll barely rewinds. Any idea what's leaking? I'd love to get it playing better. Thanks!

[glycopianoman]

@Yalie06405 Time for a restoration, Dude!! You should not have to pedal that much. Check out my last video of a finished player. It is a tutorial for pedalling a player at my youtube channel for pianoworldenterprise There is lots of room for improvement on your Ampico. I suspect this is not an Ampico roll. But it looks like the Ampico part of your player is not working anyway.

[myxklptk]

I would bet that it is the bellows that are leaking. The cloth gets porous after 100 years. If it is easy to pump on reroll and hard to pump on play, the stack is leaking. If it is hard to pump on reroll and play, the bellows are leaking.

[gbogatko]

Cool!!! A good interpretation!!

I should know, I wrote it.