Restoration of a 1925 Foster Ampico Upright, Accompanied by Beethoven's 5th

Arthur Loesser and Milton Suskind (also known as Edgar Fairchild) recorded this 1921 Ampico version #60223 of the finale of Beethoven's fifth symphony. At that time, reproducing piano reductions of orchestral pieces were very popular, especially before the availability of radio or electronic recording technology allowed one to hear orchestral music in the home. The video shows images from the restoration completed in July 2011 at Historic Pianos, of the 1925 Foster & Co. Ampico upright, built in Rochester NY in 1925. The restoration for its long-time owner was made necessary by water damage from a plumbing leak some years ago, as well as by the effects of age on tubing, cloth and leather. This Ampico 4-hands roll showcases the remarkable capabilities of a well-restored pneumatic instrument to play dense chords and rapidly repeated notes with good dynamic control.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ampico
• Foster
• historicpianos
• reproducing
• piano
• roll
• restoration
• Arthur
• Loesser
• Milton
• Suskind
• Edgar
• Fairchild
• Beethoven
• Artur
• Bodanzky

[dogsbody49]

A fascinating video. It is amazing what can be done to a real wreck of a piano, It sounds really good. I am not very up with the Ampico action & have often wondered what the coiled spring like thing is on upright piano. It is below the wrest pins & above the hammers. Perhaps you can tell me what it does.

All good wishes

chris (from over the pond.)

[bartolomochristofari]

@dogsbody49

The coiled springs simply provide tension for a pair of reservoir pneumatics, one bass and one treble, connected to the split stack and mounted high on the sides of the case above the hammers. They help the Ampico reliably play multi-note chords, especially at quiet settings. Grand Ampicos have the same thing, but usually mounted just behind the stack at the bass and treble ends.

[tempolarolls]

Excellent restoration, That Foster commands a fine tone! Ive rebuilt several Foster players, but a foster Ampico is rare! what is the "spring" above the bass strings near the upper bridge? some sort of resonator?