Spinet Ampico Plays, Brown Eyes Why Are You So Blue?

A rare 1937 Ampico spinet plays a roll. This is the last model introduced by Ampico, and at a cost of $495, it still had unsuccessful sales. The depression and loss of interest in player pianos proved to be the demise of the once popular Ampico.

This piano has been restored in phases as each original component ceases to operate. The air motor, tracker and other spool box components are still original. The roll featured was recorded by J. Milton Delcamp.
http://web.me.com/bobtaylor5/Ampico/Welcome.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• AMICA
• automatic
• music
• MBSI
• J.
• Milton
• Delcamp
• Reproducing
• piano

[JamesPriceJohnson]

how you supposed to tune that?

[ampicoab]

It's not easy! The top action slides forward about four inches, and that allows access to the tuning pins.

[ampicoab]

Good idea. Somehow, I missed giving credit to Delcamp, but now he is included in the tag.

[ampicoab]

Regarding the George Steck brand--I think the stencil name was chosen to match the dealerships. I've seen the same spinet design with at least three other names. The Ampico system is simplified to conserve space and expense.

[arburo1]

Heard about but never seen until now. This is a really fantastic little reproducer, and a real engineer's delight inside, so compact. Many thanks for posting.

[ranchovistadenada]

Nice piano, I now have 2 of these, a '38 and '39. Ampico knew something-how to get such great sound out of a small piano.....only problem I have are those grasshopper pumps! I truly enjoy the music these little guys put out. There great when I dont what to here the big sound of the Steinway DA. Thanks for sharing such a great piano!

[Wurlitzer157]

Wow! This is a very dandy (and compact too) instrument you could easily fit anywhere!

[jev1937]

This little spinet with it's stripped down price and ampico system plays remarkably well. Regretably, I passed on one of these for sale but needing restoration back twenty years ago.. If I only knew then how good they could sound.....like the little engine that could! Thanks for bringing this to share with us all. OldSeaDog37

[Pianosyncrazy]

Thanks for offering this rare footage...

[KawhackitaRag]

The way he changes up the rhythm at 2:09-2:10 reminds me of Frank Banta, but the swung 3-over-8 ragtime figure following this is pure Delcamp.

And of course, the big break in the coda is a Confrey break.

I'm sure most of those guys knew and listened to each other, and so I am not surprised to hear bits of each other's styles creeping in.

Both Banta and Confrey are also listed Ampico artists, although the jury is still out on whether they actually made those particular rolls.

[pm0501]

The $495 price in 1937 may sound cheap but, the average monthly income in 1937 was about $130. Even a piano roll selling for .65 was a chunk out of a $30/Week paycheck.This is a very nice sounding piano!