Crass Commercialism Rears it's Ugly Head;

[TunerJeff@aol.com]

Dear Folks,
    After seeing the interesting offerings presented on the List...I'm going
to heave one in here, too. The following was prepared as a Net-message...

Subj: Quest for a home....
From: TunerJeff
To:   Folks looking for an unusual piano.


Dear Folks,
     Got the most amazing phone call from a customer recently. Now have a
most unusual set looking for a home. A reproducing grand with matching roll
cabinet and 600+  Ampico PlayerRolls in excellent condition.(Owner is an
interesting type, too. He and three buddies developed a machine for copying
player rolls for the Shakey's Pizza franchise in California...back when every
pizza parlor they opened came equipped with a player piano for atmosphere.
Small world.)
Here's what the guy has to offer (...I think it's extremely interesting!);

<<The "legend" behind the piano is that it was commisioned (or simply
purchased??)
as a set by the Dunlop Family in the early '20s. (Yup...the tire
magnate...)>>


Knabe Reproducing Grand #95041 (Ampico-A  Player Mechanism) 5'6'' length
Art Case Walnut (very clean) in Louis XIV style. (Rare to be Walnut, more so
in Art Case) Included are the matching bench and Ampico Roll-Cabinet, same
finish & style mind-you! ...and more than 600 Ampico player-rolls in superb
condition.(Including quite a few of those huge long-play monsters).

The Ampico Roll-Cabinet (decal on inside of door) stands over 4-foot tall,
15-inches deep, 27-inches wide and stands on matching legs to bench & piano
...and same finish, WOW!

This has been a set since it's purchase, and dude wants it to stay that way.
The player mechanism was re-built in the near past...all hoses and tubes
appear fresh and supple...and it plays beautifully.
The Knabe nameplate on the keycover is...a gold plaque! Not a decal or inlay.

Owner's research came up with the idea that only 12 to 14 of these were
built.
Overall it's in outstanding condition. (<Hammers & re-stringing would be
nice>)
Who would be interested in such a creature?
Who would purchase such a creature?...not always the same thing, is it?    ;)
I've been a tuner/technician for 16+ years in various areas and never seen
such an interesting combination

     We're currently living at the Edge-of-the-Known-World here, on the
Oregon Coast ...so I don't think I can find a buyer willing to spend more
than, oh say....about 50 bucks for it. It's value is more in the 20 to 40K
range. Suggestions and input would be welcome. I'm just seeking a
decent home for an unusual set; An Art-Case Reproducing Knabe,
 Ampico Roll-Cabinet, and 600 player-rolls.

                                  Thanks for the help,
                                   Jeffrey T. Hickey
                         RPT Member; Piano Technicians Guild
                                   TunerJeff @ aol.com
                                      (541) 756-7701