In 1959, Gerald Stonehill moved to a home where this piano (which had been bought from new), was left to be sold with the house and it was decided that advice should be sought from an Ampico engineer who later said the piano was worth restoring. Once he listened to a comparable instrument playing in the Ampico showroom in Kensington High Street the same year, Stonehill agreed that its capabilities were limited in comparison with Duo-Art's much more comprehensive catalogue of music.
(At this time, Ampico were in financial trouble and had to fumble around for a shilling for the electric meter as the mains supply was limited.)
The Model 12 was the last Weber to be made with Duo-Art action.