Piano keys

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wolftat

wolftat

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My inlaws are moving to a condo setup and have told me that they are getting rid of their 50+ year old piano. Does anyone know if the keys are worth saving or would it be better to not destroy a beautiful piano that is in great shape. If the keys are ivory, would it be worth pulling the thing apart? I will try to find out what brand it is. They alway buy high ends stuff and I am pretty sure that this is no different.
The piano is mine if I want to pick it up and haul it. Thank god for all the trucks and trailers sitting around here.:biggrin:
 
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We discussed this last year and if I remember correctly that the pianos that old do have Ivory keys. I am sure someone will chime in here and tell us if this is correct or not.
 
I could be wrong but I remember reading on an internet site that sold legal Ivory that piano keys if they are Ivory only have thin strips of Ivory laminated on whatever material that the keys are made of. If you dont want the piano I would sell the it and buy more pen turning stuff.
 
Sell the piano and buy ivory "scraps". They will be much bigger and thicker than those laminated ivory (if they are ivory).

There are lots of ivory cut-off pieces at eBay right now (sold by the pound) but hurry...it will all be gone (banned) by Jan 1.
 
livertrans said:
I could be wrong but I remember reading on an internet site that sold legal Ivory that piano keys if they are Ivory only have thin strips of Ivory laminated on whatever material that the keys are made of. If you dont want the piano I would sell the it and buy more pen turning stuff.
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I'm with Tony on this one. If I remember correctly, those keys are not solid ivory ... just laminate.
 
The folks above are correct, there are very few piano's made with solid ivory keys (Stienway & Sons special order and some made in the 30's).

There are three basic materials that keyboards are made of: ivory, celluloid, and plastic. Ivory has a definite wood grain look upon close inspection, and is often yellowed in appearance. It is also made in two pieces, and a slight seam can be seen where the front and back pieces are joined together. Celluloid, a by-product of dynamite making, was the forerunner of modern plastic keys and is very common. It sometimes has straight, gray lines running through it, and may have a wavy, uneven texture about it. Celluloid keys are more of an off-white color, always being made in one piece. Plastic keys are usually quite obvious because of their shiny white finish.

Hope this helps

Jim
 
I did canabalize some real ivory off of a old, circa 1890, piano a couple years ago. I did manage to make a sierra out of a combination of ivory strips and some of the ebony. I think l sent some to rherrill and if anyone could make a silk purse out of a sows hide.
Vern
 
To my knowledge, Steinway never used solid ivory keys. They were all laminated. I did however see a steinway with ebony key tops where the ivory usually is. as well they had ivory where the ebony is. I have a 1905 steinway, with original ivory, but I had to do a bit of fixing on the keys. Regluing tops, and such.
The ivory you are looking at canibalizing is probably not more than an eighth of an inch thick.
Personally, the piano is worth more with ivory than without.
What kind is it??
 
you can buy about 100 of the tops for less than $20 or spend hours peeling and cleaning...let me know if you need a handful, neil...got a few in reserve! save the piano if you can!
 
Neil, from experience, don't touch the piano!!!!!!!!! It was decided that my grandmother's piano was scrap since no one wanted it and it hadn't been able to stay in tune more than a month for 20+ years. As soon as I destroyed some keys and took some wood, one of my brothers decided he wanted to buy my parents' house and restore it and of course, the piano. The crap that bounced around for awhile was NOT worth what little I got from the piano.
 
1875 Steinway Parlor Grand, several were made with what Steinway historians call "solid ivory" keys (not sure how they define solid but agree with your assessment). There were a few custom models made with lamination thicker than 1/4". We are fortunate to own a 1920's Steinway Grand Piano Model M and recently had the keys fully restored. Love the deep tone of a Steinway.
 
Agree, the old steinways are a hard piano to beat for sound. Many friends that want to do recording for something ask to use my 1905 model O piano. My tuner is considered one of the best tuners in Alberta, and he has said that piano is one of the best sounding pianos he has ever tuned. His MIL owns the steinway store in Calgary, and she has on several occasions offered the price of a house plus a new steinway for that piano. Oh, and she was going to have the ivory transfered to the new piano as well.
 
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