Piano Ivory

[J. Neilson]

Anyone have an idea of how old a piano I should look for to find actual ivory keys? Got a line on a "you haul it - you can have it" deal.

 

[Burchtree]

Not sure, but I think they were still thin laminates over wood.

 

[primos]

J.,
I'd think that you'd have to go way back. If you are wanting it for the ivory, you may be disappointed. About 10 years ago a fellow I know got some ebony and ivory keys off an old organ from the late 1800's / early 1900's. If memory serves me correctly, the "white" keys were wood with thin pieces of ivory glued to them.

I did take some of the ebony keys and a few years later made a handle for a small cable damascus knife with two of them. What I did was bond two of the ebony keys together, which created a sort of a coffin handle.

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[ I see Michael was already responding while I was typing ]

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

J.
I have some that a friend gave me and they are very thin, under 1/16 in thickness. They are useful for inlays or look nice if scrimshawed and used as bookmarks. Try ebay for ivory, I do.

 

[Sweany]

I got some. email me They are very thin. would work for inlay or micro mini's

 

[J. Neilson]

Wow, I didn't realize thay were that thin. I'd still like to try them though, they'd make great little neck knife scales. Sending an e-mail Sweany, thanks.

 

[pso]

Check with some piano tuners or repair shops in your area. We got a few pieces from a piano tuner who was refurbishing and old piano. The ivory veneer on a number of the keys was badly damaged so he replaced the veneer with plastic on all of the keys so that they would match. He would have just thrown them out afterwards.

Phil

 

[C L Wilkins]

I have used it for spacer material, that's about all its good for.

For the other part, have you ever moved a piano? They weigh a ton and it will take at least 3 or 4 guys to move it.

Craig

 

[J. Neilson]

Oh yeah, moved the same one about 5 times...then moved it into my mother-in-law's house.

 

[Reg ELLERY]

The ivery I got was thin also. I butted them side buy side and flatened them.
I used them as the ivory linner for a small ebony handle knife. A seam could be seen but the custommer was happy to have ivory ather than plastic.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Pre-1950

Most decent pianos before then, especially the grands and baby-grands, had original ivory keys. Some uprights had ivory keys too.

 

[Daniel Koster]

If you don't mind me asking.....is the piano in good condition, or is it run down? What kind is it?

I'm rebuilding an old baby-grand - 1904 Francis Bacon - and need a few parts.

 

[rhrocker]

I've got an old pump organ at the shop that I'd love to sell or trade. Is it worth anything to anyone? I don't know the condition, probably needs a full restoration. I''m not going to mess with it, was given to me by a friend 20 years ago. Problem is distance, I'm way out in the middle of absolutely no-where. Higgy can pick it up for one of you guys if he comes down in January, cept it's kind of large.

 

[the possum]

ditto what was said about the ivory being thin.

But, since we're on the topic of keyboard instruments,
If any of you ever come across a French style Double Manual Harpsichord, let me know!!!!!