Heating the keys should be sufficient to lift the ivory off the wood key block. Use a white cotton cloth and dab it in the liquid slightly. In the 1940s, piano keys were covered with thin pieces of ivory. #2 Another way to tell is look for chipping and cracking. Stick the heated end into the key. It certainly is ivory. 2) If your ivory piano keys are really dirty then you will need to buy an ivory scraper or the finest gauge 000 wire wool. Rubbing alcohol is a good option if you want to clean and disinfect the keys at the same time. Using a cheesecloth or flannel, make sure you wipe vertically down and take time to dry the keys in between wipes. Should I Avoid Antique Pianos? Lemon juice or vinegar also does a good job of cleaning ivory piano keys. http://livingpianos.com/ivory-piano-keys/how-to-tell-if-you-have-ivory-piano-keys/This is a very common question and it's not as easy as it might seem. Ivory keys were made from the tusks of elephants or similar animals and filed into ivory veneers that fit delicately on the piano key tops. With most ivory keys you should be able to see a very fine line that separates . The cost of doing this procedure is about $475.00 for upright pianos and $575.00 for grand pianos. Most of the piano keys are made out of wood and a cover of ivory or plastic is placed on top and in front of the keys. Take a tiny bit and put it on a white cotton cloth or rag, press the key down and rub lightly. This video shows how to determine if the keys on your piano are covered with ivory or with plastic. I believe the ivory is lawful to buy and sell as long as it was originally obtained legally as in piano manufacturing. A piano must be quite old for the keys to be layered in real ivory, since it has been illegal to use ivory for that purpose since the 1950's. Ivory turns yellow with age and shows hairline cracks . No two pieces of ivory are the same. Also, I have a high regard for BDB’s advice, but I don’t think I’ll put a hot poker to my ivory piano keys, real or not. I suspect that if plastic were available during the time Stein was alive, he'd have used plastic. So, as a source of raw ivory, you are not working with much material when it comes to a single key top. Take another cloth and dip it in milk. Generally speaking, ivory keys are not one piece on the top; they are most often made from three separate pieces. — Piano Technician Jonathan Knudsen Hold the light above the keys. However, they would become discolored. Most pianos have 52 white keys and 36 black keys for a total of 88 keys. This video shows how to determine if the keys on your piano are covered with ivory or with plastic. Artificial materials, such as resins or plastics, will have an entirely different response than natural materials. Once you have wiped all the keys, use another clean cloth to dry the keys. How to Determine If Your Piano Has Ivory Keytops. Even if the keys were made of wood, the manufacturer would cover them with a thin layer of ivory to give a white look. If it melts into the key, its plastic; if it doesn't go in, its ivory. Second, ivory is an organic material. When did they stop using ivory for piano keys? #1 Ivory keytops were used on most pianos before the 1930's, so if your piano was made before 1930, it's a good chance you have ivory keytops. 1. Indirect sunlight after a cleaning can help prevent white piano keys from yellowing. Then, wipe down each key from top to bottom. They are made from keratin - the same material as hair and fingernails. Hold the piece in your hand to assess the weight. Apply rubbing alcohol on the keys. The harpsichord is a much more delicate instrument than the piano and it doesn't produce nearly as much volume. They are one piece. It is possible to tell that the keys are made of ivory if the keys reflect either a dazzling white or a violet-blue color when illuminated. It wouldn't be a great idea to have the liquid flowing down between the keys. In the 50's, a Wurlitzer spinet wasn't exactly the top of the heap, so I would doubt that real ivory was used. Gently buff white piano keys with a thin layer of mild, white toothpaste, and follow the general key-cleaning tips. It is possible to tell that the keys are made of ivory if the keys reflect either a dazzling white or a violet-blue color when illuminated. Posted Under The pieces of ivory or plastic that go over the wooden keys are very thin. Then, wipe down each key from top to bottom. They will simply absorb the ultraviolet light and appear dull. Even if the keys were made of wood, the manufacturer would cover them with a thin layer of ivory to give a white look. It would be hard to prove to authorities how old the ivory is if in a raw state. Have you wondered if your old piano has real ivory keytops? You might notice there's a hint of white or purple reflected in the keys. Keep your hand above the piano keys. In acoustic pianos, the keys themselves are made of wood—often spruce or basswood. Keep your hand above the piano keys. It's the best way to clean piano keys; just don't apply too much. Have you ever wondered if your old piano has real ivory for the keytops? There are two pieces on the top of the key and one on the front side. Allow the toothpaste to rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute. At the same time, some ivory keys are dry, allowing you to stroke faster with the same speed, without the slipperiness that plastic has. We looked up how to tell ivory from other material. Ivory has the added bonus of having a slightly rough texture, which gives you the grip you need while you play. Ivory can always be identified by the hairline separation between the head and the tail of the key. They were also notorious for chipping, cracking, peeling, and flaking. Notice how there is a seam between the wide part of the key and the narrow part that goes between the sharps. One way is to look for "veins" on the surface: ivory keys will have a fine line between the keytop and the stem, as they're produced in three parts (key, stem, and front). If they have a big enough collection of old ivories, they will have a greater chance of matching. Wipe away toothpaste residue with a cloth slightly dampened with whole milk, and dry immediately. And they required regular bleaching. #2 Another way to tell is look for chipping and cracking. YouTube. Depending on the condition your ivory piano is in, you can do the math and figure out whether selling your piano would be worth the effort and cost. 4. Artificial material like resins or plastics will show a completely different reaction. Using a magnifying glass To make sure your ultraviolet torch works, look for one that is ultraviolet. When you are seeking out a professional, keep in mind a few important factors: The overall condition of the piano. Look for chips, and check. Be sure to work brushing down to push the dust off of the keys. It is only the thin top of the white keys that is made of ivory or plastic. The black keys of a piano are made of ebony. How to Determine If Your Piano Has Ivory Keytops. Look for chips, and check. Heat and moisture passes through ivory and softens the glue holding it to the wooden key. The biggest problem you are going to face is . YouTube. Leave the ivory on the wood keys. You dont want to use water, bleach, any sprays, nothing that will get in the keyways and lock up the key. If we were to be interested in selling the piano keys which we salvaged, wood and all. Either way, they are in great shape (except for the one chip) and I’m well pleased with them. Stick the heated end into the key. We removed one key and underneath it had the most beautiful texture. It has a grain pattern that will run throughout the thickness. Key Service: If you are looking to have your old piano keys replaced with plastic or . Most of the white key is made of wood and then a thin layer of plastic covers the top and sometimes the front of the key. Also to know, how much does it cost to replace piano keys? #1 Ivory keytops were used on most pianos before the 1930's, so if your piano was made before 1930, it's a good chance you have ivory keytops. Plastic smells like, well, burning plastic. They were also notorious for chipping, cracking, peeling, and flaking. If you want to simply disinfect your piano keys, the best solution is using some filtered water with white vinegar to wipe them down. With most ivory keys you should be able to see a very fine line that separates the front and back piece on the top of the key. Here's a quick way to remove ivory key tops using a razor blade, vice grips, and a heat gun. There are actually quite a few ways to tell if your piano keys are made of ivory. The piano was a very old one with veneer on it. group btn .search submit, .navbar default .navbar nav .current menu item after, .widget .widget title after, .comment form .form submit input type submit .calendar . Real ivory keys on a piano may be beautiful, but they are also illegal. Another telltale sign of ivory keys is that eventually, they will begin to yellow. Our keytops and supplies can be purchased from our online store: Piano Keytops and Supplies. If you notice the keys reflect either bright white or violet-blue colours, the keys are made of ivory. Begin gently buffing the piano keys one by one. It has a grain pattern that will run throughout the thickness. When you're done, gently wipe away all the eraser bits using the same technique you used to dust the keys. #3 If you have those fine lines/veins in . Do that on each key individually. Plastics and resin are examples of artificial materials causing a totally different reaction. Use a #0000 (very fine) steel wool pad to wipe the keys and remove the yellowing. 1. There. Whiten the keys: Using a white vinyl eraser, gently rub the surface of the ivory. Make sure that the keys are rubbed back to front, to draw the dust off the keys. In acoustic pianos, the keys themselves are made of wood—often spruce or basswood. Take a look at the torch that emits UV light.Make sure you hold it over the piano keys.Generally, the keys have orange or even black markings that suggest they are made from ivory.With the advent of artificial materials like plastics and resins the situation dramatically changed. If it is real ivory, then it's a good bet the black keys are ebony. How Can You Tell If Piano Keys Are Ivory? Apply rubbing alcohol on the keys. Here are some ways to tell! Most pianos have 52 white keys and 36 black keys for a total of 88 keys. Heat a needle with a flame from a lighter or candle. My new-to-me piano key tops may well be ivorite, but I think they are real ivory. Place a warm iron on the damp cloth while, with a tool like a screwdriver, gently pushing the ivory from the side. These below are plastic. These below are ivory. Being attached to wood as in a key, pretty . Ivory and some types of bone are heavy and dense in weight, comparable to a similarly sized billiard ball. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a clean soft cloth. Ivory keys are almost always made up of the front, the head and the tail. How to tell if your keys are ivory . The quality, size, and type of the piano. Since ivory is scarce, it makes sense to think that they have some value if in good condition. 1. Share this topic with: Artificial materials, such as resins or plastics, will have an entirely different response than natural materials. Generally speaking, ivory keys are not one piece on the top; they are most often made from three separate pieces. Hold it above the piano keys. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a clean soft cloth. A slightly more than damp cloth will suffice. There are actually quite a few ways to tell if your piano keys are made of ivory. However, they would become discolored. If you can get hold of an ultraviolet light or torch then you can use this to check if your piano keys are made of ivory. Ensure that the area of the cloth that is damp is not more than the size of your fingertip. Our keytops and supplies can be purchased from our online store: Piano Keytops and Supplies. Although they probably are a pain to maintain, especially old ones, I still prefer them to plastic. There are two pieces on the top of the key and one on the front side. Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a dry cloth. Ivory has the added bonus of having a slightly rough texture . Mozart's own piano was more ebony than ivory -- the black keys were the naturals and the ivory were the accidentals. I'm going to give it a go in the next few weeks anyway.
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