Ivory Key Tops

[Jon Page]

This might be a good chance to try something I have been thinking about.
If the keys and tops are in good shape, cut the ivory off the keystick along
with a quarter inch or so of wood. Now you have an onlay to replace the 
plastic keytop which may have been narrowed too much with a sander.
Of course width and length are to be considered and the front would need
replacing.  I have a S&S customer wanting his grandmother's, piano's
ivory replaced and that prompted me to think of that. I am keeping me
eyes open for such a keyboard.

As far as cost, figure the time involved as to whether you are going to 
use a wafer, white out and CA or hide glue w/ showhite.

Jon Page


At 09:16 PM 12/29/97 -0800, you wrote:
>  I just inherited a set of upright keys with ivory keytops (the rest of
>the piano, with its broken plate, was delegated to the golden auditorium in
>the sky).
>
>  When I replace missing or broken ivorys in the future, what should I
>charge for ivory keytop replacements??  After all, the real thing is pretty
>rare, and getting rarer.  If the client insists on ivory, the cost should
>be commensurate (sp?), yes??  What do you think?
>
>Ed
>  
>Ed Carwithen
>Oregon
>
>