Pianos are not the only keyboards to use bone. Many organ builders turned to bone when ivory became too expensive or unavailable. Yes it does wear out, just like ivory does. The big advantage is that cows are depleted rather than elephants! As to looks and feel, if I had not been told it was bone, I would have thought it was ivory. While on the topic, I understand than walrus tusks have been used as well. Is this true? Stephen Birkett wrote: > David asked: > > ... > > alternate keytop materials to plastic or pyralin, specifically bone. I > > re-read the excellent July 95 Journal on ivory history, and saw Don Bunchs' > > article regarding bone. Does this material wear as well as ivory? Some > > colleagues have expressed reservations about its' hardness. Perhaps Anne or > > Steven could comment about its' use in historical instruments. The > > > Bone was a standard key covering in historical pianos with white naturals > (as well as ivory)...also used as slips on the tops of accidentals on > keyboards with wood naturals. Wears well. Nice feel to it. I use it on > keyboards. I've heard of bone top replacement on modern pianos and heard > favourable comments from modern pianists. Not much else to say. (Still > costs money though, as the chemical process for bleaching and stabilizing > cattle shin bones is complicated and messy...you should read some of the > old recipes...sounds like witches brew.) > > Stephen > > Stephen Birkett Fortepianos > Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos > 464 Winchester Drive > Waterloo, Ontario > Canada N2T 1K5 > tel: 519-885-2228 > email: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca
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