Interesting, Mark - and thanks for your response. I have the feeling that these keys (from a 1920 vertical Steinway) might be a set like you mention - that maybe what I saw as "scoring" in the wood is in fact the imprint of the underside of the key. Because if it seems like if it was a pattern from the linen , the lines wouldn't all be in one direction, front-to-back, like they are here. I guess I'll just have to take a perfectly good keytop off and see if there's any linen underneath. All this is not of great import, of course - I'm just interested to know if they sometimes did it this way (just using hide glue) sometimes. Allen Wright ---------- >From: Mark Dierauf <mark@nhpianos.com> >To: pianotech@ptg.org >Subject: RE: old Steinway ivories >Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2003, 1:36 PM > > > I've seen a number of these, at least prior to 1920 that didn't use > wafers or linen. From what I can tell, they didn't even use whiting > (titanium dioxide) mixed with the glue, which I'm assuming is good ol' > hot hide. I always try and glue them back they way they were originally > to achieve the best color match. > > - Mark > > -----Original Message----- > From: Allen Wright [mailto:awright440@cinci.rr.com] > Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 12:48 PM > To: davidlovepianos@earthlink.net; Pianotech > Subject: Re: old Steinway ivories > > David, > > But wouldn't I be able to see evidence of the layer of cloth under the > tops > that are still on (viewed from the side)? Maybe not. > > I'm used to seeing at least part of the cloth (if not all of it) left > behind > on the key when the tops have fallen off. But in your scenario, then, > the > cloth must have stayed on the bottom of the ivories when they came off? > > Thanks, David. > > Allen Wright > > ---------- >>From: David Love <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> >>To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >>Subject: RE: old Steinway ivories >>Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2003, 10:47 AM >> > >> The technique did involve using linen (more like cheesecloth). The > linen >> functions to accommodate the different rates of expansion between the > ivory >> and the wood. The lines you see are a texturing of the glue. > Usually, a >> layer of glue was laid down, then the linen was put over, then another >> layer of glue. It was allowed to dry and the excess was trimmed. The >> ivory was then laid down and a hot caul was clamped on top to activate > the >> glue. The wood insert you see covers the bottom (or top) of the > mortise. >> >> David Love >> davidlovepianos@earthlink.net >> >> >>> [Original Message] >>> From: Allen Wright <awright440@cinci.rr.com> >>> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >>> Date: 10/21/2003 7:07:22 AM >>> Subject: old Steinway ivories >>> >>> List, >>> >>> I've taken on a job of replacing a dozen or so missing ivory fronts > (using >>> my collection of old ivories) on an old (ca. 1911) Steinway grand in >>> otherwise pretty good shape. Don't normally work on old uprights much >>> anymore, but I decided to do this partly because I enjoy doing > chipped key >>> repairs with the acrylic kit. >>> >>> I discovered when I got the keys home that they don't in fact seem to > have >>> used ivory wafers, or linen or glue and whiting on these originally. >> Instead >>> it looks to me like the tops of the keys were scored with small > grooves >>> front-to-back (very straight and consistent) and some sort of glue > must >> have >>> been used, although I really don't see any remnants of glue. >>> >>> I've been reading old journal articles trying to learn the right way > to >> use >>> ivory wafers, and have gotten the clear impression that ivory will > only >> work >>> using a linen undersupport. Otherwise, it will crack eventually. Yet > these >>> keys have survived 90+ years (most of them, anyway) and look great. > They >>> haven't even curled much. Can anyone tell me how Steinway glued these > on? >>> Was it just hide glue? >>> >>> Another thing I don't get about these keys is that there is a wood > insert >>> about 3/4" wide and 3/16" thick right in the middle of the fronts, on > top >> of >>> the keys - what was that for? Related to making the mortise? >>> >>> Pardon my ignorance. >>> >>> Any suggestions will be appreciated. >>> >>> Allen Wright >>> Cincinnati, Ohio >>> _______________________________________________ >>> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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