Bill, What do "they" want to do concerning the ivory, and what do "you" want to do concerning the ivory? A new ivory keyboard is going to cost about $3,250.00 by the time it is all said and done, repairing the existing ivory with that much damage is a nightmare to say the least. Have you considered mineral plastic? It has two of the three coveted properties of ivory and bone, 1. it is cool to the touch, 2. it grips your fingers, and, at a fraction of the cost of new ivory. It comes in off-white and crème color if someone is looking for an ivory look. Just some thoughts. Mike Michael A. Morvan Blackstone Valley Piano Dedicated To Advancing The Art Of Keyboard Restoration 76 Sutton Street Uxbridge, Ma. 01569 (508) 278-9762 Keymaestro at verizon.net www.pianoandorgankeys.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "william ballard" <yardbird at vermontel.net> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 10:56 AM Subject: Twilight for an ivory covering > Yo all, > > I'm estimating the rebuild on a 1904 Stwy A on the stage of neighboring > HS. (Yes, the music directors are fully aware of the delicate qualities > of a performance piano and are committed to diligent care of this one, > once rebuilt). After several years of discussion, they finally have a > shot at funds through the Development Office. > > Immediate question: the ivory coverings. I just need to convince people > that although we will be refinishing the original fancy legs&lyre and > that the original ivory coverings may look usable, in fact they'll be > more trouble than they're worth. At the ends of the keyboard, the > original thickness is 0.050". There are 16 checked heads (read, to be > replaced during a restoration) and 28 checked front (half, resulting from > split and peeling key-stick "fascia"). > > Certainly, any of this can be repaired and replaced during a whole- > nine-yards restoration. But I'm figuring that will cost 2-3x starting > over with a first-class plastic recovering. And the HS students won't > notice the swap. (Plastic? Ivory? Only your music director knows for > sure........) > > Any opinions on this? > > TIA > > Mr. Bill > > "If we see you SMOKING we will assume that you are on fire and will take > appropriate measures" > ...........Sign in a Music Dept. Hallway > +++++++++++++++++++++ > > > > > > >
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