Twilight for an ivory covering

[Mark Dierauf]

I tend to agree, Bill - the ivory coverings you describe are ready for 
retirement! Aside from the repairs, what's left 'undamaged' in the 
middle of the keyset is most likely way too thin to survive daily use 
without serious and ongoing maintenance.

- Mark

william ballard wrote:
> <div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed">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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