Piano Keys (Forwarded Message)

[Stéphane Collin]

Hello

I have been told that they used ivory (initially bone) on the sharps for economic reasons.  Less surface to cover with ivory means cheaper keyboard.
But then, if so, would this mean that they changed to ivory on the natural keys at a period of economical prosperity ?
I wonder if my post is interesting enough to get on the list.  But if I don't post it, I'll never know.

Stéphane Collin.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vanderhoofven" <dkvander@joplin.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 5:09 AM
Subject: Piano Keys (Forwarded Message)


| I received this inquiry recently.  Does anyone know about when and why the 
| color of keys changed?  Please respond to Angela Havener at the e-mail 
| address below.  But, if it is interesting information, you may want to post 
| it to the list also.
| 
| Thanks!
| David Vanderhoofven
| Joplin, MO
| 
| **********************************
| Begin Forwarded Message
| 
| >To whom this may concern,
| >I am a college student doing research on the history of the piano.  What I 
| >am trying to find out is why in the earliest pianos the keys that are 
| >white today were black then and why did the color change?  Can you please 
| >help me with this information?
| >  Sincerely
| >Angela Havener
| >angelfreewings@msn.com
| 
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