Twilight for an ivory covering

[Michael Magness]

On 8/29/07, william ballard <yardbird at vermontel.net> wrote:
>
> 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
> +++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Hi Bill,
> If the conditions in this high school are anything like those here in
> Wisconsin, humidity 100%+ during the late spring/summer/early fall and then
> heating season arrives and the humidity drops within days to 5 perhaps 10%
> remaining there for much of the winter. I'm amazed that the ivory has
> survived this long! Yes I'm well aware of Dampp-Chasers, I'm also
> experienced in schools misusing them! The first battle will be who's job it
> is to add water, custodial staff or teaching staff. If the teachers get the
> job, they aren't there during weekends, holidays, Christmas break, etc. The
> next battle is keeping it plugged in, performance pianos get moved a lot and
> those moving it aren't used to unplugging an acoustic piano! Ivory is easier
> to "pop" off for those with a prediliction to do so, the plastic one piece
> front and top don't come off that easily! I've been working in high schools
> for 35 of my 38 years in the biz. I've seen most of the tricks the little
> darlings can pull. I say most because there's a new crop of little darlings
> every year and you just never know!!



   My"short" answer PLASTIC!!!!!!

  Mike


-- 
I sit down to the piano regularly at nine-o'clock in the morning and
Mesdames les Muses have learned to be on time for that rendezvous.
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com
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