They are brittle and prone to uneven discoloration. Many tuners, technicians and stores also have an overabundance of ivory key-tops available to them from old used pianos (many times the piano even disposed or given away for free, with the ivories intact). And on top of all this, ivory is illegal to sell or trade.
When did ivory piano keys become illegal?
1989 Many American piano manufacturers discontinued using ivory in the early 1970s, however, some international manufacturers in parts of Europe and Asia continued using ivory throughout the 1980s, until ivory trade was finally banned in an effort led by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in
Do piano keys have to be ivory?
The earliest pianos built 300 years ago had keys that were made entirely of wood. But then ivory became a preferred material due to its polished appearance, durability and texture. Ivory from elephant tusks is no longer used to make piano keys and there is a global ban on trade of ivory.
How do you remove ivory from old piano keys?
Heres a quick way to remove ivory key tops using a razor blade, vice grips, and a heat gun. Using this method you can usually remove an entire keyset in under an hour with minimal breakage.
Is an old piano worth anything?
Like antique books, antique pianos are not worth a lot of money just because they are old. In actuality these old instruments may be worth very little at all. Most antique, upright pianos are worth $500 or less in very good condition.
Are ivory keys from a piano worth anything?
Indeed, ivory is illegal to buy and sell in most places today. Since ivory is scarce, it makes sense to think that they have some value if in good condition. Sadly, this is far from the case.
How can you tell if your piano has ivory keys?
If your piano keys are made of ivory, they will turn yellow as time goes by. You can also roughly tell the age of the ivory by its colour shade. The darker it is, the older it is. The colour also tends to vary slightly, such as creamy white to yellow-tan or yellow brown.
How do you clean ivory piano keys?
0:042:09How to Clean Ivory Piano Keys - YouTubeYouTube
How can I tell if my piano keys are ivory?
If your piano keys are made of ivory, they will turn yellow as time goes by. You can also roughly tell the age of the ivory by its colour shade. The darker it is, the older it is. The colour also tends to vary slightly, such as creamy white to yellow-tan or yellow brown.
Why do ivory piano keys turn yellow?
Ivory keys arent exactly white, but more off-white in color. Plastic keys are smoother and have a clear-like coating on them. Ivory keys will have two parts joined together that you can visibly see. Ivory keys will look more yellow as they dirty over time.