How do you tell if a key is ivory?

Look for an ultraviolet torch. Hold it above the piano keys. If you notice the keys reflect either bright white or violet-blue colours, the keys are made of ivory. Artificial material like resins or plastics will show a completely different reaction.

Are ivory keys worth anything?

If they have a big enough collection of old ivories, they will have a greater chance of matching. Before laws tightened, a set of ivory keys may have been worth thousands of dollars. If you find anyone selling or trading ivory today, you should use caution as laws are complex.

Do all old pianos have ivory keys?

Plastic keys are less expensive, easier to work with, and less prone to damage, unlike ivory which chips and cracks easily when overused. Pianos built over 300 years ago, had keys made from wood entirely, but then ivory became a preferred material due to its excellent quality and durability.

When did they stop using ivory on piano keys?

The American piano industry voluntarily abandoned ivory as a key-covering material and switched to plastic in the mid-1950s. By the 1980s, European makers had taken the same path.

Do white pianos turn yellow?

The popularity of these finishes has dwindled to where it is sometimes difficult to find dealers that will stock White/Ivory pianos. Yellowing is not an issue with the new poly finishes. If you like the white one best, and now you know that it won't yellow as it ages, buy it.

How to Tell if You Have Ivory Piano Keys?

Why are my piano keys yellow?

Whether your piano features ivory or plastic keys, over time they can become yellow and/or faded. Many players accept this as simply part of owning a piano.

Is it legal to sell a piano with ivory keys?

Buying and selling ivory is illegal.

This applies to all ivory items — sculptures, embellishments, keytops, and even entire pianos with ivory keys.

How do you remove ivory from piano keys?

There are a few ways to clean yellowing ivory piano keys. You can use a gentle soap and water with a soft cloth. For more stubborn yellowing, try a white toothpaste, lemon juice, or rubbing alcohol. Always use a clean white cloth for ivory keys.

What are black keys on piano called?

The black keys on the piano are known as the flat and sharp keys. In technical terms this means they make a note half a step (or a semitone) lower and higher respectively in pitch from their corresponding white key.

What is ivory worth?

That's a lot of money in most African countries. But the big profit is made in Asia. Thai Customs recently evaluated smuggled ivory as being worth $1,800 per kilogram—$18,000 per elephant—wholesale. The “street value” retail price of 10 kilograms of carved ivory now runs about $60,000.

What is a 100 year old piano worth?

Antique pianos are pianos that're at least a hundred years old, and, like antique books, they're not worth a lot of money just because of their age. In actuality, these old instruments may be worth very little at all, depending on their brand and condition.

What do real ivory piano keys look like?

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.

Can ivory be burned?

Like human teeth, elephant tusks are resistant to burning. Simple burning typically just chars the outside; it requires extreme conditions over a long period of time to destroy ivory effectively.

When did ivory become illegal?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided to end international ivory trade in 1989. This year marks thirty years since the ban entered into effect, on January 18, 1990.

Can you whiten yellowed piano keys?

Gently buff white piano keys with a thin layer of mild, white toothpaste, and follow the general key-cleaning tips. Wipe away toothpaste residue with a cloth slightly dampened with whole milk, and dry immediately. Indirect sunlight after a cleaning can help prevent white piano keys from yellowing.

When did Steinway stop using ivory keys?

1956-Steinway along with the other American piano manufacturers all agreed to abandon ivory and start using plastic for keys.

Can you fix chipped ivory piano keys?

Many people are not aware that chipped ivory piano keys can be repaired. There is actually a product called AcryliKey that is made specifically for this purpose. Similar in nature to dental epoxy, AcryliKey is a special powder that is mixed with Acrylic Monomer Liquid and applied to the chipped piano key.

Do pianos hold their value?

From a financial perspective (excluding instruments with special historical or artistic value), pianos are a depreciating asset. They depreciate quickly for the first few years and then slowly thereafter. They may eventually appear to appreciate in value, but the appreciation is entirely due to inflation.

How do you whiten yellowed ivory?

How do you make ivory keys white again?

You can also use white toothpaste to clean ivory keys. Be sure to use normal, plain white toothpaste only. The gel and colored toothpaste corrode and discolor ivory. This will help whiten the keys again.

Is a white piano tacky?

White pianos are almost universally considered as 'vulgar,' Hollywood cheesy, or downright bad taste – i.e. an instrument treated as a decorated item, trivializing the object, and de facto, trivializing music.

What Colour piano is best?

If your décor tastes prefer lighter furniture, if white complements your décor more so than darker colors, white may be the perfect choice for you. If you are purchasing a piano to be a part of your home for years to come, white may be the right choice to make. Don't let popular opinion sway your decision.