What were the original key tops made of?

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. Ivory typically comes from rhinos and elephants.

When did they stop using ivory in 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.

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.

Do they still use ebony for piano keys?

Most of the white key is made of wood and then a thin layer of plastic covers the top and sometimes the front of the key. The black keys of a piano are made of ebony. Piano keys are still often referred to as the “ivories”, even though they aren't made from it.

What were old piano keys made of?

Traditionally, longer keys were played more often than shorter keys, so they were conventionally covered with strips of ivory as it's such a hard-wearing material. The shorter keys weren't played as much. Therefore, they were made from simple dark wood, such as sugar pine, spruce or basswood, called 'black notes'.

Piano Keytops - Gluing and Trimming Methods

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.

Is it legal to sell old ivory piano keys?

Buying and selling ivory is illegal.

The ivory trade was outlawed in 1989 thanks to The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Real ivory may not be sold, bought, given away, transported over state lines, or shipped out of the country.

Are black piano keys made of ebony?

Ebony. Although the white keys were made from ivory, the black keys on a piano were often made from ebony which is dense dark hardwood. They were sometimes made of other kinds of darker woods, including spruce, sugar pine, and basswood.

Are ebony piano keys worth anything?

I buy chunks of ebony for about 5~10 dollars, in piano keys that would work out to about 3 for a buck. Keep in mind too that your mailing costs alone, in my my case from North Carolina to Ontario, are probably more expensive then what folks could buy the wood for locally .

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.

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.

Are ivory keys better?

Ivory keys are better to the touch, more responsive, and less likely to “stick” to one's fingers because of perspiration that may accumulate while one is playing a particularly difficult piece. Ivory absorbs sweat, which provides for a better feel of the instrument in general.

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.

Why are pianos black?

So why does piano have black and white keys? The white keys represent the musical tones and the black keys represent the half step intervals between those musical tones. The colored keys help pianists decipher between the natural pitches and semitone pitches.

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.

What wood is used for black piano keys?

Synonyms, crossword answers and other related words for WOOD FOR BLACK PIANO KEYS [ebony]

Why are there only 5 black keys?

And in the mid 15th century we decided that if you could lower a note with a flat, you could also raise a note with a sharp, so we invented that. The piano wasn't created until another 300 years later, so it's always had the five black key arrangement.

Do ivory piano keys crack?

With the advantages that came from ivory, there are also some notable disadvantages. Progressive build up of dirt and oils from fingers would slowly discolour the ivory. The material also becomes more brittle as it ages and the thin front edges are prone to cracking and chipping.

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.

Are Steinway piano keys made of ivory?

Steinway of Steinway & Sons about piano keys no longer being made of ivory. Plastic coverings for keys are used now. Mr. Steinway, who is the 6th member of his family to head the firm since its founding in 1853, said ivory has always been a pain in the neck.

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.

When did pianos have 85 keys?

In 1850, the piano keys moved 4 full octave to 6 octave. Then the keys reached 85 keys, at the middle to late of 19th century. At that time period the 85 keys, 7 octave from A0 to A7, was the standard piano. This is why the older Steinway pianos have 85 keys.