Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 2008 > 2008.12.27 > 03Prev  Next


Keytops of Elephant Ivory
By Philip Jamison

Key tops were generally made of elephant ivory.  A few of the piano
makers and keytop makers (like Pratt Reed) had photos of them stacked
in their storerooms, and they are obviously not walrus.  Some keytops
were made of walrus, also, but I doubt very many.  I'd be interested
to know.  I'm sure one could tell the difference under a microscope.

Today, re-ivoried keys can be done in mastodon tusk, which is available
for sale (no danger of extinction there!), or cow bones.  The latter
has larger pores than ivory, but looks pretty good.

Philip Jamison
Pennsylvania


(Message sent Sat 27 Dec 2008, 16:39:36 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Elephant, Ivory, Keytops

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page