Lastly, you can bring a sample of your piano keys to a ivory professional. Elephant ivories, on the other hand, feature angles more than 115 degrees. Mammoth ivory show angles less than 90 degrees. To examine the Schreger Lines further, measure the angles where they intersect. If no such pattern exists, the key is made of plastic or another artificial material. Schreger Lines appear as cross-hatch or diamond patterns. These are patterns that exist on the ivory, not unlike fingerprints that exist on human thumbs. Ivory keys contain natural patterns called Schreger Lines. Look for the very fine line that shows the place where two pieces were joined together.Įxamine the keys closer still. Examine the top surface with a magnifying glass. The last piece is used to make the front edge. Two of the pieces form the top layer that the fingers hit when playing the piano. Ivory piano keys were always made with three separate pieces of ivory. They will simply absorb the ultraviolet light and appear dull. Artificial material like resins or plastics will show a completely different reaction. If you notice the keys reflect either bright white or violet-blue colours, the keys are made of ivory. Ivory is tough, strong and very heat-resistant. Be sure to use a spot that is least visible, in case of damage. If this manages to melt a tiny hole or make a slight dent in the key, it is definitely made of plastic. Place it over a flame so that it glows red hot, and then press it against the piano key. However, avoid this test if you are not agreeable to having your piano key damaged lightly! Look for a noodle with a very fine and sharp point. This is one very reliable test that has been used for the longest time. Plastic keys, by contrast, tend to show extreme colour variations. The colour also tends to vary slightly, such as creamy white to yellow-tan or yellow brown. It is dark wood, possibly mahogony or ch read more. I have a baby grand piano that has been in my family since the 1950s. Here are the specs that I know of: -Model number: 5103 -Serial number. 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. I am looking to buy a Kimball Baby Grand Piano. If you have an old piano, and you're suspecting if its piano keys are made of ivory, here are a few ways to find out!ġ. Thankfully, the use of ivory has decreased significantly since then, and piano manufacturers began to use plastic for piano keys. However, since the 1950s, laws have been put in place to protect elephants. Compared to plastic keys, ivory piano keys can even help to reduce the chances of the pianist’s fingers slipping while playing. This was because of its value and aesthetic quality, and its ability to absorb the fingers' perspiration. Do you know elephant ivory was widely used to make piano keys many years ago? There's an an old African proverb, “The elephant dies, but his tusks remain.”Įlephants are magnificent animals, but there was a time when they were exploited for their tusks, and always falling prey to the audacious tactics of men.
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