Steinway keytops

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Mark:

Some European and Japanese pianos did indeed have one-piece ivory on each
key. Of course that was a very wasteful way to do it.

Back in the 20' and 30' it was common to use grained celluloid. I don't 
think this was being done since the 40's.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Sun, 1 Feb 1998, Mark Graham wrote:

> We have a Steinway D from the 1980's that is commonly referred to as "the
> one with ivory keys". But I have always thought that they can't be ivory.
> They are ivory-colored, and have a grain pattern. But the pattern seems to
> repeat exactly, which is unlikely, and the keytops are of one piece, not
> separate front rectangles and back rectangles.
> 
> Is this simulated ivory? What do we have here? They feel great. They are
> the factory original material.
> 
> Mark Graham
> Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music
> Berea, Ohio
> 
>