Keytop Materials- reply

[Robert Goodale]

Z! Reinhardt wrote:
> 
> A friend of mine dropped off a sample of a keytop material she is trying to
> find a match for. <snip>
> The material is weird at best.  Its color is quite yellow now.  There are
> "grain patterns" in the form of perfectly parallel striations running the
> length of the top.  The stuff is really quite flexible -- it can be bent
> very easily without breaking.  I suspect that this is cellulose. <snip>
> Is there anything out there that looks like, perhaps even acts like this
> stuff?  Does anyone know where this stuff can be obtained? <snip>
> To give the keys "that ivory look," the keytop material
> was cut into separate heads and tails, rather than in one-piece tops.

I beleive what you are describing is a product that was known as
"Ivorine", an artificial ivory substitute that was popular in the 1920's
and 30's on lesser quality pianos, particularly on uprights. It seems to
have been relatively common. I have never seen this material on anything
later then this era but it is highly probable that its use was continued
somewhere for a while longer.

To my knowlege it is no-longer available but there are certainly many
old junk uprights that have it. It does tend to yellow with age but that
may actually help your situation since you need to find a match. You
should probably just consult other techs who have a few junk pianos
around that have the stuff. Best of luck.

Rob Goodale, RPT