Twilight for an ivory covering

[william ballard]

On Aug 29, 2007, at 11:26 AM, MICHAEL MORVAN wrote:
> Bill, What do "they" want to do concerning the ivory, and what do  
> "you" want to do concerning the ivory?

The "They" I'm worried about would be the Development Office. Someone  
might remark, " Oh such a beautiful ivory covering, what charlatan  
would be so quick to slap plastic on it". The music directors are  
practical people and would waste precious dollars on this aspect of  
the rebuilding. That's my attitude as well. I was just checking for  
corroboration in others' experience that ivory coverings which  
started out @ 50 mils, and after 100 years are well-bowled in the  
middle of the keyboard, with front substrates peeling off, should be  
chucked.

> A new ivory keyboard is going to cost about $3,250.00 by the time  
> it is all said and done, repairing the existing ivory with that  
> much damage is a nightmare to say the least.

I was guessing that a careful ivory restoration would run ~$800-900,  
and regardless of the diligence of the repair work or the extent of  
replacements during the patching, such a recovering with the original  
materials would be far less durable than new plastic tops at 1/3 the  
cost.

> Have you considered mineral plastic? It has two of the three  
> coveted properties of ivory and bone, 1. it is cool to the touch,  
> 2. it grips your fingers, and, at a fraction of the cost of new  
> ivory. It comes in off-white and crème color if someone is looking  
> for an ivory look.
> Just some thoughts.      Mike

Very interesting, I just checked it out at your website. I'm assuming  
the labor costs on this are equivalent to plastic, not real ivory.

On Aug 29, 2007, at 1:30 PM, Michael Magness wrote:
> My point is, yes it may be a Steinway but look beyond that, look at  
> the shape it's in now, that is what it will resemble in 5 to 10  
> years. Music Directors are full of good intentions but they get  
> busy, things get hectic, details get forgotten, so wherever  
> possible bullet-proof (almost literally) the piano.

One good thing is that the band and chorus rooms, where all the  
bookbags and instrument cases boogie, is down on the ground floor,  
and the stage is up two flights of stairs. A garage would not be hard  
to sell and build. In S VT, summer RH doesn't get much above 85%, and  
when in use over the summer, the hall has very good AC. http:// 
www.burrburton.org/campus/riley/index.htm

> My point is just because it says Steinway on it, don't let that rob  
> you of your common sense!

The real impetus here is a summer chamber music program which puts on  
weekly student recitals. And the music directors and I have a build- 
it-and-they-will-come out look. Once cold weather hits, this is the  
main venue in town, and there's a very strong and loyal classical  
music audience in town. I've already got a firm hand on the piano at  
the main venue during the summer time.

Mr. Bill