Re: Replacement Ivory

[Dana S Emery <emery@onyx.si.edu>]

>If the following plea is already part of common practice among
>craftspeople, then I withdraw these comments.
 
You will be glad to know that it is common practice amongst piano
rebuilders to salvage quality ivory and other parts when junking old pianos
that are past saving.  These carefully salvaged ivory slips are saved for
work on higher quality instruments.  It takes a large assortment to have
any chance of matching the keys nearby a damaged one.  Most rebuilds are
fitted with plastic keytops when keys get recovered en-masse, this decision
being largely a question of economics.
 
 --
Dana S. Emery, Computer Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
Laboratory of Molecular Systematics
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD  20746
 
(301) 238-3444     (voice)
(301) 238-3059     (fax)
emery@onyx.si.edu  (internet)