Shiiping to the USA

[msummer18]

I’m due to immigrate in July to the USA and have recently inherited my late grandfathers piano which we are planning on shipping with all our other belonging, however someone has mentioned that we my need to get a certificate for the piano to prove its age, as it may have has ivory keys, we believe the upright piano to be about 60 years old, how can we tell if it does have ivory key, and if so do we need a certificate and how do I get one.
Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

Mark

[Colin Nicholson]

SEnd us a photo of the keys (very clear close-up & FOCUSSED picture needed) - and send us a photo of the piano, and including the following:-

1. Open top lid, close fallboard (lid that covers keys)
2. Remove front panel (look behind panel for turnbuckles or hooks)
3. Take photo of serial number (near tuning pins/ pegs)
4. Take photo of piano name on lid, keys, anything else relevant.

Download your photos (see 'How to upload your images....' ) - and send JPG.

You have not told us anything about the piano; the above should tell us some info, but regarding a certificate, I'm not sure - maybe contact a piano tuner.... then contact your shipping company.

Dont forget, please make sure the photos are clear, or we cant help you - check them, and redo if not in focus. Best to use a flash aswell..

Colin

[msummer18]

Thank you very much, i will do this but it may be a while, the piano has been Inherited and is still in my late grandfathers house over in birkenhead, the plan is to ship it striaght from there, how ever i will be going down there in the coming weeks to sort out the house.

thank you very much

kind regards

mark

[Colin Nicholson]

There is a quick way to find out if its ivory or not......
Ivory key tops are in 2 sections per key, joined in the middle where the end of the black note is - so you will see like a hairline join where the key 'head' (larger square bit) meets the key 'tail' (long thin section). If the tops are plastic/ grained celluloid - then they will be one complete piece of plastic with no join.

However - some piano keys are ivory look a like, and some have an artificial grain, so if you are not sure - just download some pictures on here.

The front of the keys are usually celluloid or plastic and not ivory.