Ivory Keys or not??

Rosalie · Post by **Rosalie** » 05 Oct 2005, 16:52

How can one tell if the keys are Ivory or not? My Piano is a 3 crown Ronisch about 100 yrs old. The white keys are still quite white. You can see grain lines in them. (I have no idea if the keys have ever been recovered or not - can keys be still quite white after 100 yrs?)

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 05 Oct 2005, 18:27

There would probably be a faint line across the key where 2 pieces of ivory had been joined. There is always the scratch 'n' sniff test; scratch the side of the white stuff on a key (where the scratch won't be seen) and sniff. If you smell menthol, it's celluloid. And no, it's not a wind-up, and yes, I'm serious. Of course, it'd be far easier to ask your tuner!

Rosalie · Post by **Rosalie** » 07 Oct 2005, 11:10

Thanks for replying. Now that I look carefully there are faint lines across each white key just level with the start of each black one. Is this what you meant about lines indicating they're ivory? By the way I asked our tuner & he said he didn't know!!?? Do you know the do's & don'ts for keeping the keys white? I've been told to leave the lid open so the light gets to them - is this correct???

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 07 Oct 2005, 15:51

Yes, those are the lines I was wittering about - sounds as though they're ivory then. Keep them clean using a soft, almost-dry cloth, with a tiny drop of Fairy Liquid (other washing-up liquids are available...

) for any stubborn greasy marks which plain water won't shift. You can use silver polish, but that can take the shine off them, so I'd only use that for a real pig of a stain that won't shift with Fairy Liquid(other...etc, etc...).
God, I sound almost domesticated, don't I? Must get my husband to read this...