Thread: Ivory Scale Replacement

My Little Cutie from Matt was supposedly from controlled walrus supply in Canada, iirc what he told me. I should have ordered another bigger one - we started talking about it but didn't follow up...

Cheers
Ivo

Interesting thread- I've been thinking sometime in the future a scrimshawed ivory scale set would be nice....

Forget piano keys, even if you can find them they are only ivory laminates not think enough for scales. I have a piano with ivory keys in my living room from the early 20's (we think), Ludwig and sons.

From what I have seen in scrimshawing sites and suppliers mammoth ivory is around and plausible, well documented just expensive.

Originally Posted by Justme-

Forget piano keys, even if you can find them they are only ivory laminates not think enough for scales.

They might be - vintage scales are *really* thin.

Michael, Justme -

you guys are killing me!

Back home we still have a couple of nice pianos - antique Ludwig is one of them. The sound is amazing. The heavy wood is also heavily decorated, very high quality woodwork, beautiful. And to think one might decide to strip the keys... When we were moving, we had too many pianos and my father actually gave one as a gift to a friend, for which he got lots of heat from the family

I hate to think what will happen if he or my mother understood what you guys are proposing (and I don't approve either)

Cheers
Ivo

OK guys.
Thanks for the feedback on repairs to my ivory scaled Wade & Butcher.
My piano key thought is to check with my tuner who may have some old keys in his stock. I'd swear even the veneer would be thicker than the broken scale.
I have, however, found a US-based source for 'legal' tusks.
www.coastivory.com
I have an enquiry outstanding regarding scale sized, 1/8" elephant ivory slabs.
With an e-bay overbid sunk cost, it may not be worth it to throw much more cash at a worn spine, yet good shaving razor (although I did see a really nice block of Gabon Ebony at the local woodshop...).
I will post again when I get a price from Coast Ivory.
Regards,
-d

I have tried to use piano keys, but the problem is that only the high end pianos will have a finish on the underside of the keys.

This means that for medium to low-end pianos, the keys are completely dried out if the piano is old (and I don't think you'll dismantle a new piano for the keys) and they'll snap like a twig.

My impression was that they were completely useless as scale material, though I'll mail it for shipping cost to anyone who would like to have a go with it.

I heard back from Ken at Coast Ivory. Due to....
a pair of 6"x1"x1/8" elephant ivory slabs are $300.

Bone never looked so good.
Thanks all for thread input.
-d

Drazz, try a bigger piece of ivory- probabily cheaper per scale ... several scrimshawe websites list ivory for much more reasonible than that.....

Izlat- interested in another Ludwig???

I hate to even contemplate the fate that awaits ours if I can;t find a good home for it. It's not pristene, and unfortunatly spent a few years some time ago in less than ideal conditions but it plays.

If I can't find a home I'll have some ivory's available.....

Originally Posted by Justme-

Izlat- interested in another Ludwig???

If I can't find a home I'll have some ivory's available.....

I might be! And I live in Mass!

How about a Puma for a Ludwig....



C utz

Our pianos are back home in Bulgaria. Here I only have an electronic - so I am very interested in a piano but I think I'll go for an old Steinway in good condition in the near future...

Thanks for the offer - and I guess you already have Chris to take on the Ludwig

Cheers
Ivo