Piano key ivory for inlays?

[Spyder]

I got some parts off of our old church piano when it was scrapped out, and saved the key board. It was around 100 years old, and I think the keys may be ivory. They show a grain like quartersawn wood that carries on to the edges. I was considering using this material for inlays on my next dulcimer. Has anyone done anything like this, or have any experience with this material?

Thanks,
Phil

[KenH]

That "ivory" could be ivory, or an early form of cellulose plastic that was invented in the 1860s or thereabouts to replace ivory for cue balls.

Quick test is to "burn & sniff". Put a match to a sliver. If it burns sluggishly and smells like burnt hair, it's ivory. If it flares up it's cellulose - handle with care as it can be very flammable.

Workability for inlays should be just fine; especially since key ivory is already in thin sheets covering each key,

[mrchips]

Very Flamable is an understatement. That early cellose is just short of being explosive. There are cases on record where those early pool balls made of it actually exploded when struck by the cue ball.

In the early days of movie film that celose nitrate plastic was used for the film. If it caught fire it burnt just like primer cord.

Shave off a tiny peice before using that match test just to be safe.

[Spyder]

Thanks guys, that test sounds like it could be fun!

Is there another way to tell? Like putting some type of solvent on it to see if it dissolves? I was wondering about vinegar, baking soda, etc. I do remember one guy who worked on pianos saying they were not ivory, but when I looked real close, the exposed edges show end grain like thin strips of wood. So I am curious if the folks who made the plastic would go to that much detail.

Phil

[mrchips]

That celoid plastic dont have grain but Ivory often has a grain to it so I would put my money on Ivory...

[nikonian]

My Suggestion is to take one to an antique dealer who knows about the ivory carvings of ages past like the japaneese ones and eskimo ones and let them check it they are very knowledgeable about ivory.

Nik

[Karl O]

What? And possibly miss out on the fun of exploding piano keys? I vote for the fire test.

[KenH]

If I remember right some of the thin sheets of celluloid plastics were "cast" as supersaturated linen as a matrix to give it some strength. That could account for "edge grain".

Personally I'd just use it and tell people it came from an old church piano. If you sand it it shape with a belt sander, or saw it with a jigsaw, you'll know soon enough what it smells like.

[Spyder]

Yea Ken, I think you're right. Jsut use it anyway. Besides, I like using cool stuff like that. The first dulcimer had the heart inlay made from Holly that was cut down in the church yard, so that was kind of cool. Old church piano keys, I just like the idea of it whatever it turns out to be made of.

But an experiement with a sliver and a match just might be more than I can pass up...

Phil

[DulcitTones]

Heat a pin or needle and touch it the surface. It won't cause the key to "explode" or burn, but it will give the best indicator whether you are dealing with cellulose or not. The"burnt hair" smell is what you're after - it means ivory.

And many cellulose products imitated ivory with similar grain and patterning. Just looking won't tell you what you want to know.

If it's ivory, and you will have some extras, let me know!

[joe sanguinette]

should work fine. i've used it for nuts and bridges by gluing it to some hard wood.

[kwl]

Joe, welcome to ED! Glad to see you here. Take a look at some of the topics in the dulcimer making thread.