non-traditional materials for piano keys

Ask questions on piano history and the age of your piano.

Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Bill Kibby

Post Reply
mjonesmckean
New Member
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: 29 Jul 2022, 12:44

non-traditional materials for piano keys

Post by mjonesmckean »

Hello all !

I'm in the early phases of research, looking into non-traditional materials that have been used for piano keys over the years - perhaps rare, or elaborate materials for special pianos not intended for a mass market. Curious if anyone here has any awareness, even anecdotally - of non-traditional materials being used for piano keys?

thanks so much for your time and care,
Michael
Barrie Heaton
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3601
Joined: 30 May 2003, 20:42
Location: Lanc's
Contact:

Re: non-traditional materials for piano keys

Post by Barrie Heaton »

It seems that around 1700 ivory was used for key covering at times. Many and varied materials have been used for this purpose, including bone, mother-of-pearl, porcelain, tortoise-shell, silver, boxwood, cedar, ebony, pear and other rare and polished woods. At times the fronts of the naturals were beautifully carved. In 1816 a set of new replacement keys for a Broadwood grand would have cost £3 s0 d0, and for a square £2 s15 d0.
from
https://www.piano-tuners.org/history/compass.html
Barrie Heaton
Web Master UK Piano Page
User avatar
Bill Kibby
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5684
Joined: 04 Jun 2003, 19:25
Location: Lincolnshire UK
Contact:

Re: non-traditional materials for piano keys

Post by Bill Kibby »

Earky forms of plastic were in use by the 1860s. This was not, of course, about saving elephants, it was to compensate for the shortage of dead elephants.
Piano History Centre
http://pianohistory.info
Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
Post Reply