Serpent » August 9th, 2018, 8:29 am wrote:Braininvat » August 9th, 2018, 8:40 am wrote:My antique piano (ca. 1912) says elephants did once exist. A slang American phrase for playing the piano ("tickling the ivories") derives from the use of elephant tusks to make the keys. Will hear the Paganini later... am sitting next to a sleeping person atm.
How do you know it's not walrus tusk?
We had it restored by an expert. It was made in Boston, by Ivers & Pond, which was a rival of Steinway in those days, in its quality. In the course of restoration, we learned a lot, and one thing we learned was that the ivory came from elephant tusk. The reason this ivory was used was because its surface is especially good at absorbing and then evaporating sweat, so that the fingertips do not stick to the keys (a big problem with post-1930 plastic keys). Species extinction was not a big concern, back in 1912. After 1930, ivory was no longer used in pianos or billiard balls. A very early step on the road of animal rights. Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, premium prices are paid for black market ivory. This has led, in some preserves, to detusking of elephants in order to protect them from slaughter. Haven't looked into it, but I'm sure that has its problems, too.