I am new here....

[srulik]

Hi!
 My name is Israel and I am new here and new in piano busyness.
Last week I received a old piano  (it seems like a 100 years old) from lady that needs more space in her house...
To day i disassembled the piano first time in my life... and now i debating if is good idea to replace the ivory key tops? i find some sources in the internet.
can somehow recommended me how to do it? did the replacing can change the keys balance?

Israel

[hfmadopter]

Hello and welcome !

I just want to say that generally a 100 year old upright that needs key tops often is not worth spending much money on. People take these into their homes and get what use is left in them and move on from there unless t's an instrument that has sentimental value to it.

If you really want to replace the key tops I'm sure you can find youtube videos on how to do it. There are several piano supply companies online where you could buy the key tops from. One source that comes to mind that I believe ships internationally is  www.Vandaking.com   .

[iansinclair]

being of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought, first thing I'd ask is... do the key tops really need replacement to be playable, or is it a cosmetic thing?  If it's cosmetic I'd leave it alone -- partly because I like the feel of ivory.

As to balance, no, I doubt that replacing the key tops would change the weighting or balance much if at all.

[srulik]

Hi,

The pictures here show the keys condition,
https://plus.google.com/photos/108452725361851410189/albums/5864047373698001905?banner=pwa
I can play but they look bad... I also love the color and the touch.

Thanks for recommendation!

Israel

[hfmadopter]

Hi,

I can play but they look bad... I also love the color and the touch.

Thanks for recommendation!

Israel

It looks as though some keytops are loose and a bit warpped. If they aren't too brittle they may be able to be glued back in place.

[indianajo]

I've played on "Sunday school assembly room" uprights that had the entire ivory missing on a lot of keys.  Kind of dangerous to your fingers if you play very fast.  I looked at your pictures, these don't look nearly that bad.  I hope you can just even them out with the old ivory, a little sanding maybe, and some glue. 
Moving an upright is soo difficult, I would do several hours repair on one that was in the right place before I dumped it and got another.  I used to be able to get an upright up the stairs with just two other men, but that was 40 years ago.  I'm a bit afraid the 400 lb would damage a disk at this age.  Pro piano movers charge extra for an upright. No wonder, even a 60 year old like me can carry 1/2 of a 300 lb console piano. 

[hfmadopter]

Moving an upright is soo difficult, I would do several hours repair on one that was in the right place before I dumped it and got another.  I used to be able to get an upright up the stairs with just two other men, but that was 40 years ago.  I'm a bit afraid the 400 lb would damage a disk at this age.  Pro piano movers charge extra for an upright. No wonder, even a 60 year old like me can carry 1/2 of a 300 lb console piano. 

You don't use a piano skid with rollers on it ? Put down planks and roll it on into the house. Uprights are awkward and back end heavy, but this device changes piano moving forever.
 David

[robert07]

I am impressed by the quality of information on this website. I am new here and new in piano business. There are a lot of good resources here. I am sure I will visit this place again soon.

[timothy42b]

Here are instructions for replacing keytops:

https://www.pianopromoproductions.com/resources/Ivory%20Keytop%20Replacement%20-%20blank.pdf