Topmusicanswers
The American piano industry voluntarily abandoned ivory as a key-covering material and switched to plastic in the mid-1950s. ... This means that individuals and dealers will not be permitted to buy, sell, or take in trade ivory-keyed pianos, unless the ivory is removed from the piano before the instrument is moved.
When did they stop using ivory on piano keys?
Many American piano manufacturers discontinued using ivory in the early 1970s, however, some international manufacturers in parts of Europe and Asia continued using ivory throughout the 1980s, until ivory trade was finally banned in an effort led by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in ...
Do ivory piano keys sound better?
Ivory keys are better to the touch, more responsive, and less likely to “stick” to one's fingers because of perspiration that may accumulate while one is playing a particularly difficult piece. Ivory absorbs sweat, which provides for a better feel of the instrument in general.
