Another Ivory Key Tops Question

[Rob Mitchell]

A client of mine has a 1903 Waters upright.  The ivories are in pretty good
shape except that they appear to have been "painted".  In the middle
octaves, the coating has been partially worn away through playing.  But
towards the ends the paint is largely intact. The paint can be scraped off,
but it would take a fair amount of work to clean up the entire set.

Is this painting normal practice?  Is there an easy way to clean things up?

Rob
 
Mitchell Piano Service
www.mitchellpianoservice.com
(415) 994-1030