Ivory heel-cap 💫

 

A closer-view at the new ivory heel-cap on my ‘07 Martin OM-42 💫

My 2007 OM-42 with new genuine pre-ban elephant ivory heel-cap from some 50+ years old Steinway’s keyboard spares… previous owner installed a strap button which I truly hated and immediately took away; instead of fixing the hole with a cap, I went hot-rod and removed the punched faux-ivory plastic also having a mahogany “toothpick” fulfilling the screw hole. 

The underneath black/white multi-ply was preserved, of course, thanks to my luthier jewelry-job. The white color will mature to a natural pale yellow with use and sunlight.

An American aßhøle on a Facebook Martin’s group doubted this to be pre-ban/CITES certified legal ivory (something my luthier and myself are 110 % sure, but - most of all - why should I lie on this?!?)  and when I disproved, he reminded to me it’s an illegal material: while well-aware of rules on the matter and apologizing to the elephant donor, I reminded him Steinway and Bösendörfer specifically asked to their ivory wholesalers for a grain-free material for their premium keyboards and CITES-certified ivory is tolerated in luthiery.

As I was strongly tempted to open a nasty confrontation, before writing it’s also illegal bombing Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, for example… but I resisted the delicious temptation, remaining verbally non-violent 🤣😇🤣 and got my temper, just canceling the post on FB.

A lesson: never offer pearls to swine… they won't appreciate them!

😉🤭🤔

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