250 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



When we consider the vahie and the peculiar natural 

 shape of the elephant tusks, we can well understand that 

 the manufacturer of piano keys is obliged to exercise par- 

 ticular care in the selection and the economical manage- 

 ment of the ivory he uses, so that in dividing the tusk the 

 largest part possible may be utilized, and the slight inevita- 

 ble waste be reduced to a minimum. A tusk of the proper 

 size and quality having been chosen, It is first cross-cut, 

 commonly either at the top or the hollow, into a number of 

 sections, each 4 in. in length, and in view of its curve, 

 this can only be accomplished by cutting out a smaller 

 wedge-shaped piece between the sections, so that each 4 -inch 

 section shall offer a straight piece of ivory. This is of the 

 greatest importance so that the section shall run absolutely 

 parallel with the nerve of the tusk. An expert worker 

 then marks out on each separate section at w^hat point it 

 is to be sawed through, so that the greatest number of 

 "heads" and "tails" (the broad and narrow parts of the 

 key) can be secured. The sections are then sawed apart 

 into a number of broader pieces, 2 in. in length, and nar- 

 rower pieces 4 in. in length, as indicated by the markings, 

 and each of the separate pieces is divided into the respective 

 parts of the key, the broader "heads" being 2 in. long, 

 and the narrower "tails" 4 in. long, the slices being so 

 thin that from sixteen to twenty are produced from each 

 inch thickness of ivory; the "tails" are thinner at the end 

 farther from the "heads" than at the end nearer to these. 

 For this latter delicate operation very finely tempered and 

 carefully made circular saws are requisite, and they are 

 kept constantly moistened by passing through or being 

 fed with water, to reduce the heat generated by friction. 

 To avoid serious waste in ivory cutting great care has to 

 be taken to keep these saws in perfect condition. 



Wlien the "heads" and "tails" have been sawed off, 



