Henry Z. Steinway announces that Steinway & Sons will begin to modify its production process to allow the use of plastic for piano keys, instead of traditional ivory. The decision is not motivated by care for animal rights (ivory won’t be outlawed in the United States until 1989), but by production cost considerations. Ivory for piano keys requires weeks of bleaching in the sun after being soaked in hydrogen peroxide, and then it may split due to the climate irregularities, or change color when exposed to oily substance on pianists’ fingers. Using plastic for keys will make the production a lot less expensive, while decreasing the need for future repairs. (Even though Steinway & Sons factory in America will soon completely transition to plastic, the Hamburg plant will continue to use ivory for many more years.)