I am a newbie but intrigued about the piano forum. I first would like to introduce myself. I am an old school piano person and was born into the piano industry as a 4th generation piano rebuilder/refinisher, salesman. I ran my family's business -- Perfection Piano Co. for over 20 years, which was the oldest piano company in Chicago until we closed its doors in 2005. For the next several years, I was then operations manager for Jordan Kitts Music/Steinway of Chicago until early last year. At one time or another, I probably have sold or restored nearly every piano ever made. I have returned to a family run business as sales manager for Cordogan's Pianoland in Geneva IL. People say the piano industry is in my blood.

While I hope to be a valuable contributor to the forum in the future, I am turning to Piano World for some help today. I have a customer who owns a 1940s Steinway with probably the most perfect set of ivories I have seen in years. My clients absolutely love this instrument. Now the dilemma. They have decided to relocate to Australia. I have not had to ship anything overseas with ivory since the crackdown banning ivory. Is this even possible, or do they have to destroy a perfect keyboard by replacing with plastic? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Rick Hansen Cordogans Pianoland www.chicagopianos.com
Estonia,Yamaha,Bohemia,YamahaDisklavier,Hallet&Davis,Roland, PianoDisc,QRS, Everett, Yamaha Clavinova ,Hobart Cable, Schulze Pollmann

To do it right I am pretty sure you need an inspection and report from the US Fish and Wildlife service. I don't know how the freight forwarders would deal with Australia. I use Koch Logistics: (651) 999-8500 ask for Larry

I would think you will also need it boxed by an approved company that uses treated lumber that is stamped to avoid an agricultural hold in AUS, just like you do for Europe. It also needs to be in a secondary oversized box with a wider base if it is to be shipped in a mixed container. Anyway, Koch can guide you through the intracacies. Good luck!

Actually I know of a piano importer who gets Japanese secondhand pianos imported into Australia. They have a few pianos with ivory keys (i remember a yamaha C6 with them). I am not sure about the regulations, although the departemnt of agriculture, fisheries and forestry says that stuff with insect infestations, Etc. just make sure it's clean, insect-dirt free. The quarantine website say that they are more concerned about wood, or plant and animal products, or parts of animal or plants. I am not aware of any regulations on pianos with ivory keytops. I don't think it will be as much a problem as it is in the US. i wouldn't worry too much.

CITES is an international treaty, so it is as applicable to Australia as it is to the United States.

I just want to thank everyone for their input. I have passed on the information to our customer and when it comes time to ship I will let everyone know the outcome.