Plastic tuner knobs

[tonydxn]

Anyone know when they started putting plastic knobs on tuners, rather than bone, wood etc?

[PlayerOf8]

I have a Regal made around 1910 and the keys are a molded composition. Not Bakelite, but may cellulose with a hardener added.

George

[mandroid]

Off topic a bit perhaps, but, I note that you can presently get a real MOP shell button Schaller F sets.
An A40 I used to own had a Kluson tuner that the buttons deteriorated into flaky powder, a soyoil based plastic, I heard.
Older synthetics on 21 A4 are still fine. Go figger, http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[tonydxn]

Thanks folks. I was just interested in finding out as a rough-and-ready way of dating an instrument.

Interesting what you said about the crumbly knobs, mandroid. I just bought a Giannini flatback (made in Brazil about 1980) with buttons that were crumbling away. I made a nice set of rosewood ones to put on it and it looked quite smart when I'd finished. At least I didn't have any problems getting the old ones off . . .