If it is an old enough Zuckermann, it is fitted with what is essentially 
a piano keyboard, doubtless built by a company which at the time 
supplied keyboards to the piano technician trade. The keyboards were 
factory made but cut to the limits specified by Wally Zuckermann to fit 
his designs. One could certainly slice off the white plastic covering 
the tops and fronts  of the naturals and deal with the sharps similarly. 
Then replace the natural covering with ebony or other black wood and the 
black plastic sharp tops with wood capped with bone or white plastic. In 
addition, one might also find a source for arcades to glue to the 
natural fronts to complete the transformation. In addition, the keys 
might still balance properly as each key has a singular amount of lead 
in it.

It would be 1) a lot of work; 2) there would be some difficulty in 
finding and machining the materials - though they might, just might be 
available commercially in a size to fit. If you had thought only of 
somehow refinishing the existing plastic to reverse its colors, I don't 
know what materials might serve to make a proper job of it.

The easiest solution to your problem - almost effortless, in fact - 
would be to stop calling your old Zuckermann "French" and start calling 
it "Flemish".

Rob

-- 
ROBERT BROOKE HARPSICHORDS
4214 18th Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34205

www.robertbrookeharpsichords.com

941-746-6725

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