How much is Bakelite worth?

Generally, Bakelite jewelry sells for anywhere between $40 and $1,000 it all depends on the piece itself. On average, prices are frequently between $50 and $300, though older pieces (1920s to 1940s) and some bangles carry prices of $800 or more.

What is the most valuable Bakelite?

There's a wide range of value when it comes to Bakelite, as the following examples show: A large strands of red Bakelite beads can fetch $4,000 or more and are among the most valuable items to collectors, likely because the cherry amber color is fairly rare and the simple design is very wearable.

How can you tell vintage Bakelite?

Using Formula 409 Cleaner

To use, dampen a cotton swab with 409 and rub it gently on the inside of the item being tested. If it is Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. If a piece is lacquered, it may test negative with 409. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well.

What are the colors of Bakelite?

Solid Color Bakelite

The most readily found colors are yellow, ranging from butter yellow to dark butterscotch, followed by various shades of green.

Why is Bakelite so special?

Like many modern plastics, Bakelite was lightweight and durable, and it could be molded into nearly infinite shapes, so its use quickly expanded as manufacturers realized its potential.

Bakelite...is it real? Worth anything?

Is anything still made of Bakelite?

Bakelite stock is still manufactured and produced in sheet, rod and tube form for industrial applications in the electronics, power generation and aerospace industries, and under a variety of commercial brand names.

Why was Bakelite discontinued?

Bakelite applications in conservation were discontinued in the 1940s because of certain disadvantages that soon became apparent. The lack of records and relevant information precludes any assumption on the extent of its use and in which institutions.

Does Bakelite glow under black light?

It doesn't fluoresce. You get a surface reflection but no reaction. The Fluorescence is generally a muddy green color.

Why do people collect Bakelite?

Bakelite jewelry is highly sought after. It's bright colors and beautiful sheen have attracted several generations to its unique qualities. Values remain high and continue to rise, especially for highly carved pieces, figural shapes, pieces in red and/or green, and those that are laminated (as I mentioned above).

How can you tell the difference between Bakelite and celluloid?

Bakelite will emit a smell like formaldehyde when placed under hot water. Bakelite is a sturdy material and is heavier than Celluloid. Bakelite is denser and heavier than Celluloid. Hold two pieces of jewelry in your hands and compare the weight.

How can you tell Bakelite buttons?

One way to identify a bakelite button is to run hot water over it and then smell it. It should have the smell of formaldehyde. Some say they smell like cod liver oil or have a sweet chemical smell. Another way is to put a bit of Simichrome metal polish or 409 All-Purpose Cleaner on a Q-tip and rub it on the button.

What do you clean Bakelite with?

Use Magnolia Glayzit or Soft Scrub for slightly faded Bakelite. Use Brasso, Novus plastic polish, Simichrome metal polish, or an automobile rubbing compound to treat more severe fading and/or light scratches. Brasso is usually the cheapest, but may require more elbow grease.

Is there white Bakelite?

You will NEVER see a White Piece of Bakelite!

The colours tend to darken with age, and for this reason you will never see a white piece of Bakelite, as it has faded to mustard over the years.

Can Bakelite be blue?

Colors and Marbling- the colors of Bakelite are usually obvious but on occasion, there are odd shades that pop up. Bakelite comes in various shades of red, green, black, butterscotch, cream, orange, brown, root beer (brown translucent swirl), apple juice (translucent pale yellow) and my favorite-blue or turquoise.

Is Bakelite jewelry marked?

And when the modern Bakelite artisans do mark them, others sometimes remove the marks to sell them as old pieces as they change hands. Even when they're sold as "marriages" or reworked pieces, these items will unfortunately end up fooling an unsuspecting collector if they aren't permanently marked.

When was Bakelite last made?

Bakelite was the major form of “art plastic” from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

When did they stop making Bakelite jewelry?

Many companies stopped using Bakelite in the early 1940s as the need for World War II related products took hold. By the end of the War, new technologies in the world of plastics had made Bakelite obsolete. The height of Bakelite jewelry was the late 1930s, up until the end of the Art Deco period.

Is cherry amber valuable?

Red Amber is commonly called Cherry Amber. It is very rare and valuable. The natural red is slightly rusty and can be found from golden red to dark brown.

What is the difference between Bakelite and Lucite?

Bakelite should be stored carefully, although it is not as fragile as Celluloid. Lucite, an acrylic resin, was first marketed by DuPont in 1937, and it began to appear in costume jewelry around 1940. As with Bakelite, Lucite is a thermoset plastic, but it was much cheaper to produce.

What does Bakelite smell like?

Authentic Bakelite will have a chemical smell of formaldehyde. The Weight Test - Bakelite should feel heavy and substantial for its size.

Is asbestos still used in Bakelite?

Because the naturally occurring mineral was cheap and easy to work with, manufacturers often used asbestos plastics by default for many other types of products as well. While Bakelite contained asbestos from at least 1909 to 1974, most American manufacturers phased out asbestos around the mid-1980s.

Can you recycle Bakelite?

Abstract: Bakelite is a 3-dimensional cross-linked network structured thermosetting polymer which is difficult to recycle after use. However, it contains high levels of carbon and CaCO3 that can be recovered for use as reductant and fluxing agent in ironmaking.

Can you drill into Bakelite?

You should drill plastic/Bakelite the same way that you would drill fiberglass. Drill a much smaller hole than the finish hole. Use a very sharp or better yet a new countersink and starting as square to the surface as possible, slowly and at fairly high speed open the hole to about the final size.