What is the difference between celluloid and Bakelite?

All plastics can be differentiated by how they respond to heat. Celluloid and other natural plastics can be heated and softened over and over again to return them to a moldable state. This category is called thermoplastic. Bakelite, once hardened, can never return to a moldable state.

How do you tell if it's 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.

How can you tell celluloid from Bakelite?

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.

Is celluloid and Bakelite the same?

Celluloid items tend to be thinner and lighter than Bakelite, and it is definitely more brittle and can crack when heated to higher temperatures. Some celluloid pieces can even be flammable, and while more brittle than Bakelite it can still be bent or twisted.

What is vintage celluloid?

Celluloid is a trade name, like Band-Aid or Kleenex, but the term has been generically used for many years to reference a type of plastic material invented in the mid-1800s. It was used to make a variety of objects that are now collectibles until about 1940.

How to Test Bakelite Celluloid - How to Tell the Difference - Testing Bakelite Celluloid Lucite,

How do you identify celluloid plastic?

The easy and reliable test for celluloid is to place it under hot water for a few seconds, then smell it. Or your can rub it vigorously with your finger or a cloth to get the smell. Celluloid smells like camphor. If you want to know what celluloid smell like after heat or friction, smell a ping pong ball.

When was celluloid discontinued?

Pocket knives or razors made of celluloid are colorful, bright, durable and ornamental. This synthetic material was widely used from just before the turn of the century until about 1940.

What color is Bakelite?

Solid Color Bakelite

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

When did they stop making Bakelite?

Bakelite applications in conservation were discontinued in the 1940s because of certain disadvantages that soon became apparent.

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.

Does Bakelite smell like vinegar?

A good casual/simple test is to rub a finger rapidly across the surface of the jewelry generating a little friction/heat. Bakelite will smell like formaldehyde; celluloid will smell like mothballs/pinesap/vinegar (it's made with camphor); and Lucite has no smell.

Is Bakelite worth anything?

No matter what type of piece you have, genuine Bakelite jewelry is worth money. Many simple necklaces and bracelets sell for $100 or less, but more elaborate designs with multiple colors or intricate carving can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

When was celluloid used?

Celluloid, developed in the late 19th century, launched the modern age of man-made plastics. At first celluloid was an eternal substitute—an inexpensive imitation of ivory, tortoiseshell, and even linen. Women adorned themselves with celluloid jewelry and hair combs.

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.

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).

Does Bakelite have a seam?

Unlike other plastic jewelry, Bakelite is not poured into molds. Instead, pieces are formed from raw material—the pieces would then be cut, shaped, and polished, which means there will be no visible seam anywhere on the piece.

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.

Is celluloid still produced?

Today there are no companies manufacturing celluloid in the United States. Cellulose acetate has replaced it for most applications. Celluloid is still manufactured in Italy, China, and Japan.

Is celluloid still used?

Celluloid film has been around for over 100 years, but it has now largely been replaced by digital media storage formats like DVDs and Blu-rays. There are still some filmmakers who use celluloid, as well as some projectionists who will only show celluloids films due to the superior quality of the material.

Is celluloid the first plastic?

celluloid, the first synthetic plastic material, developed in the 1860s and 1870s from a homogeneous colloidal dispersion of nitrocellulose and camphor.

What is 1950s plastic called?

Bakelite: The Plastic That Made History.

What was the plastic before Bakelite?

In 1870, the American inventor John Wesley Hyatt used chemically modified cellulose to produce an astonishing new product called Celluloid, a plastic that was used for everything from hair combs to silent-movie film.

What is celluloid Bakelite?

Celluloid and other natural plastics can be heated and softened over and over again to return them to a moldable state. This category is called thermoplastic. Bakelite, once hardened, can never return to a moldable state. This type of plastic is classified as thermoset.