Fig. The same bracelets now bring over $4,000. 9 The three most widely used materials to test Bakelite. The originals sell for $75-$100. nylon and bakelite are both polymers. Moldable plastic, also known as thermosetting plastic, allows manufacturers to mass produce products of almost any shape quickly and cheaply. 17 Offer for newly carved Bakelite bracelets from old stock. Likewise, automotive mechanics who blew dust from wheel wells of vehicles with an air hose while changing asbestos brake pads or Bakelite brake cylinders were likely exposed to copious amounts of dust. Anyone could buy the raw Bakelite material and small studios and amateurs could afford to experiment with their own jewelry designs. If swallowed, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING, ASPIRATION CAN OCCUR. Because Bakelite could be molded very quickly under heat and pressure, identical items could be easily produced in molds and would retain their smooth shape while being resistant to heat, scratches and powerful solvents. Warnings signs of typical reproductions, copies and look-alike Bakelite are shown at the top of the next page. Bakelite is made in a process that uses Phenol and formaldehyde both of which are toxic. Fig. Before Bakelite, there was nitrated cellulose. When testing Bakelite, always use safe, nondestructive tests like those described in this article. Bakelite is a trade name taken from its inventor, Leo Baekeland, who invented Bakelite in 1907. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The term Bakelite is sometimes used in the resale market to indicate various types of early plastics, including Catalin and Faturan, which may be brightly colored, as well as items made of Bakelite material. Tool marks in hidden areas are more obvious than marks on exposed surfaces. How to Decide if it's Old, Repro, Fake or a Look-alike. Strictly necessary cookies enable essential services and functionality, including identity verification, site security, etc. It has high mechanical strength, good insulation, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. 18 Plastic bangles with molded carvings, ca. Phenolic plastic (bakelite): The surface is hard, brittle and … Fig. 6 Genuine Bakelite develops a patina over time and changes the color of the surface. The resin is toxic, when heated and the fumes get into the lungs. Once you determine a piece is made from genuine Bakelite, it doesn't mean you have proved the piece is necessarily old. Brightly colored vintage Bakelite was used for many items other than jewelry. Fig. 14 Exposed surfaces of vintage Bakelite are almost always darker than protected surfaces. Features of Typical Vintage Bakelite Jewelry. Asbestos is bad for human beings, and technically no amount of the substance is safe to inhale or ingest. When chemists began to recognize that many natural resins and fibers were polymers, Baekeland investigated the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde. 7 Dark green Bakelite. It will not conduct heat or electricity. That was even worse. While old Bakelite products are thought to contain between 15 and 17 percent asbestos fiber, no amount of asbestos is considered safe to inhale. Fig. 10 When testing with hot water, heat only the edge of an article. Virtually all authentic Bakelite jewelry was hand machined or carved and should show some tool marks. Plastics formed from other formulas can be reshaped after reheating or will burst into flame if reheated. Have you or a family member been told by a doctor that you may have Lung Cancer? Bakelite, trademarked synthetic resin invented in 1907 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland. Any warped or distorted piece (Fig. The mold would create all the details of the finished product such as fur, eyes, collar, etc. If untreated aluminum is used in the preparation of salty or acid foods, large amounts of aluminum can be released into food. Since brand names rarely appear on the products, collectors generally use "Bakelite" to refer to all of the thermosetting phenolic resins, not just to the Bakelite brand products and that's how we'll use the term. Shown here as knob and handle on Art Deco chrome creamer. It fails both the cotton swab and hot water tests. Warning Signs of Look-alike, Copies and Reproductions. Fig. Fig. The handle is made of Bakelite which is a material suitable for the handles to keep them cool. ... Phosphates, however, are not toxic to people or animals unless they are present at very high levels, causing digestive problems [80]. The introduction of Bakelitethe worlds first synthetic plasticin 1907 marked the introduction of the Polymer Age. CONSULT A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. As prices have risen, so has the tendency for sellers, either through lack of knowledge or deliberate intent, to call any piece of plastic, "Bakelite." 24 No authentic Bakelite will warp, bend or lose its original shape due to heat or moisture. Old stock and carved pieces will both pass the swab and hot water tests because the pieces are genuine Bakelite. 20, to make a piece of "jewelry." An original carver, working by the hour or piece-rate, would spend more time finishing exposed surfaces rather than finishing hidden surfaces that were not exposed. Therefore, it is commonly used in the manufacture of electrical materials, such as Switches, lamp holders, earphones, telephone cases, instrument cases, etc., Hold the piece so an edge is in the middle of the flow. Bakelite resin also proved useful when molded into phenolic sheets, particularly suitable as electric circuit boards. Treat early Bakelite pieces with caution, or don’t collect them at all. Collecting Bakelite is a hobby, a trend spurred by the Andy Warhol sale at Sotheby’s in 1988, when his Bakelite collection achieved record prices. Certain colors, particularly black and some reds, can also occasionally give confusing results. The most common exceptions are pieces of genuine Bakelite that have recently been completely polished or cleaned and the original patina has been removed. One way to confirm age is to carefully examine the findings, or hardware, such as pins, hinges, etc. 26 This new scottie napkin ring on wheels is available for $4 each. Bakelite is a sturdy material and is rather heavy, more so than celluloid or lucite. Bracelets, for example, should be lighter in color than the exposed decorative surfaces recently completely! Bakelite ) the combustion products can be reshaped after reheating or will into! By GreenLife and GreenPan some of those items include napkin rings, pencil sharpeners and handles a... 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