Peach dressing table container england type of nite?

[onekiwi0]

Hi gran had one of these its a hard type plastic pot orange peach colour with a deco type knob on the lid.  says made in england on the bottom.  I thought it was a type of nite like xylonite? not bakelite... anyone know? 

[siddieswans · Accepted solution]

You could well be thinking of xylonite - the British trade name for the thermo-plastic "cellulose nitrate". Usually items will have moulded into them the trade name as well as place of manufacture. There are a host of other trade names used in UK and USA for other members of the thermo-plastic group - cellulose acetate (Bexoid, Cellastine and many others); polymethyl methacrylate (Lucite). Xylonite was marketed as "Celluloid" in USA.

Bakelite is a British trade name for phenyl formaldehyde which is a thermo-setting plastic. Others in this group are cast phenolic ("Catalin") and urea (known as "Beetle" in UK) and in Australia marketed as "Duperite" in Australia by Moulded Products (Australasia) - later Nylex.

A third type of plastic is the protein plastic group - casein - used for such things as buttons, knitting needles, poker chips.

I am quoting from a wonderful book I have  -  Plastics and Industrial Design by John Gloag published in 1945. Obviously there have been major discoveries and developments since then but for the kind of vintage items I am interested in, it is a wonderful reference.

Obviously as I am not an expert, when I list early plastic pieces, if they are not trade marked I simply say "early thermo-plastic", "early plastic compound" or something even vaguer. Usually what particular plastic something was made from depended on method of manufacture, and what particular qualities were required  (hardness, water resistance, whether it was flammable, what colours it could be made in etc.)  There is nothing wrong with the word "plastic" IMO.

[onekiwi0]

thanks sswans they interest me too - particularly the lucite handbags - I have 3 in my collection.  remind me what is best to clean marks off them with?  warm water and detergent right?  not eucalyuptus oil?

[siddieswans]

Honestly I would not know what to recommend.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6069886_clean-lucite-purses.html recommends liquid hand soap.

I went to the trouble of buying a set of the Novus plastic polishes as recommended there - to be honest I don't think they did any better job than car wax.

I used to have a few clear ones but sold them - no-one wants to look inside my handbag. I have just one "lunch box" shape left for dress-ups; it is sort of pearlised pale lemon - not a particularly good example, and looking at it now it CERTAINLY needs a good clean. As I haven't done a 50's 60's dress-up for many years, I probably should sell it as well. But at least it would still fit me (unlike most of my dress-up CLOTHES.)

[onekiwi0]

thanks again siddies I listed it, your info was helpful   271901248042