A LITTLE BIT OF BAKELITE HISTORY

I have noticed that a lot of folks are listing items for sale on eBay as 'Vintage Bakelite'.  It seems as if many sellers have begun to refer to all jewelry that is plastic on eBay as 'Bakelite' but it simply is not so. Some of the items I see listed on a daily basis as Bakelite, simply aren't even Bakelite at all. If you buy a piece of jewelry as Bakelite, and it is not, you probably paid too much!!  This guide is being written out of my frustration for those who believe that all plastic is Bakelite.

I won't call myself an expert but, my Grandfather worked in a Bakelite factory for about 50 years -- [and while I was not alive that entire time ]-- I will never forget the smell that he used to have when he came home from work. He was the foreman and would sometimes bring home various pieces of this amazing jewelry when they had warehouse sales. My Grandmother collected it and I have been collecting Bakelite for over 20 years.

One of the ingredients in Phenolic Bakelite [this is the real stuff] is formaldehyde. Bakelite was invented in 1907 and is formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of phenol and formaldehyde -- it is actually patented as a "phenolic resin' and a 'dense synthetic polymer'. Its molecules are closely linked together thereby making it much denser and heavier than plastic. However, folks still like to call it plastic. It has been actually been placed in a category of plastics called 'thermoset plastic' basically because people in 1907 could identify with the word plastic -- but "phenolic resin" -- what the heck is that? Thermoset plastic [or phenolic resin] is a material that does not change its shape after being mixed and heated. Since Bakelite does not melt when it is heated, it is technically NOT a plastic from a chemical stand point. I explained this in such great detail so you can understand that all plastic jewelry is NOT Bakelite.

My favorite quote about Bakelite is from the inventor himself, Leo Hendrik Baekeland, who invented Bakelite in 1907. He called Bakelite, "a non-melting, non-dissolving solid like nothing found in nature." In 1924, TIME Magazine voted him Man of the Year when he was elected President of The American Chemical Society.

Although, it was originally used for industrial purposes, around the beginning of WWI, when metal was in short supply for the war effort, the demand for jewelry was not. Jewelry designers such as Coco Channel discovered that Bakelite made a perfect choice for designing and manufacturing colorful bracelets, rings, brooches, necklaces and other jewelry. Bakelite was featured in such famous department stores as Bonwit Teller, Bloomingdales, Saks, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Gimbel's, just to name a few.

The period between the WWI and WWII is roughly defined as the Art Deco Period [I do not know the exact years]. Many folks actually stretch this period from 1900 to the 1950s, but, as with many other art movements, even work of today is still being influenced by the past. This is another source of my frustration with eBay Bakelite sellers. People are listing molded Bakelite pieces on eBay as from the Art Deco Period.  Unless it was made before the later part of the 1940's, it is NOT a true Art Deco piece. These rare pieces are highly valued because the majority of them were beautifully hand carved. The end of the 1940's brought Bakelite into a more automated age, when molds were used in the factories to craft bangles. While these bangles are quite lovely, if a bangle design is perfectly symmetrical, logic would dictate that it is NOT hand carved. Molded bangles are perfectly lovely, but please don't tell me a molded bangle is hand carved or that it is from the Art Deco Period! UGH!

Bakelite is the trade name for the product produced by the Bakelite Corporation, but Leo Hendrik Baekeland was a shrewd business man and he licensed the formula to other companies because his factories could not keep up with the great demand. Bakelite is also sold under other trade names in the US and around the world such as Prystal, Catalin and Marblette. Although their trade names are different, they all have basically the same formula and are considered part of the "Bakelite Family". They will all test positive using the below tests for Bakelite. They are not valued less than products from the Bakelite factories, in fact, some pieces of Prystal, which are primarily transparent, are quite rare and very collectible.

TESTING FOR BAKELITE

The first test for Bakelite is the SMELL TEST. If you have ever taken a Biology class -- you should remember that acrid smell of formaldehyde. If you gently warm a piece of Bakelite between your two fingers and then smell the item -- it should give off that unmistakable formaldehyde smell. For some of us, it is the easiest test, but if you don't have the nose for it, there are other ways you can authenticate Vintage Bakelite.

I am writing this guide because I have started to feel sorry for people who pay good money for items that they are told is Bakelite when it really is not & frustrated with people who list items as Bakelite yet refuse to authenticate by testing it. If you read a listing for a Bakelite item, and it does not state that it has been tested positive, write to the seller and ask them to test it. If they ignore you, say they don't know how to test or resist testing, it probably isn't Bakelite and they just don't want you to know.  I believe that if you are listing something as Bakelite, it is your obligation as a seller to authenticate it. Honestly, it is not rocket science -- anyone can test & authenticate Bakelite.

There are MANY EASY ways to test for Bakelite, but first let me tell you what NOT TO DO.

NEVER USE THE HOT PIN TEST ON BAKELITE! It can damage the item thereby affecting its value and if perchance it is celluloid -- which is flammable -- you will have a problem on your hands! The Hot Pin test is an OUTDATED method of testing for Bakelite that dates back some forty - fifty years. If you see an item that states they have tested using the HOT PIN TEST -- pass it by -- because it will probably be damaged in some way usually it will leave a black pin dot mark on the item. You don't want it!  Next, let me say, despite the fact that we all want to trust our fellow man, just because the antique dealer or the dear old 85 year old woman down the street TOLD you it was Bakelite -- it does not make it Bakelite. I know this is going to be a controversial statement however, EVEN IF A JEWELER tells you it is Bakelite -- if they do so without testing it -- do not necessarily believe it is Bakelite. Jewelers are not necessarily educated in identifying Bakelite. PLEASE do not send me nasty grams -- this is the truth!

The second way to TEST for Bakelite is to run a small section of the piece under HOT [not boiling] WATER. The hot water should warm it up enough so that you can definitely SMELL the formaldehyde.

The third way to test for Bakelite will give you the most accurate result. There are two chemical tests to authenticate Bakelite and there are basically two [2] INDUSTRY STANDARD products to test with - Simichrome polish and 409 Household Cleaner. If you see an eBay listing stating that it has been Simichrome tested positive -- that means that you can be 95% sure that it is Bakelite. I say 95% because there is always room for error.  Simichrome polish is an inexpensive metal polish [that is sold on eBay for about $10] that just happens to react to the formaldehyde in Bakelite. I have had positive tests where the Simichrome turns from pink to blue or from pink to yellowish brown -- use a white rag to be sure. This is a positive test and means it is Phenolic Bakelite.

Another chemical test for Bakelite is to use 409 Household Cleaner. PLEASE NOTE: Do not try to use Windex, or some other household cleaner. You must use 409! Here is how you do it. Spray some 409 on a q-tip and swab an area of the item, if the q-tip turns darkish yellow -- the shade often referred to as 'nicotine yellow' - this is ALSO a positive test for Bakelite. Be sure that the item is clean before performing this test so you do not accidentally mistake dirt for a positive result. Rinse the item off after testing to remove the chemical residue. Some folks suggest using another chemical test -- the product called 'Scrubbing Bubbles' Bathroom Cleaner. I do NOT recommend it because of its high ammonia content. You can accidentally damage the finish by using 'Scrubbing Bubbles', so I generally avoid it. There are also pads manufactured that test for Bakelite but I personally have not had good luck with them. They are expensive and they dry out very quickly, so I do not recommend them.

If you have experience with Bakelite you can learn to test it by sight, however, this will not work if you are buying on eBay. If you are able, check the item and look for minor wear marks and patina [my best advice is to look up this definition in the dictionary]. Also look for tiny chips on the edges of carving. There are MINT condition pieces of vintage Bakelite out there but most vintage pieces will show some sign of wear. You can always polish it with Simichrome to rub out minor scratches. Usually Bakelite will not have seam marks -- however, I have an unusual piece that was fused together when it was hot, it tests positive with both Simichrome and 409 and has a seam -- so there are sometimes exceptions to this rule. Pieces with scalloped edges that are two tone and have been extruded and fused together are also examples of Bakelite where you can feel a seam.

Bakelite has a distinctive sound. When you are wearing two large bangles they have an unmistakable 'thunking' sound when clicked together. This test is not for the novice nor applicable when buying on eBay because you cannot hold it. The same goes for the weight test. You cannot use that test when buying on eBay. But when you do get a piece of genuine Bakelite, try this test. Hold the Bakelite bangle in one hand, and a Lucite or other plastic bangle [of similar size] in the other hand. The Bakelite bangle of the same size will always be heavier because the molecules are closer together. Bakelite is denser than Lucite or old plastic and therefore it is heavier.

Lastly, I want to address the issue of testing as it relates to color. Some, not all, pieces of RED and BLACK Bakelite do not test positive using the chemical tests. However, they will test positive using one or more of the other tests, so you can authenticate them as Bakelite. Do not let that stop you from collecting these colors, however, proceed with caution when buying these colors if you are not buying from a reputable dealer that you know you can trust.