The Science behind the question

The earliest commercial synthetic resin is based on a Phenol formaldehyde resin with the commercial name Bakelite, and is formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. Phenol is reactive towards formaldehyde at the ortho and para sites (sites 2, 4 and 6) allowing up to 3 units of formaldehyde to attach to the ring. This forms a hydroxymethyl phenol. The hydroxymethyl group is capable of reacting with either another free ortho or para site, or with another hydroxymethyl group. The first reaction forms a methylene bridge, and the second forms an ether bridge.

Phenolic resin

Phenolic resin can include any of various synthetic thermosetting resins such as Bakelite, obtained by the reaction of phenols with simple aldehydes and used to make molded products, including pool and snooker balls and telephones and as coatings and adhesives. (See phenol formaldehyde resin ((above)) for a fuller discussion of the chemistry).  The properties of phenolic materials make them very well suited to myriad industrial applications. Phenolics are the result of polymerization between resin and a base material that can be paper, glass or cotton. The base material used is dependent upon the intended application of the finished product. Paper phenolics are used in the manufacturing of electrical components such as punch-through boards and household Laminates. Glass phenolics are particularly well suited for use in the high speed bearing market.

Thus it can be reliably ascertained that phenolic resin can be dyed and was produced in many single solid colours that never were able to display what is commonly known as marbling

Bakelite

Bakelite is a material based on the thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride developed in 1907–1909 by Belgian Dr. Leo Baekeland. Formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of phenol (a toxic, colourless crystalline solid) and formaldehyde (a simple organic compound), generally with a wood flour filler, it was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It was used for its electrically nonconductive and heat-resistant properties in radio and telephone casings and electrical insulators, and was also used in such diverse products as kitchenware, jewellery, pipe stems, and children's toys. In 1993 Bakelite was designated an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in recognition of its significance as the world's first synthetic plastic.

Bakelite had to be cured at high temperatures to ensure the curing process produced the strengths that the myriad of products that were being produced required.  Because of this extreme heat process, bakelite, as we know it today is always brown (or burnt) with the deep mottling representing the many fillers used to make the end product.  The heat process, although making the end product very strong, it also tended to be very brittle.

So in effect, phenolic resin and bakelite are derivatives of the same process with phenolic resin being used for red, green and cream telephones, napkin rings, appliance handles, snooker and billiard balls, cups and saucers etc, anywhere that required a colour finish.  The bakelite procedure can be identified by the production of the dark brown we associate with the name today.

Interestingly, when both substances are cut, the newly exposed surfaces will remain the same colour throughout, although to the naked eye it may look somewhat brighter.

Bandalasta

The polymer, thiourea-urea-formaldehyde, was discovered by Edmund Rossiter in 1924 while working for the British Cyanides Company. It was made into so-called Bandalasta Ware by Brookes and Adams of Birmingham and used to produce domestic and picnic ware in a range of shapes and colours.

Again, this process was a derivative form of phenolic resin

Catalin

Catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting plastic popular in the 1930s. Chemically, it's a phenol formaldehyde resin. Catalin is a cast bakelite product, with a different manufacturing process (two-stage process) than other types of bakelite resins (without using fillers such as sawdust or carbon black). Catalin is transparent, near colorless, rather than opaque, brown, so unlike other bakelite phenolics it can be dyed bright colors or even marbled. This has made Catalin more popular than other types of bakelite. In the 1930-50's it quickly replaced most plastic consumer goods.

Catalin is a trademark of the American Catalin Corporation.

Catalin cast bakelite is perhaps the most worldwide recognized plastic used in fashion accessories and fine, expensive jewelry.

Catalin has a soapy feel to it and when rubbed to produce heat, it is “possible” to be aware of a slight odor of formaldehyde – if you don’t know what formaldehyde smells like; it can have a pungent slightly stinging odor.  It was, and still is used today to cure (or pickle) human organs for future analysis and in the embalming process since it stops degeneration of cell tissue.

You will note from the above description of catalin that the base product is near colourless.  Many items were made with this colourless material which had a milky opaqueness and which slowly de generated on the exposed surfaces becoming a light yellow.  If left uncleaned this can lead to a deep yellow or orange colour being displayed and is what we see today as honey or pale yellow.  This statement can be proved by scoring an unexposed surface which will leave the opaque milkiness exposed.  The original colour can also be exposed through damage (chips etc) or from cutting, often seen when a large rod has been cut to make smaller ones.

It is this staining that can be removed with polishing with a range of cleaners (see article on how to clean bakelite etc)but please be aware that over cleaning can remove this aging process taking the surface back to its original milky clearness.

The intended colours that were produced by this process invariably retain the original milkiness, giving the product the now familiar mottling showing through the colour which is so often used to describe the product.  Some sellers, not sure of exactly what they are offering for sale will call the item “catalin phenolic bakelite” and hopefully by using this “reference” document you will have a better idea of what It actually “might” be.    

Thank you to Wikipedia.com where the actual descriptive processes were found