© arborpulchra / Adobe Stock Image
Origins
There are various people credited with the development of celluloid plastic, but probably most famously, in 1855, British metallurgist Alexander Parkes created a substance called Parkesine. Made by mixing cellulose with pigments, camphor, alcohol and fillers, this early form of plastic was traditionally yellow in colour, but it could be coloured and decorated, and was cheap and easy to mould and shape - it was used to make household items. Although Alexander earned awards for his endeavours, he never obtained commercial success.
In 1863, American John Wesley Hyatt sought to find a way to make billiard balls that didn't rely on using scarce ivory. He experimented with cellulose nitrate, mixing shellac, ivory dust, cloth, collodion and camphor to form a substance that he called celluloid. Despite not being able to make billiard balls entirely from celluloid, Hyatt's discovery spurred him on to continue working with this new plastic material.
Hyatt and his brother began manufacturing celluloid dental plates as an alternative to rubber in 1870. A year on, they formed the Celluloid Manufacturing Company. Later, they developed a process for injection moulding thermoplastics, for which they obtained a patent in 1878.
Although the word celluloid actually began life as a trade name belonging to the Hyatt brothers, over time, it became the generic term for cellulose nitrate plastics.
Uses
Celluloid plastic fast became an everyday material which was used to make many common items, including jewellery, combs, hairbrushes, baby rattles, dressing table sets, ornaments, toothbrush handles, fountain pens, picture frames, dice, cards, as well as dolls and toys.
Thanks to its waterproof and transparent properties, celluloid plastic was also used to make celluloid cuffs, collars and shirtfronts. These required minimal cleaning compared to standard clothes, so were a boon for office and shop workers during the late 19th century.
However, celluloid plastic was still regarded as a replacement material to ivory (it was even commonly known as French Ivory or Ivory Pyralin), rather than valued for its own merits.
Photography and film
Celluloid plastic has perhaps enjoyed most success in the use of photography and motion film, where it has been used as a material in its own right, rather than as a substitute for something else. In fact, prior to the 1950s, when acetate safety film became widespread, celluloid was used for film stock. Celluloid blocks were also used to make gelatin dry plates in photography - the blocks would be sliced into thin layers and coated with a photosensitive gelatin emulsion.
Drawbacks
Being cheap to produce and incredibly versatile, it was no wonder that celluloid plastic became such a popular product material, although it was not without its flaws! Over time, the plastic would easily crack, break and deteriorate, and it was also highly flammable.
Celluloid plastic today
After a rapid decline in use after the 1940s, celluloid plastic was superseded by materials like Bakelite and Catalin. These days, the only products made from celluloid include ping-pong balls, musical instruments and guitar picks. However, vintage items made from celluloid plastic in mint condition are highly prized by collectors.
Plastic has certainly come a long way since its early celluloid days - it's now a much-favoured material, as opposed to a substitute. Thanks to its strong and durable nature, and cost-effectiveness, plastic enjoys many uses.
Whether you require plastic storage boxes, containers, bins or other items, you'll find a wide range of high-quality options at Solent Plastics – that can be used over and over again.