A Primer on Bakelite and Catalin for the Collector by Xavier Blaine, Hardware Detective

With their perfectly smooth surfaces and deep, lustrous tones, its little wonder that Bakelite and Catalin plastic artifacts are so desirable among collectors. This ubiquitous plastic can be found in everything from radios to cabinet pulls to costume jewelry, so collectors have a lot of avenues to explore. The futuristic material could be shaped into streamlined forms that made Bakelite and Catalin the perfect accompaniment to the expanding Art Deco movement in America and anyone with an interest in this mid-century aesthetic should have an interest in Bakelite and Catalin made products as well. So, whats the least you need to know about Bakelite and Catalin plastics to appreciate them as valued collectibles? Well The man who started it all was Dr. Leo Hendrik Baekeland, and he was nothing short of a genius. By the age of 21, he had earned his doctorate at a Belgian university near where he was born. After immigrating to America with his wife, the department heads daughter (!), he ran a series of startup businesses, but only found true success when he sold the patent rights for a new type of photographic paper he had invented to George Eastman for over a million dollars. He was already a wild success in his chosen field when, working at his home laboratory in Yonkers in an effort to make artificial shellac, he accidentally invented Bakelite by heating phenol and formaldehyde. The additional filler component of wood flour or slate dust, gave the plastic what would become its characteristic deep brown and black tones.

Bakelite is largely considered to be the worlds first true plastic, a revolutionary manufacturing material that held its shape when heated and that could be carved into any form imaginable then polished to a glossy finish. Its heat resistant properties ensured that Bakelite was the premier material for electrical components, and every serious collector needs at least one Bakelite radio or telephone on their shelf. Because its also so pleasing to look at, Bakelite was crafted into a host of other household products. At Historic Houseparts, weve seen everything from cabinet hardware to doorknobs and Bakelite doorbells in their original packaging.

In 1927, the American Catalin Corporation gained control of the Bakelite patents. After tinkering with the manufacturing process, the need for a filler material was eliminated. Catalin plastic, technically colorless, could be dyed a myriad of vibrant colors and even marbled. The products made with Catalin plastic could express a sense of whimsy while keeping the utility and durability of Bakelite. Jewelry made of Catalin was very popular during the Depression years and has become very collectible today. The cabinet hardware weve seen that has been made of Catalin, usually with chrome accents, or vice versa, has proven itself a sought after commodity and we cant keep it in the store for very long.

One of the very cool things about this type of plastic, and one of the reasons its so desirable among collectors, is that it will actually oxidize. Bakelite and Catalin plastics darken as they mature and the color will often variegate depending on the unique environmental conditions present. A white cabinet handle, for instance, will today present as a caramel color. The once sky blue detailing on an Art Deco radio will now seem a verdant green, and the slate grey finish on an interior doorknob will now be as black as the case of an old rim lock.

So, now that youve garnered a sense of their historical and collectible significance, when you purchase your first Bakelite or Catalin plastic artifact how can you be sure youre buying the real thing? All Bakelite and Catalin plastics will emit a unique chemical odor when heated under hot water and will always hold their shape when heated. Also, look for mold lines which will never be present on authentic pieces as they were hand shaped and not made in molds. And if youre still not sure, a chemical found in Simichrome polish will react with Bakelite and Catalin when swabbed across it and turn yellow.