Post: Post Reply: Re: Amber + Amber Imitations by Beadman

Original Message: Re: Amber + Amber Imitations

Hello Jürgen,
I have studied all of this very carefully.
Here are some replies, in the order you discuss them:
In the past (well over twenty years ago) I also read that cast phenolic plastics were developed in 1928. However, in 1986, I met Catherine Yronwood—a local plastics collector who organized a group here in Sonoma County—who had pursued research at the NY Public Library on the history of this material. From the Professional Trade Journals of the Plastic Industry, she SHOWED ME her copies of the promotional materials that were produced by manufacturers (in NY), that publicized the release of this plastic in 1926. I don't think I have to look further than this.
In the early 1980s, I had an argument with a friend of mine, who said her grandmother had bought a strand of phenolic plastic beads (imitating "cherry amber") in 1926. At that time, I told her she probably had the date wrong, and that it couldn't be before 1928. I later had to EAT those words....
It is my strong impression that the fake amber sold in Africa has largely been German material SOLD through French middlemen. Though the French make or made plastics, I don't associate much of a Phenolic industry with that country. (Their imitations were mostly thermoplastics, used for imitating ivory--for instance.) Let's not confuse salesmen with manufacturers. The entry into Africa for this European plastic has mainly been through Morocco and Egypt, for most of the previous century.
The Patents for Celluloid date to 1868 and 1869 (a year apart in the US and England--where the material was called, respectively, "cellulose nitrate," and "nitro-cellulose." Your dates are much too early.
I am not familiar with the work of Plonait (1926). However, I have read Fraquet—and my opinion is that there are quite a few mistakes in this book.
I would have to disagree with you about "bernat/bernit."
Why the long monologue? My post was about a very simple and easy-to-answer question. I moderate a Group, to discuss these issues in detail. I don't see much need to do it here.
Jamey
Copyright 2024
All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users

Original Message: Re: Amber + Amber Imitations
Hello Jürgen, I have studied all of this very carefully. Here are some replies, in the order you discuss them: In the past (well over twenty years ago) I also read that cast phenolic plastics were developed in 1928. However, in 1986, I met Catherine Yronwood—a local plastics collector who organized a group here in Sonoma County—who had pursued research at the NY Public Library on the history of this material. From the Professional Trade Journals of the Plastic Industry, she SHOWED ME her copies of the promotional materials that were produced by manufacturers (in NY), that publicized the release of this plastic in 1926. I don't think I have to look further than this. In the early 1980s, I had an argument with a friend of mine, who said her grandmother had bought a strand of phenolic plastic beads (imitating "cherry amber") in 1926. At that time, I told her she probably had the date wrong, and that it couldn't be before 1928. I later had to EAT those words.... It is my strong impression that the fake amber sold in Africa has largely been German material SOLD through French middlemen. Though the French make or made plastics, I don't associate much of a Phenolic industry with that country. (Their imitations were mostly thermoplastics, used for imitating ivory--for instance.) Let's not confuse salesmen with manufacturers. The entry into Africa for this European plastic has mainly been through Morocco and Egypt, for most of the previous century. The Patents for Celluloid date to 1868 and 1869 (a year apart in the US and England--where the material was called, respectively, "cellulose nitrate," and "nitro-cellulose." Your dates are much too early. I am not familiar with the work of Plonait (1926). However, I have read Fraquet—and my opinion is that there are quite a few mistakes in this book. I would have to disagree with you about "bernat/bernit." Why the long monologue? My post was about a very simple and easy-to-answer question. I moderate a Group, to discuss these issues in detail. I don't see much need to do it here. Jamey Copyright 2024 All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users

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