We have had a discussion of vulcanite beads before - Joyce I can't find the thread, could you get a link for us?

They are on the Sick trade card in this link. I have several different kinds of these beads and they all appear to be proper vulcanite as per the patent granted to Hancock in England in 1843 and to Nelson Goodyear (brother of Charles) in USA in 1851 .

The material is most commonly black in colour and in jewellery terms used to imitate Whitby jet, but it has also been used to make beads, combs, buttons, vesta cases, fountain pens, pipe stems (both plain and decorative), musical instruments, etc.

A reddish colour was used for denture plates until superseded by celluloid and acrylic. A reddish material rippled with black was popular about 1930 for fountain pen and pencil barrels.

It was originally based on natural rubber but since the 1930's has been based wholly or partly on various synthetic rubbers.

Beads found are mostly black or red.

Carole