The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-27
CELLULOID.

The Great Variety Of Hts r.es-A substitute
for Ivory. Shell, Coral. Amber. Malarhite
i Parchment, Leather and Linen.
Prom the N,w York Evening rss.
at seems to me. remarked a gentle
man the other day. that about everythin:
we have now, except what we eat. is mad,
out of celluloid" An investigation Of tn,
subject almost tends to pursuade one tina
this statement Is scarcely exaggerated
Although celluloid was invented nine O.
ten years ago Thy two brothers nameS
Hyatt. its perfected manufacture mas beer
regularly IN progress for only about nv,
years, and is considered to be still In II,
infancy: vet immense quantities of tn,
| substance are produced, ii is converted In
to wonderful variety Of forms, and new
modes Of applying 1t are discovered almost
daily.
Ceiluloid is composition Of fine tissu;
paper and camphor. treated with chemicals
10y patented process. A rather common
impression that it contains gun cotton is :
mistake. which arises from confounding II
with collodion. Celluloid, it is said, is en-
tirely non-explosiye, and burns only wher
IN direct contact with fame. When crude
1t looks like a transparent gum. and It's
color is a light yellow brown. 1t can bs
made as hard as ivory, but is always elias
tic, and can he readily moulded into every
conceivable form. With equal ease 1t car
be color,d in any tint desired, the dye run.
ming through the entire substance, and
being therefore. ineffaceable.
All the cellulold made Is produced BY a
single company. with factories in Newark,
n. J. This company makes only the raw
material, which it sells to various manu-
featuring companies for so much per
pound and royalty on their net Gales. No
one can buy it unless the producing COM
pany decides TO give them a license, which
is granted only for the purpose of making
some new article that will not interfere
with the trade of the companies already
licensed. A number of large corporations
are now engaged in the various branches
of manufacture for which celluloid can be
employed. Most of these have their fac
tories in Newark, but there is one large
establishment in Centre street. this city.
The cost of the crude article to the
buyers is regulated by the producing COM
pany according to the use to be made of
it. and the competition met with in other
materials. For instance "a to IS per
pound are charged for celluIoid, which
is to be made into jewelry, while only b
are charged if it is designed for umbrella
handles, though there is no difference in
the quality Of the substance. In conse-
quence Of this system there is a similar
wide variation in the cost of the manufac-
tured articles.
As close imitation of ivory. celluloid
has made great inroads In the business Of
the ivory manufacturers. 1t makers as
sert that in durability is much superior TO
ivory, az it sIstains hard knocks with
out injury, ard is not dlscolored by age OF
use. Great quantities Of it are used for
piano and organ keys, to the manufacture
of which one company is devoted. So ex-
tehsive is its use for this purpose that the
ivory manufacturers have reduced their
price for keys below that Of celluloid, in
the hope Of checking the competition. 1T
is only question of who can hold out the
longest" said a celluloid manufacturer;
but we can make our own elephants. and
the ivory men have got to catch theirs.
Billiard balls are made of cellulold at
half the price Of ivory, and are said to be
equally elastic, while more durable. Large
amounts are used for combs of every vari-
ETY., for the backs Of brushes and hand
mirrors, and for all kinds Of toilet articles
which ivory is employed for. Even fine
tooth-comb made Of celluloid Is twenty
FIVE per centum cheaper than ivory. while
in large pieces, such as the backs Of hand
glass, the difference In price is enormous.
Among many other articles in which eells-
loid takes the place of ivory or india rub
Der are whip, cane and umbrella handles.
every kind of harness trimmings. foot
rules, chessmen and the handles Of knives
and forks. Its use in cutlery is said to be
especially desirable, as il is not cracked or
discolored by hot water.
India rubber, as general rule, holds its
ground against celluloid, as the latter can
not be sold so cheaply. The celluloid is
said to be much more durable. however.
and it is superior for pencil cases, jewelry,
etc where gold mountings are used, as il
does not tarnish the metal, whereas the
sulphur in India rubber furnishes gold
which Is less than eighteen karats fine.
The freedom of celluloid from sulphur, and
the natural flesh color which can be i'm
parted TO it. have caused it 10 be extern
sively substituted for India rubber in the
manufacture Of dental blanks or the gums
and other attachments Of artificial teeth.