The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-02
CelluIOid.

It seems to me" remarked q gentle
man in New York the other day, "that
about everything we have now, except
what we eat, is made out of celluloid. "
An investigation of the subject almost
tends to persuade one that this state.
ment is scarcely exaggerated. Although
celluloid was invented nine or ten years
ago (by two brothers named Hyatt), it's
perfected manufacture has been regu-
larly in progress for only about five
wears, and it is considered to be still in
its infancy; yetimmense quantities of the
substance are produced, it is converted
into a wonderful variety of forms, and
new modes of applying it are discovered
almost daily.
Celluloid is composition of fine tis-
sue paper and camphor, treated with
chemicals by patented process. A
rather common impression that it con-
tains gun-cotton is q mistake, which
arises from confounding it with COLO
dion. Celluloid, it is said, is entirely
non. explosive, and burns only when in
direct contact with flame. When crude
it looks like transparent gum, and it's
color it light yellow-brown. 1t can be
made as hard as ivory, but it is elastic,
and can be readily nodded into every
conceivable form. With equal ease it
can be colored in any tint desired, the
dye running through the entire sub
stance, and being, therefore, ineffacea-
bic.
As close imitation of ivory, celluloid
has made great inroads in the business
of tho ivory manufacturers. Its makers
assert that in durability it is much su-
perior to ivory, as it sustains hard
knocks without injury, and it is not dis
colored by age or use. Great quantities
are nsed for piano and organ keys, to
the manufacture of which one company
is devoted.
Celluloid can be mottled so as to imi-
tate the finest tortoise shell, and its
elasticity renders it less liable to break
age. In this form it is used like imita-
tion ivory, for combs, card-cases, cigar
cases, match-boxes, pocketbooks, nap
kin rings, jeweiry and all sorts of fancy
articles. The substance is employed
for similar purposes as a good imita-
ton of malachite and also of amber. It
is made into mouthpieces for pipes,
cigar-holders and musical instruments,
and is used as the material Of flutes,
Hageolets and drumsticks. For drum
heads it is said to be superior to parch-
ment, and it is not affected by moisture
in the atmosphere.
As substitute of porcelain, celluloid
is used for the heads of dolls, which can
be hammered against hard floor with
out danger of fracture. Beautiful jew
elry is made of it in imitation of the
most elaborately carved coral, repro
ducing all the shades of the genuine
article Most of the coral tints are
bright or dark red, however, as the
makers, strange to say, have found that
excellent copies of the costly pink cor
al are not in popular demand.
Within the last year and half an
other branch of the celluloid manufac.
ture has been developed which promises
to reach enormous proportions. This is
the use of celluloid as q substitute for
linen or paper in the making of shirt
cuffs, collars, etc. 1t has the appear
ance of well.starched linen, is suffici-
emily light and flexible, does not wrinkle,
is not affected by perspiration and can
be worn for months without injury. 1t
becomes soiled much less readily than
linen, and when dirty is quickly cleaned
by the application of a little soap and
water with sponge or rag. For trav-
elers and for wear in hot weather the
celluloid linen is especially convenient.
It has lately been much improved by
the introduction of real linen between
two thicknesses of celluloid. Shirt
fronts have been made of it, as we'll as
cuffs and collars, and it is believed that
these will prove equally desirable.