The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-22
CELLULOID.
How ID In Manu- featured.


is more than likely that its final discovery
was accidental like the discovery of the
mode of vulcanizing india rubber and the
like discovery of many of the great inven-
tons. 1t took five years of experiment
after its discovery to make it marketa-
bic commodity. In the ten years since
that time it has taken rank with the lead
ing compounds of commerce and manufac-
ture, such as india rubber, glass, steel and
paper. In its peculiar and varied utility it
is superior to india rubber, and new modes
of uses are being found for it almost daily.
1t is as hard as emery, as delicate as tor
toise-shell, as flexible as india rubber,
durable as iron, and as elastic as ivory. 1t
resists acids and alkalies, and it is unaf-
fected by atmospheric changes. 1t can be
modelled. or carved, or turned into any de-
sired form, and its natural state being
colorless, it can be colored to any desired
shade.
The name of this modern Proteus is eel
luloid. Its discoveries and patentees in the
United States were two brothers named
Hyatt, residents of Newark, N. j., the
1t seems to have been known in England
under the names of Parkesine. from
Parkes, its discoverer there, as far back as
1855, but it was the American inventors
who developed its use and the magnitude
of its Importance in the arts and manufac-
lures. 1t is now enmeshed in nearly a
hundred patents all taken out by the Hy-
att brothers. covering some form of its
compound or some process of it's manufac-
ture, and, unlike most of the great inven-
tons, there has never been any litigation
over it.
Celluloid is produced by dissolving gun
cotton in camphor with the aid of heat and
pressure When vegetable fibre, such as
cotton paper, paper pulp or refuse OF cot
ton mills, is immersed in a mixture of nj.
trio and sulphuric acids and then removed
and dried, it will be found to have acquired
new and remarkable qualities. In exter-
nal appearance no change has taken place.
but when test is made it is found to have
become highly explosive, even more SO than
gunpowder. This is gun cotton. Glycer-
inc treated in the same way becomes that
terrible explosive agent known as nitro
glycerine Another remarkable quality of
guncotton is its ready solubility in alcohol
ether or camphor. When dissolved in
ether or alcohol it becomes eollodion,
much used by photographers. When fine
ly ground gun cotton pulp is mixed in GER
tain proportions with finely comminuted
gun camphor, and subjected to heat and
powerful pressure, the product is light
yellowish-brown substance which can be
carved planned, turned, sawed, stamped or
polished and may be either opaque or trans
parent. 1t has lost its explosive quality
and burns only when in direct contact with
flame. This marvellous chemist product IL
eelluloid. 1t may be dyed while in the
process of mixing. and the color running
through the whole mass is ineffaceble
What is the latest novelty in celluloid?"
asked the reporter.
These new letters or signs that you see
on store windows. They beat paint all to
pieces Collars and cuffs are also compar-
atively recent, and are meeting with large
and steadily increasing sale. That bust
ness alone is in the neighborhood of $740-
600 a year.
The material is as flexible as linen and
when soiled can be washed with sponge
or towel. just as you would plate. Every
young man can do his own laundry work.
The odor of camphor that you notice in the
material passes off after few days use.
1T is also used for neckties and hat
bands and while IL is more expensive than
ribbon it does not become rusty or greasy.
| could not tell YOU the uses to which it is
put. for it seems as if a new one was being
discovered every day. 1t is the best SUBJ
stitute for ivory that has been invented,
and i'll durability and liability to discolor it
is superior to ivory. 1t is largely used for
piano and organ keys. The more expensive
instruments still have the ivory keys, but
all the lower grades have the celluloid.
suppose ii is only a question of time when
celluloid will take the place of ivory alto
gethcr except in the fine arts. You see,
we make our elephants. while the ivory
manufacturers have TO catch theirs, which
is getting harder and harder every year.
/ Celluloid is now manufactured into every
I thing that ivory has been used for--combs.
brushes. knifc-handles. foot-rules, chess
men, umbrella and cane handles. harness
trimmings and billiard balls. 1t has not
/ been So successful in billis rd balls, and. as
they are made now, they are used more on
the pool-table than ON billiards. The cell
/ luloid has to be mixed with zinc. or other
heavy material. to get the weight.
/ 1t takes an expert to distinguish cellu-
loid imitation of ivory from the real article.
/ 1t has also come into use rs a substitute for
porcelain. dolls head being the principal
/ form of that imitation. The little girls can
hammer their baby's heads ON hard floor
without the least danger of breaking. As
| an imitation of coral it defies detection. and
4 it is made up into the most beautiful forms
of that beautiful jewelry. 1t takes the
place of tortoise she'll in optical goods.
such as opera-glasses, eyeglasses and