The Ely miner., 1937-09-30

one who can remember back three
decades can recall when "the best
dressed man in town" had to be
mighty careful with his cigar be-
cause his celluloid collar, which
could be wiped off with a damp
cloth, could also be touched off by
a tiny spark, leaving him bit hot
under the collar. The infammabil-
ity of celluloid and the consequent
hazard of storing it had precluded
the extension of its use, but the dis
covery of the new non-infammable
material gave impetus to the broad
ening use of plastics.
The World war set the stage for
the third and most recent impor-
tant development in the world of
plastics. European Entente chem
lists worked feverishly trying to Gre
ate synthetic rubber from phenol
(the carbolic acid derivative of
coaD and formaldehyde Ga gaseous
derivative of wood alcohol captivat-
ed in water).
Desperate they were, these re-
searchists. With their ports block
AIDED and supplies cut off, the En-
tente nations needed raw materi-
ais. Rubber was sorely needed to
soften the screech of iron-tired
wheels of military equipment, which
creaked and ratified, indicating their
positions to the enemy just as def
nitely as if they had shouted, Here
we are" Gas masks, footgear and
other articles required the precious
rubber.
Synthetic rubber eluded them. But
the German scientists did discover
catalin, a material similar to that
discovered by DR.. Baekeland, and
made from the same ingredients,
but so processed that it would be
produced in a new aurora of color
ranging from water-clear white, re-
semblingr glass, to delicate pastels,
vivid hues, black, white, ivory and
many combinations of colors def
nitely divided or blended by mot
tling.
The Germans had too much other
business on hand to spend a great
deal of time in the development of
catalin, so the formula, patent
rights and manufacturing privileges
were bought by Americans.
Industry Still in Infancy.
Three important plastics had now
been introduced to American indus
try. 1t was not long before 5000
manufacturers, many of whose
wheels had been idle, learned that
they could make many salable
items from plastic materials, using
the same machinery which had for
merly been used in tooling wood or
soft metals and with the same
craftsmen and technique A shin
ing example is a Canadian firm
which made spools for thread. It's
community depended upon the en-
ployment it offered for living; yet
it's market had fallen to nearly
nothing. The plant turned to the
manufacture of catalin articles and
now, with the same equipment and
craftsmen, it produces buttons, jew
elry and scores of other items that
amaze the public with their brilliant
beauty.
The flood of plastic articles to the
market has in a few years altered
fashion trends in costume jewelry,
made insignificant accessories an
important part in the fashion pic
ture, created thousands of new ver-
sions of useful articles-and the
Presidents natural resources COM
mittee warns that the industry is
only in it's infancy, that society will
have to plan to adjust itself to its
development. Thus is the magni-
tude of this PLASTIC age" being rec
ognized by men who contemplate
our future!
How do the 100000 articles now
made from catalin and other plas-
tics affect our daily lives? We start
the day with plastic-handled tooth
brush, razor and comb. At the
breakfast table we may find knives
forks and spoons with colorful ham
dies of catalin-the insulating ham
dies of the toaster and percolator
are of the same material. The
kitchen electric service comes