Early Thermoplastic Vanity Sets

Another type of collectible is Victorian era thermoplastic vanity sets. These are the early "plastics" and moulding compounds. This is a brief guide to assist you in collecting these oldies.

History:

Around 1850, British-born Alfred Critchlow experimented with shellac resin for moulding compounds and developed a durable substance he named "Florence Compound." Shellac resin is a natural product of the lac bug Tacchardia lacca. The resin is thermoplastic and is generally used as a binder for a number of different fillers including wood flour and slate dust. Shellac had the distinction of being able to reproduce a fine level of of moulded detail. It is more well known in the photography collecting world as being the frames for "union cases" - hinged frames that held the early photographic processes called daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes. The word "Union" was used simply because the cases were hinged together. The highly ornamental union cases have been mistaken for gutta percha. Unlike shellac which was naturally derived from lac bug, gutta-percha is a tough, rubber-like thermoplastic latex that comes from the Palaquium gutta tree in Malaysia. 

Satisfied with his moulding compound, Alfred Critchlow entered into partnership with Samuel Hill and Isaac Parsons in 1853. Critchlow received a patent in 1856 relating to the manufacture of these union cases, however, he was not very specific about what he used as the moulding compound. Apparently he merely referred to the compound as being composed of various materials, which unfortunately for him, was already well known to those who manufactured similar cases.  

By 1857, the popularity of union cases approaching its climax, and Critchlow sold his interest in the business, as a result, the company's name was changed to Littlefield, Parsons & Company who continued to manufacture union cases. However, by the mid-1860s, photography had evolved and ambrotypes had taken over daguerreotypes and with that change, the demand for the union case had ceased. This caused Littlefield Parsons & Co to sell the company in 1866, which was then called the "Florence Manufacturing Company." Rather than union cases, this name would be known for their beautiful hand mirrors and hair brushes.

In the 1870s, Florence Mfg Company & its direct competitor, the Boston Diatite Company, both manufactured composition hand mirrors, the novelty consisted with the introduction of the wooden back and strengthened handle. These hand mirrors had a base piece consisting of wooden back to be placed as support behind the mirror glass, with an extension for a handle, strengthened by metal rods, the whole thing being covered with a composition, to which form was given, while plastic in a mould.

The hand mirror was made with a base piece of wood or other suitable material, generally the same shape as the mirror glass, to which was placed behind the glass as a support. Attached to the wooden piece was a strip of metal, rods or small nails to form a strengthener for the handle of the mirror. This helped to stiffen the handle at its junction with the back or body and give general stability where it is naturally weakest or most liable to break. However, today, many of the mirrors have cracked at the handle, with only the exposed metal rods holding the two pieces in place. This could cause someone to assume it was a later repair if they were unaware of how the mirror was originally constructed.

The base piece with its handle extension was laid face down on a mould and a plasticized composition in sufficient quantity is applied.to cover the back and extend beyond the edges of the base piece and surrounding the handle stiffener. An upper mould of suitable configuration with its interior embellished with any highly ornamental devices was pressed down on the plastic composition which gave it a smoothly finished ornamental back and handle. Florence Mfg Co used the trade name "Florence" and the Boston Diatite Co used the trade name "Diatite" starting in 1868.

Items to be found of the shellac compound are hand mirrors, hair brushes, patch boxes, nail buffers, scissors, nail files, nail or toothbrushes, ribbon needles, crochet hooks, awls, buttons, button hooks and thimbles.

The shellac compounds could be had in either black or white, imitating ivory. Others could be tinted with various colors such as tortoiseshell.

Some of the hand mirrors and brushes were made up of vulcanized rubber, known as vulcanite or ebonite. In 1839 Charles Goodyear discovered the method of mixing sulphur with rubber to form hardened or vulcanized rubber, called Vulcanite. The proportion of sulphur can be increased or decreased in order to vary the required amount of hardening accordingly. Ebonite contains linseed oil in addition to the rubber. Vulcanite and ebonite were used as moulding compounds for various household and ornamental objects, such as jewelry. Vulcanite decomposes over time, and is accelerated by heat and light. The first indication that it is starting to deteriorate is by a sulphurous bloom materializing on the surface that renders it a dusty, khaki color. You can determine if your item is made of Vulcanite as it releases the faint odor of sulfur when exposed to warm water or subjected to gentle friction with the fingers.

If your item is any of the following, you can try to determine what it is made of:

Dark colors:

• Bois durci (a small bird’s wing was used to indicate the use of the material bois durci.)
• Shellac Composition
• Gutta percha
• Vulcanized rubber

Rigid:

• Bois durci
• Shellac Composition
• Gutta percha
• Vulcanite

Decomposition of Material:

• Vulcanite smells sulphurous when decomposing.
• Shellac Composition fades, crumbles and cracks, exposure of the metal core is evident if the composition has crumbled away..
• Gutta Percha deteriorates with fading (khaki color), crazing, cracking and crumbling.
• Cellulose nitrate smells like camphor (mothballs) when decomposing.
• Cellulose acetate smells like vinegar when decomposing.

 Gutta Percha:

In the 19th century, gutta-percha was used for household items, frames, jewelry, and gutta-percha golf balls. It is a natural rubber that is soft, moldable in hot water, and that becomes hard when cooled, like a thermoplastic. Items made from gutta percha are generally molded, but sometimes items were carved after molding. Gutta Percha is stronger than Vulcanite (hard rubber), and has a finer, sharper detail than other early plastics of the Victorian era. It has a dull, oily appearance, but is light-weight and feels room temperature to the touch. You can determine if your item is made of Gutta-percha as it releases the odor of burning rubber when exposed to warm water or subjected to gentle friction with the fingers. 

Celluloid:

Vulcanite and Gutta Percha were abandoned in favor of celluloid. The first practical knowledge we had of celluloid was in 1869 when Smith Hyatt took out a patent and organized the Newark Celluloid Manufacturing Company. It is composed of pyroxylin camphor oxide of zinc and vermillion and is a mechanical mixture. It is hard, tough and elastic, a fair non conductor of heat and electricity and becomes plastic at 250 to 300 so that it can be molded.   

Bakelite:

Introduced in 1909 by Leo Baekeland, it was made up of phenol-formaldehyde. Like celluloid, it could be molded in a variety of objects.

1840 – 1880 Period, Materials and Manufacturing processes:

• Bois durci - Compression moulding
• Gutta percha (first used around 1822)- Compression moulding, extrusion
• Vulcanite - Compression moulding
• Celluloid (cellulose nitrate, patented in 1868) - Compression moulding , fabrication
• Xylonite (cellulose nitrate) - Compression moulding , fabrication
• Parkesine (cellulose nitrate, patented in 1859) - Compression moulding, fabrication
• Shellac - Compression moulding

1880 -1915 Period, Materials and Manufacturing processes:

• Cellulose nitrate - Blow moulding, fabrication, thermoforming
• Shellac - Compression moulding
• Vulcanised rubber - Compression moulding, fabrication, turning

1915 -1925 Period, Materials and Manufacturing processes:

• Casein formaldehyde - Fabrication, extrusion
• Cellulose nitrate - Blow moulding, fabrication, thermoforming
• Phenol formaldehyde - Compression moulding, casting
• Shellac - Compression moulding
• Vulcanite - Compression moulding, fabrication, turning

1925 -1940 Period, Materials and Manufacturing processes

• Casein - Extrusion, fabrication, thermoforming
• Cellulose acetate - Compression moulding, fabrication, injection moulding
• Cellulose nitrate - Blow moulding, fabrication, thermoforming
• Phenol formaldehyde - Compression moulding, casting
• Urea formaldehyde - Compression moulding
• Shellac - Compression moulding

Florence Mfg Co.:

Below you can see the various markings and patterns seen on Florence items.

The History of Florence, Massachusetts, by Charles Arthur Sheffeld, 1895:

"FLORENCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY - In 1854 S.L. Hill and I.S. Parsons became associated with A.P. Critchlow in the manufacture of papier mache buttons, and union cases for daguerreotypes and ambrotypes. The firm was A.P. Critchlow & Co. In 1857 D.G. Littlefield became a partner, and in 1868 Mr. Critchlow sold out and the firm name was changed to Littlefield, Parsons & Co., and so remained till in the summer of 1866, the demand for the daguerreotype cases having declined, George A. Scott, S.L. Hinckley, George A. Burr, Mr. Littlefield, and Mr. Parsons formed the Florence Manufacturing Company, this company being the successors of Littlefield, Parsons & Co. The new firm began manufacturing toilet brushes, mirrors, lockets, etc. The reputation these "Florence" articles enjoy is an enviable one, and from the first the policy of the company has always been to stand at the head for variety of styles and elegance of designs.

The company at the present time manufacture toothbrushes, making a specialty of the Prophylactic, "Cosmeon" pure aluminium goods, "Florence" composition brushes and mirrors, and wood back toilet articles. The aluminium goods possess great merit, and seem destined to be even more popular than the well known "Florence" line. The main factory, a brick building, three stories high, one hundred and forty by forty five feet, was built in 1866. In 1885 a building one hundred by fifty feet, and two stories high, was erected adjoining the main structure, and in 1893 the office addition, thirty by forty five feet, three stories high, was made necessary owing to the constantly increasing business. 

The company has a capital of 100,000, and employs from one hundred fifty to one hundred seventy five hands. The present officers are: E.W. Eaton, president; Frank N. Look, treasurer and general manager; J.E. Winchell, secretary; E.W. Eaton, H.R. Hinckley, and Frank N. Look, directors."

 

 

The Boston Diatite Company:

The Boston Diatite Company, Boston, Mass., was organized on August 12 1869.  

SCOTT'S ELECTRIC

SCOTT'S ELECTRIC, 

 Old unusual gutta percha hair brush electricity motif. "Electric", with an arm holding lightning and a round design that says, " The Germ Of All Life Is Electricity". It is 9 1/4" long. 

Black -  quackery cures available in the late 1800's. Each brush could treat about every condition known from headaches to losing hair. Each brush had a magnet embedded in the brush, hence the electric mention. The large black brush is 9.5 inches in length and about 2.75 inches wide. Believed to be boars hair bristles. Gutta Percha handle, black. Marked "No. 5"Shipping with USPS and item will be well protected. Sorry, no returns and no warranty.Enjoy the great value/price instead.Dr. Scott, an Englishman, was the most prolific advertiser and maker of "electric hair brushes"and related quackery in America, in the 1880's. He received his first U.S. patent for a brush handle in 1872, and introduced his line of "electric brushes" in 1880. The Scott brushes and other devices all contain slightly magnetized iron rods in their handles, thus, the curative power could only have been provided by magnetism. However, Scott apparently preferred using the term "electric" in all of his advertising. Although, hair growth and relief from headaches are the two obvious claims that would come to mind for the possible use of an electric hair brush, Scott went on to make many wild claims for the curative power of his electric brushes. The conditions his brushes could cure included constipation, malarial lameness, rheumatism, diseases of the blood, and paralysis. While such claims seem outlandish to most people (and would have in 1880), each disease added to the advertising claims opened up a wider potential market for his brushes. Most of the (financially) successful quacks advertised devices that were claimed to cure almost every ailment, or, at least, the most common ones. Perhaps more outlandish than the medical claims for Scott's brushes is this warning printed on the hair brush box " Inno case should more than one person use the brush. If always used by the same person it retains its full curative power. Families sharing the brush, of course, wasn't in Scott's best interest - better to have two brushes in every home. Perhaps some of the dissatisfied users,for whom brushing their hair didn't cure their constipation, blamed their spouse for sucking up the power of their personal electric brush. In addition to his popular hair and flesh brushes,Scott marketed electric plasters, insoles, rheumatic rings, shoulder braces, throat protectors,nerve and lung invigorators, body belts, wristlets, sciatic appliances, anklets, leg appliances,office caps, and other special appliances made to order. He also offered electric curry combs for horses. His brochure states, " There need not be a sick person in America (save from accidents), if our appliances become a part of the wardrobe of every lady and gentleman, asalso of infants and children."  

Unknown Makers:

Celluloid Boxes containing thermoplastic sets: