Melmac Mystery in Art Deco Red Cups : I Need a Bakelite Test Kit

So gorgeous $22, set of 4 at RetroChalet.

I did not know what to make of these cups I have.  They are only 3" tall and have art deco styling on the ridges.   Molded of heavy duty melmac-melamine feel, I almost questioned if they were bakelite--though I've never been one to see mottled red bakelite.  I really need to get one of those test kits.  They are so much more beautiful in person, the photos do not do them justice.

The camera does not do them justice. They are so lovely truly thick and heavy duty!

Strangely there are no two alike, they are a mix of reds and whites and so mottled and so lovely. They almost remind me of children's cups or small dice holders. There is a strange "circle" mold mark in the center of the inside, but not visible from the bottom.  I have many of these and I was wondering if they were custom store stock molded for the game industry, I don't know. If anyone has ever seen these before let me know. I am wondering just what they are!

Hollywood Bakelite and Catalin Style : Mad Men Modern Movie Props and More For the Serious Collector

Available from MadMenModern

I'm not a big Bakelite junkie, but I do have to give credit where credit is due. Bakelite and phenolic resins are the precursor to the wonderful world of plastics as we know it.  This item, an original store display for "Tattoo Cosmetics" is available from MadMenModern of North Hollywood, California for $945.69 starting bid. The sphere is Catalin, the base is Bakelite, and it art deco Hollywood looking! 
 

This Catalin phone is another great find in their store, for starting bid of $1094.69

It's no wonder it's coming from  Mad Men Modern, who have acquired Furniture, Lighting and hand props from All the major studios ; Paramount Pictures, MGM, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox, and most of the TV shows are selling these rare finds.  In their shop you will find very rare modern furniture, decor, jewelry, OOAK movie props, and hard to find art deco items.  If they didn't come from movie sets or stages, you can be certain they came from Hollywood estates....

This Art Deco Telechron Bakelite Clock is available for under $200.

The store is definately worth a look-see, even if you are forced to window-shop only and wish for the winning lottery number so you can buy it all.  For serious collectors, it may behoove you to save for that one rarity in pristine shape from these guys.   There are good deals at prices one can afford, such as the clock above, which would serve as a wonderful gift to the serious clock collector.  Take a walk down Hollywood Lane....HERE!

Pretty Rainbow of Plaskon Plastics : 1930's to the 1950's

Plaskon : Molded Color

1940 ad

How I wish I was alive in the 1940's and 1950's to see all this beautiful plastic.  Plaskon, a urea-formaldehyde molding compound (essentially a would-be rival to Cyanamid's Melmac), was used to mold coffee pot handles, stove knobs, beauty and cosmetic containers, industrial plastics, electrical channels, switches, socket plate components, picnic plastics, toys, advertising premiums, displays, and perhaps the most popular two of all in my opinion, radio covers and clock housings.   (Both of which certainly hold their place in value among collectors today!)  Take special note the old time service-ticket writing pad you see in the upper right of the ad above.  Probably when you went to get your car serviced, or ordered something special at the hardware store.  

Before the 1940's

RYDER offers this great 1937 ad for only $6.99.

Plaskon's use of urea dates back to 1931.  The company originated from the inner workings of the Toledo Scale Company , (Toledo Synthetic Products Company.) By 1934 their "molded color" brochures were everywhere, although I find it odd to see so much off white and ivory plaskon pieces floating around.  Is this because people are coveting the colors?  By 1937 Plaskon was making housings and specialty boxes for the Gruen watch company and even ring boxes (see ad above).  I have some old packaging Encyclopedias, and they were always proud to show off their new housings.

Gorgeous Plaskon Radio Courtesy of DecorRadios, which is unknown origin circa 1938. You really must visit this site to see all the gorgeous Plaskon radios and learn about them.

In 1939, they produced this strange oddity:

Guess what this is?

Dab-Ette Plaskon Perfume Bottle from RareTodd

This item is a real steal in RareTodd's shop, it's actually an art deco bullet style vintage perfume bottle.  It soaked up the perfume via the cord and you could "dab" it on (hence the Dab-ette name.)  I did ample research* and here's what I found:  This was distributed in chain stores in 1939. (Note chain store, and not dime store!) One of the distributors "B AND F SPECIALTIES" of  Cleveland, Ohio, proudly announced: 

Miss Dab-Ette, a purse size perfume applicator, which is a non-leakable non-breakable plastic cartridge. It can be filled with the purchaser's favorite odor. "

1939, Colors of handles and knobs and industrial parts!

Plaskon : Lives On
Much past the glorious forties and fun fifties, Plaskon would live on. In fact in melmac dish land, Plaskon was being used as an alternative to Cyanamid's Melmac molding powders, but that is another story.

 
Plaskon Info: 

Gorgeous Plaskon Radios on Deco Radio's Plaskon Page here.

Complete Plaskon History and early Toledo Scale Pictures in this book preview of American Plastic: A Cultural History by Jefferey Meikle.

You can see old radios and learn how to "test for Plaskon" (?)  here.


*Chain Store Age, Volume 15, 1939