Melmac Capac California and Durawear Linked 1959

Capac backstamp courtesy of ShopMichL on Etsy.

I recently read from a Modern Plastics that in 1959 California Molded Products Inc (CMP) had recently acquired Capac Inc., (who was then a manufacturer of melamine dinnerware,) and at that time they were constructing a 16000-sq.-ft. plant in Santa Paula, California.  The building was supposed to be completed in December 1959--which I find odd because during the early 1960's came the decline of Melmac.  This however proves Durawear and Capac were indeed molded by the same company (as of late 1959).  Prior to 1959, this line of melmac from Capac, Inc. remains a mystery to me.  I found the company itself as of the mid 1970's making computer parts.  Does anyone have any information prior to 1959?

Lovely Capac set find it at ShopMichL on Etsy.

It's funny how the cities on the backstamps of Santa Paula for Durawear and Pomona for Capac are in actuality 92 miles apart.  I wonder did they continue to mark them that way after CMP acquired Capac--if not, and they changed the stamp, it may help in dating melmac made prior to 1959 or after.  I think that by the end of 1959 it is reasonably safe to say that CMP was the MOLDING giant of California. This indeed was THE equivalent of Texasware in California and as such, probably molded Capac, and Durawear and much more. I wonder if somehow they were also molding Miramar and Laguna once it closed? That remains to be seen........See the Miramar factory tour here.

Was Laguna then molded here too?  These plates at StitchyImpressions on Etsy!.

SOURCE (vol 37),

Vintage Plastic

MyFunkyJunk offers this vintage plastic Marx figure.

What Makes Plastic "Vintage"

Vintage items seem to be all the rage these days. The rich and famous in fact tend to adorn themselves in what's old more often than what's currently "in style." Although vintage has become a catchword of sorts for anything that is both old and pretty, the term actually has a more specific definition. An item needs to be at least 20 years old in order to truly qualify as a "vintage" piece. In terms of plastics, this means that goods from the '20s through the '70s are vintage classics, while '80s and '90s products will soon enter the fold as well.

 

The Best Types of Vintage Plastic

Particular types of plastic can also be regarded as more vintage than others, particularly in terms of jewelry. Bakelite, Lucite, Catalin, and Thermoset are considered to be among the first rate of vintage plastic materials.

Other valuable items include plastic toy soldiers and plastic lunchboxes. The former collectibles are best known from Louis Marx and Company, known for its creation of well-crafted plastic goods from the '50s through to the '70s. The 1960 "Gunsmoke" Collection and 1959 "Wyatt Earp" line are two of the most prestigious and coveted Marx plastic offerings.

MidwoodVintage offers this vintage plastic lunchbox.

Kitschy lunch boxes made from plastic have also recently become well favored as popular vintage items. This holds true particularly well if the lunch box depicts some well-known pop cultural item from its era. These boxes are typically square in shape, featuring hard plastic in bright pigments like cherry red or lime green.

 

Where and How

You will need to become quite adept at hunting around and showing tenacity in order to land on some amazing vintage plastic finds. Step one is to head to the local antique stores in your neighborhood. Don't just walk in silently; talk with the staff, smile and get them on your side, then inquire about their advice for vintage plastics local to you. Next up, you should head for thrift stores, the nearby Salvation Army, and similar establishments; more often than not, plastic gems hide there, unnoticed yet gleaming all the way. In the spring and summer, check your local papers for upcoming flea markets, which can be another strong way to locate vintage plastics. Last but not least, head to websites such as Ebay, Etsy, and Papernstitch, who regularly stock their pages with vintage finds.

Check out:
Vintage Jewelry Lane,  
The Jailbreak,  
Toy Memories, and  
Cheeky Chicago 
for more information on this topic.

Special thanks to  Jordan @ Article Writing Services.org

Plastic Sock Darners, String Holders, Sewing Collectibles

Funky Mushroom Sock Darner, a steal at $11 from TheSheepandI on Etsy. 

Plastic sewing collectibles are a fantastic part of plastic's past.  Old sock darners, string holders and more were made of early plastics, sometimes even Bakelite.  They are extremely collectible today among plastics lovers and sewing  connoisseurs alike! Perhaps one of my favorites is the "mushroom" looking sock darners such as these.

Katrina's Wool World has this great pink and back darner, a rare find, $32.50.

Funky Mushroom Sock Darner, a steal at $11 from TheSheepandI on Etsy.

The string and yarn holders, were in a league of their own.  Often fancy and decorative, they were made from various plastics such as lucite, polystyrene, melamine , and Bakelite.  Holding wool, yarn, or string these fancy little items found their way into every sewing buff's home.  Over time, some of the plastics would become brittle and break, so finding them in good condition proves harder and harder. Perhaps this is what makes them so desirable.

Early plastic sock darner, most you see in this style are wood. This one, TheSheepandI, $11

Lovely Lucite string holder by Homer, with Kitties on the top, at Katrina's Wool World, $44.

 

Dainty "unbreakable" Wool Holder, $35, from Katrina's Wool World

Gorgeous Bakelite string holder, looks military, doesn't it? $55 at Katrina's Wool World!

Unknown funky yarn holder, $32.00 Katrina's Wool World.

Katrina's Wool World has a variety of Bakelite Beehive Yarn Holders, Most $66-$69.

White yarn/wool holder, Katrina's Wool World, $75.