#bakelite

[dozydawn]

[miamaimania]

"Hand & Cherries Brooch" (1940s) Maker unknown ꩜ Black Bakelite catches nine dancing cherries

[adventurelandia]

1940s Mickey Mouse Bakelite Alarm Clock

[littlethingsmart]

(source)

[commodorez]

Northern Electric bakelite telephones from the 1930s. Pyramid style vs. curved. I think these are both H6 series phones.

[fuzzkaizer]

Premier - Model 76 suitcase amp

1959, 2 6V6, 12", tremolo, Catalin knobs.

[omgthatdress]

The most 100% accurate way to identify Bakelite (if you don't have access to fancy chemical analysis equipment) is with a kind of jewelry polish called Simichrome.

Put a little bit on a Q-tip, swab a bit on the piece you're trying to identify, and if it turns yellow or orange, it's Bakelite. It's something you'll see everywhere and it's something you'll want on the more expensive pieces. HOWEVER that doesn't always work if the piece is covered in polish or resin.

If you don't want to go around swabbing shit in an antique store, I've found that the best way to identify Bakelite is just by picking it up and handling it. Bakelite is a very heavy, dense material in a way that you can feel.

If you tap on it, or click two pieces together, you will heard a very distinctive, resonant clunk. That for me is the best giveaway that you're handling real Bakelite. I love the noisy clack clacking that two bangles make when you wear them.

You do kind of have to be careful when buying vintage earrings because there was this weird taboo against ear piercing in the early 20th century so most earrings from back then are clip-ons.

These yellow earrings pinched so much when I bought them that I straight up couldn't wear them. LUCKILY I found out that you can easily adjust the back on your earrings and now I can wear them with no problem.

The other thing about Bakelite is that it's HEAVY. These earrings ended up being larger than I thought they would be, and are kind of uncomfortable to wear because they weigh so much. A lighter more modern plastic would make them a lot more comfortable. But they're still pretty fabulous so I endure the pain of wearing them.

[thegroovyarchives]

1940′s Fada Bakelite Radio (via: cottoneauctions)