>Clyde.... >Not sure of the year but celluloid was used in the teens. The following information taken from World Book Encyclopedia: "The invention of Celluloid. In the late 1860's, John W. Hyatt, a printer from Albany, N.Y., developed a material to replace the scarce ivory used to make billiard balls. In 1870, he and his brother Isaiah received a patent for the material, which they later named Celluloid. Celluloid was the first synthetic plastic material to receive wide commercial use." >Plastic wasn't invented until late 30s as I recall. "The invention of Bakelite. During the early 1900's, Leo Baekeland, a chemist from New York City... he had created the first completely synthetic resin and the first of the thermosetting plastics. He patented it in 1909 and named it Bakelite, after his own name. Bakelite soon became widely used to make such items as telephones and handles for pots and irons..." "Growth of the plastics industry. The introduction of Bakelite in 1909 gave scientists a better understanding of polymer chemistry. The plastics industry expanded steadily throughout the next three decades..." "The most dramatic developments occurred in the 1930's. Four important thermoplastics--acrylics, nylon, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl)--came into commercial use..." (There is much more!) >I...Seems to me there was an >article in PT Journal a number of years back about ivory. >Dick MT 1947 or 1948? Tremendous article. Very graphic story with pictures. Keith McGavern Registered Piano Technician Oklahoma Chapter 731 Piano Technicians Guild USA
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