Ephemera: Writings of the Past II

  During my birthday antiquing trip I found some amazing antique postcards that I just had to add to my collection.
(As before, I'll copy them as close as I can, and will put question marks next to unsure words.)

Who Is Going To Blow?.-

Posted Nov 1, 1916
Mildred Johnston
Donellson, Ill.
We are all well.  tell Larence we do not want the turnips we got here at home.
from Ma.

When you play for me so sweet,

I'm completely at your feet.

Posted Mar 5, 1910
Miss Florence Arnsmeyer
425. Lake Ave.
St. Louis, Mo
Dear Friend
Recieved you card was very glad to hear from you.
I guess you had a good time Sunday by Ida.  Flora ask Lillie why she didn't anser my card.
from your Friend
Emma
ans soon

-What's The Use-

No postmark
Mr. C(?). H. Rudluff(?)
70 Post -Master
New York, N.Y.
Came home yesterday want to go back again but the Dr. wants me to stay here for a while, so it don't look like I will get to go.  we are a(?) going(?) ___(?) to the hospital this afternoon
will write you to-night if nothing happens
E(?). A. W(?).
U.S.S. North Dakota

Birthday Greetings

No postmark
Mrs. Nesbitt
Attica __(?), N.Y.
(Inside)
To Mrs. Nesbitt
From Mrs. Johnson
732 - 6th RN.(?)

For The Love Of Vintage Plastics: Bakelite

  I should have known that my growing interest in all things vintage and antique would lead me to one of the most popular collectibles among men and women alike - Bakelite.  Bakelite is the candy of the plastic world, from its bright rainbow bangles to psychedelic swirled radios, anything and everything was once made from Bakelite.

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  With the decreased use of celluloid because of its explosive nature, there was room for improvement as well as the need for a plastic that was not dependent on natural resources.  The miracle came from chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907, who was successful in creating the first completely synthetic plastic, a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin to which he named Bakelite.  Not only was it completely man-made, it was cheap and heat resistant, much unlike its predecessor celluloid.  These properties made Bakelite the primary plastic from 1909-1950s.  Its heat resistance made it popular in electrical devices like telephones, radios, switches, and sewing machine feet, as well as gaining favor in the fashion world for its versatility as Art Deco jewelry, buttons, and belt buckles. It was used in plates, cutlery, children's toys, cameras, smoking paraphernalia, the list goes on.

Advertisement, 1938.
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Advertising booklet showing the variety of Bakelite products from 1941.

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  Bakelite is known as a type of plastic, but it is also a brand(that later branched out into other plastics as is seen in the photo above).  Another brand called Catalin from the American Catalin Corporation acquired the patent for Baekeland's formaldehyde resin in 1927 and made their own version with less and differing fillers.  The belief is widely held that true Bakelite was only made in dark colors like brown, black, and deep red, and that any other color is actually Catalin.  Some advertisements from the time seem to suggest otherwise, but it is safe to say that both Bakelite and Catalin are formaldehyde resins that hold their value as well as their collectible status, and both terms are now mostly used interchangeably.

 Bakelite color chart.  From Gifts to Treasure, Embed Art Company catalog, 1924.

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Another Bakelite color chart, unknown date and source. 

  Even though Bakelite seemed like a miracle, it too had its downfall.  Unlike the obvious problems that came from celluloid, Bakelite's issue was subtle but just as dangerous, that being the formaldehyde used in its production.  Formaldehyde, the same chemical used in the embalming process, has cancer causing properties.  These cancer causing agents can leech from the Bakelite through repeated exposure(as well as affecting those in the production of the material), and seeing that this was used in items like crib toys and kitchen utensils, the Bakelite boom only lasted until around the 1950s-1960s when safer plastics were created.  Bakelite is still used in some industries today, but the household items are a thing of the past.

  I have been familiar with Bakelite almost as long as I've been familiar with celluloid, but it was only when I became interested in Art Deco and the 1930s did I want to add some pieces to my collection.  Of the vintage plastics, Bakelite and Catalin are the most popular and valuable, which means I haven't been able to afford many pieces, but the pieces I do own I treasure, and I will detail them in a coming post.


Further Research:
Wikipedia: Bakelite
Wikipedia: Catalin
Hexion: Bakelite-Resins (uses today)

Flipping Through: The Woman's Weekly, November 1904

Today's 'Flipping Through' is The Woman's Weekly from November 1904.

 Beautiful Art Nouveau detailing on the table of contents.

Ladies sporting fur scarves and stoles.

Sears & Roebuck Co. sewing machine in cabinet - if only they were $5 now!

Advertisement to send in your hair, then receive a real hair piece that matches your own.

A time when anything could be ordered from a catalog.

About tapeworms - during the late Victorian and Edwardian era there was a rumor that women used tapeworms to lose weight, taken in 'tapeworm pills' which housed the worm's eggs.  Once the weight was lost, the woman would want to shed her tapeworm, since there are nasty side effects to having one living in the body.  I have found no conclusive evidence to this diet trend, but I couldn't help but be reminded of it when seeing these advertisements to remove tapeworms. 

I thought there was some irony to the juxtaposition of these two advertisements.  (note the name Kellogg - not the same Kellogg of cereal fame it seems)

Copyrighted October, 1901,

By the Lewis Publishing Co.,

St. Louis, MO.

The Phantoms of the Biltmore

  Back in May the Biltmore Estate put on an exhibition of reproduction clothing by Cosprop London, a renowned costuming company involved in film and television.  The clothing on display were copied from actual photographs of the Vanderbilt family(owners of the Biltmore) and their friends and staff from the turn of the 20th century. As a lover of historic homes and historic fashion, the combination of the two was not to be missed. 

Left: Adele and James Burden; Right: George Vanderbilt

Edith and George Vanderbilt with baby Cornelia

Left: George with his mother, Maria Louisa; Right: Edith and George Vanderbilt

Left: Edward Wharton; Right: Edith and George Vanderbilt, Edith Wharton

Elizabeth Mayo Dodge, opera singer

Left: Pauline Dresser Merrill and Cornelia; Right: George and Edith Vanderbilt

Left: Wilfred George Shackley, valet; Right: Martha Laube, lady's maid

Cornelia Vanderbilt and her cousin John Nicholas Brown

Left: Emily King, housekeeper; Right: Edith Vanderbilt

Detail of Edith's dress.

Elizabeth Mayo Dodge, opera singer, again.

Left: Edith and Ernesto Shepard Fabbri; Middle: Lila Vanderbilt Sloane Field and William B. Osgood Field; Right: Corinne Roosevelt Robinson and Douglas Robinson Jr.

Detail of Corrine's dress.

Bowling outfits.

Left: Bathing(swimming) attire; Right: Gymnasium attire

Left: Chef's assistant attire and chef's attire; Right: Laundress attire

Left: William S. Matthews, coachman; Right: Footman attire

Left: William B. Osgood Field and Lila Vanderbilt Sloane Field; Right: Hamilton McKown Twombly and Florence Vanderbilt Twombly

Details of Florence's dress and head piece.

Detail of Lila's dress.

Left: Edith and George Vanderbilt; Right: Catharine Clinton Hunt and Joseph Howland Hunt

Detail of Edith's dress.

Detail of Catharine's dress.

And lastly, Elizabeth Mayo Dodge, opera singer, yet again.

Further Research:
Cosprop London
Biltmore Estate
Wikipedia: Vanderbilt Family