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TO BE OR NOT TO BE... SHEESH BAKELITE

In Costume Jewelry > Bakelite Jewelry > Show & Tell and Costume Jewelry > Costume Bracelets > Show & Tell.
Bakelite Jewelry172 of 195Yellow bakelitebutterscotch prayer beads
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    Posted 12 years ago

    lisad
    (15 items)

    HELP.... I WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS BRACELET THIS WEEKEND ... CONCERNING THE INSIDE DIAMETER MEASUREMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT TRUE 1930'S BAKELITE IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE 2 AND 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THIS BRACELET IS 1 AND 9/16 INCHES WIDE PASSES THE 409 TEST NOT SURE WHAT FORMALDAHYDE SMELLS LIKE BUT I SMELLED SOMETHING WHEN I DID THE HOT WATER TEST. THE INSIDE MEASUREMENT OF THIS BRACELET IS..... A WHOPPING 2 AND 3/4 INCHES.

    IS THERE A CERTAIN MEASUREMENT FOR 1930'S BAKELITE BRACELETS. THERE IS NO CHALKINES AT THE TOP OF THE CARVINGS.

    I AM SO CONFUSED...

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

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    Comments

    1. Newtimes Newtimes, 12 years ago
      No there are no special measurements for 1930's bakelite.
      I have lots of bakelite bracelets, some are very wide, some only fit a small wrist.
      In fact, I do own a bracelet that only fits a child and that is from the 1930's.
      The diameter depends on the tube the bakelite bracelet was made of. And there were many different colors and diameters in use.
      So this bracelet could be the real thing.
    2. AmberRose AmberRose, 12 years ago
      They are crazy! Makes no sense at all. I am with Newtimes here for sure
    3. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      Its clearly Bakelite, whoever told you that must not be very knowledgable. I honestly wouldn't bother to buy Simichrome though, the smell test has worked fine for me all my life and you can do it in the field. Formaldehyde has a very distinct smell, if you've ever dissected animals in science class, you'll recognize it.
    4. lisad, 12 years ago
      hi, thank you for clearing up my mystery. i have a question, what about the 409 test, is the 409 today the same that was before the antibacterial 409 ?

      grrrr....bakelite

      tried to sell it today for $50 bucks, key word is tried. glad i didnt in a way i know its worth more than $50.
      i guess i should mark this mystery as solved.

      any one know anything about miriam haskell?
    5. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      409 is the same as Simichrome, but sometimes its not very deffinitive for a certain reason. Just rub it with your thumb and smell, much more accurate.

      If you want to learn about Miriam Haskell, Google is a great resource
    6. decodeb, 12 years ago
      Hi, valentino97 has given good advice, it's hard to know true bakelite smell if you haven't anything genuine to check against as many resins have strong smells too. Colour of this piece looks right, but there's something about the carving of the leaves...I have many genuine carved bakelite bangles and none have this type of sharp-edged gouged outline carving - the gouge carved ones are all a bit more rounded off in the polishing process, not such defined edges. Though maybe I just don't have on of those yet....
    7. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      Eh, it doesn't really matter if its technically a slightly different resin, if it smells like camphor, its Bakelite. Who is going to know the difference, or care?

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