J.IIC-CG VOLUME 10 & 11 (1985/1986)

A Short History of Early Consumer Plastics

David Hillman

This paper gives a general overview of the historical development of early plastics materials up to the mid-twentieth century with specific reference to their application in consumer items which may be found in social history collections. Basic information will give museum personnel a greater appreciation of the variety of early plastics artifacts and help them make preliminary identifications. The care of early plastics materials is briefly discussed.

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