Page 1 - 0719
P. 1
FREE
Volume 32 No. 11 JULY 2019 www.antiqueshoppefl.com TAKE ONE
Bakelite “V” Pins
Helped Win World War II
By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service
Bakelite, which could only be Soon Catalin, generically called
produced in brown and black colors, Bakelite, was being used to produce
was originally used to produce kitchenware, pipe stems, firearms, games, This
electrical insulators and radio and and toys. But it was most visibly used beautiful,
Beautiful, telephone casings, but in 1927 all to make inexpensive, colorful costume US Army
“Sweetheart”
1940s WWII of that changed when the American jewelry. Catalin proved the perfect material Victory pin
Bakelite Catalin Corporation developed and to produce jewelry since it could be filed, sold on eBay
“Victory” pin.
trademarked its most famous plastic sawed, drilled, ground, sanded, and for $205.
invention-Catalin. Catalin, also a polished to a brilliant sheen.
phenol formaldehyde Jewelry wear. Also, Bakelite was one of only
resin, was near designers and a handful of materials not restricted
colorless, so it could manufacturers, by rationing and conservation order
akelite has been called the
Bplastic that won World War II. be manufactured in such as Coco during WWII, so Bakelite was
Bakelite’s flexibility in manufacturing many brilliant colors, Chanel, Elsa readily available as jewelry material
led to it being called “the material of such as red, yellow, Schiaparelli, and The V sign is a hand gesture in
1,001 uses,” and if you count each green, blue, orange, WWII Diana Vreeland began which the index and middle fingers
designing and producing
product manufactured from Bakelite a maroon, and cream. patriotic are raised and parted to make a V
US Air Force
“use,” then the slogan was, probably, To add whimsy to Bakelite Bakelite costume jewelry. shape while the other fingers remain
no boast, just fact. its product, Catalin Victory” pin Designer Paul T. Frankl, in clenched. The sign has various
The war effort produced hundreds names its Bakelite valued at $135. 1930, considered Bakelite a meanings, but during WWII, it
of Bakelite items, all of which plastic Butterscotch, “Materia Nova” or “new became the campaign sign, used
Salmon, Chocolate
material” that was an
contributed to winning the war, by the Western Allies, to denote
but one of the most iconic items Sundae, Egg Yolk, and other expression of its time. “Victory” against Germany and
produced for the war effort during descriptive, fun names. While the heyday of Bakelite Japan. Victor de Laveleye, a Belgian
WWII was jewelry, specifically “V” Although the name “Bakelite” jewelry came in the 1930s before the politician in exile, first suggested, on
(victory) pins or brooches. became the generic name for all war, Bakelite is still credited for its a broadcast for the BBC, the V sign,
phenol formaldehyde plastics, most
help on the home front from 1941-
Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite in January 1941, as a rallying symbol
in 1907 while experimenting to of the “Bakelite” jewelry, radios, and 1945 for its patriotic jewelry that for “Victory.”
find a replacement for shellac. other so-called “Bakelite” products of bolstered moral and visibly expressed In July 1941, Winston Churchill
Mixing phenol and formaldehyde, the 1930s and ‘40s, such as Bakelite American’s desire for “Victory.” And began using the V hand sign,
Baekeland created the first synthetic “V” pins were actually made from nothing expressed this desire to win showing his approval of it as wartime
Catalin since Catalin could be dyed in
the war more than Bakelite “V” pins,
thermosetting plastic, which he propaganda.
named “Bakelite” after himself. any color of the rainbow. which were inexpensive and easy to Continued on Page 2
Florida’s Largest Monthly Antique Event!
300 South Florida Fairgrounds JULY 6-7
9067 Southern Blvd.
VENDORS West Palm Beach, FL 33411
www.wpbaf.com info@wpbaf.com
EARLY BUYERS: “1st Pick” Friday 12-5PM • Admission $10 - Good All 3 Days • GEN. ADMISSION: SAT 9AM-5PM, SUN 10AM-4:30PM • Admission $8
AUG 3-4
SEP 6-8 OCT