May I suggest an archaeological conservator might make the most sense being as
they have to be able to identify materials to stabilize or treat them?
I know a few archaeological conservators who are quite knowledgeable about
plastics and their composition.

Silas Hurry
Historic St. Mary's City

> Molded button material? I suppose it depends on whose button is being
> threaded, as I have heard those "China" white and black buttons were produced
by the
> Proesser process and are actually heated and compressed glass powder. But who
> do you believe? Also, bakelite comes in brown, black, and marbled black and
> brown. It is my understanding that antique dealers have techniques like
rubbing
> "bakelite" for a distinctive smell and they heat a needle on the stove and
> touch it to an item to see how it performs to distinguish bakelite,
celluloid, or
> plastic. These tests could be destructive. Perhaps we ought to consult with
> chemists from Monsanto or Dupont?
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>


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