Maya Ellison
Buttons have been used for thousands of years, with the oldest button, estimated to be 5000 years old, found in modern-day Pakistan. The use of plastic buttons, however, is a more recent development. The first plastic, celluloid, was discovered in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, though it was not until the late 1800s that it began to be used for buttons. By the 1960s, plastic had largely replaced glass and pearl buttons, and today, plastic is the most common material used in button-making.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year plastic buttons were invented | The first plastic buttons were made of celluloid, discovered in 1869, and used as early as the 1870s. |
| The first completely synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1909. | |
| Casein, another type of plastic, came along around the turn of the 20th century. | |
| By the 1960s, plastic buttons had replaced most inexpensive glass and pearl buttons. | |
| Types of plastic buttons | Catalin is a type of plastic button with a wide range of vibrant colours. |
| Cello plastic was used to coat buttons until the middle of the 1950s. |
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What You'll Learn
John Wesley Hyatt discovered celluloid in 1869
John Wesley Hyatt, born in Starkey, New York, began working as a printer at the age of 16. He went on to become an inventor, with nearly 238 patents to his credit, including the discovery of celluloid in 1869.
Hyatt was motivated to find a substitute for ivory, which was used to make billiard balls at the time. He experimented with Parkesine, a hardened form of nitrocellulose invented by Englishman Alexander Parkes in 1862. Hyatt combined nitrocellulose, camphor, and alcohol, heating the mixture under pressure to make it pliable for moulding. This new material, celluloid, was the first artificial plastic and had a wide variety of uses in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, significantly impacting the economy.
Celluloid was initially employed to create denture plates and, later, photographic film. However, its versatility extended to fashion and accessories, revolutionising the button industry. Before the advent of plastic buttons, buttons were crafted from natural materials such as wood, horn, bronze, pearl shells, and ivory. Hyatt's discovery of celluloid offered an alternative to these traditional materials, and celluloid buttons became popular due to their resemblance to ivory. These early celluloid buttons were often called ivorine or ivoroid buttons.
The invention of plastic buttons marked a significant shift in button manufacturing, introducing new techniques and machinery. The Double Automatic Machine, for example, transformed the industry by producing uniform pearl buttons at a lower cost. Hyatt's discovery of celluloid not only changed the landscape of button production but also contributed to a broader range of applications, including jewellery, hair accessories, and toys.
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Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, was invented in 1909
Plastic buttons have a long history, with the oldest button, made from shell, estimated to be about 5000 years old. It was found in the Indus Valley region, in modern-day Pakistan. The use of plastic in buttons, however, is a more recent development.
The development of Bakelite marked a significant shift in button manufacture. Prior to the emergence of plastic materials, metal was the most commonly used material for buttons, with metal alloys such as brass, tumbago, steel, and aluminium alloys being the most frequent. These metal buttons were often coated with paint to achieve the desired colour.
The invention of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, opened up new possibilities for button design and manufacturing. It offered a durable and versatile alternative to traditional button materials, and its introduction contributed to the decline in the use of natural materials such as nacre, ivory, and tortoiseshell for buttons.
While Bakelite revolutionised the button industry, it was not the first plastic used in button-making. Celluloid, discovered in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, was the first plastic used in button manufacture, initially created to imitate elephant ivory. However, it was Bakelite's invention in 1909 that truly paved the way for the widespread use of plastic buttons, which have since become the most common material for buttons in modern clothing and fashion design.
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Plastic buttons were invented to imitate elephant ivory
Plastic buttons were first invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who discovered celluloid. However, Hyatt was unaware of the impact his discovery would have on the world of button manufacturing. The first plastic buttons were created to imitate elephant ivory and were often confused with real ivory. These buttons were called ivorine or ivoroid buttons. Vegetable ivory, made from the corozo nut, was also used as a replacement for elephant ivory. It was first introduced in 1862 and became the choice button for men's jackets.
The development of celluloid marked the beginning of the use of plastic in button manufacturing, which has since become a common material for buttons, alongside metal, wood, and seashell. In the late 19th century, the button industry reached its peak, producing billions of buttons made from natural materials like pearl shells, as well as metal and plastic.
In the early 20th century, another type of plastic called casein, made from milk curds and treated with chemicals, was used extensively in button manufacturing. During this time, Belgian chemist Dr. Leo Hendrick Baekeland invented another synthetic plastic called Bakelite, which was advertised as an indestructible material. It came in dark colours like black, green, brown-red, and brown. Catalin, a similar product with vibrant colours, later became popular and was used in the manufacture of buttons and jewellery.
Today, plastic buttons are commonly made from materials like galalith and celluloid, with various colours and sophisticated designs. They are used in children's clothing and are sometimes shaped like toys or other interesting items.
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By the 1960s, plastics replaced most glass and pearl buttons
The story of buttons and their manufacture is a long and fascinating one. Buttons made from natural materials like shells, bone, brass, horn, wood, and precious metals have been used for millennia, with the oldest button, estimated to be around 5000 years old, discovered in modern-day Pakistan. The buttonhole, however, is a more recent innovation, believed to have been introduced in the 13th century by the European Crusaders, who brought it to Europe from the Middle East.
The 19th century saw the mass production of buttons, with the use of natural materials like horn and shells continuing, but the emergence of new materials, such as celluloid, the first plastic, which was used as early as the 1870s. John Wesley Hyatt discovered celluloid in 1869, and it became a popular material for buttons, particularly as it could imitate the look of elephant ivory.
The early 20th century saw the development of new synthetic plastics, with Bakelite, invented by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland between 1907 and 1909, being one of the most notable. This material was advertised as almost indestructible and was used extensively in the manufacture of buttons, jewellery, and other items. Another plastic, Catalin, followed, offering a wide range of vibrant colours, which made it extremely popular.
By the 1950s, plastic buttons were commonly coated with cello plastic, before the now-used mylar was introduced. During this time, artists like the Brooks (a husband-and-wife team in England) used plain casein buttons as a canvas to paint colourful designs, some of which were even accepted by Queen Elizabeth for her children's clothing.
By the 1960s, plastics had largely replaced glass and pearl buttons, which were more expensive. Mother-of-pearl buttons, made from shells, continued to be used but in smaller quantities. The dominance of plastic buttons was further solidified by bans on natural materials like ivory and tortoiseshell in the United States and other countries. Today, plastic remains the most common material for buttons, alongside metal, wood, and seashell.
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Casein, a type of plastic made from milk curds, was used for buttons
Plastic buttons were invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who discovered celluloid and inadvertently changed the world of button manufacture. However, the first plastic buttons were made from casein, a type of plastic made from milk curds.
Casein plastic was created by mixing vinegar with milk and heating it, causing the milk to curdle and separate into curds (solids) and whey (liquid). The curds are formed by the fat and casein (protein) in milk joining together in chains known as polymers. All plastics are polymers, and the casein chains harden into a type of plastic.
In the early 1900s, casein plastic was used to make buttons and jewellery. It could be dyed any colour, including imitation horn and tortoiseshell, and could be polished. Casein buttons could be painted, as demonstrated by the two Brooks artists (a husband-and-wife team) in the 1950s and 1960s. Their colourful buttons were even accepted by Queen Elizabeth for the clothing of Prince Charles and Princess Anne when they were children.
After World War II, petroleum-based plastics became widely used and replaced casein plastic. However, casein is still used in some places to manufacture buttons today.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic buttons were invented in the 1870s with the discovery of celluloid, a material that was used to imitate elephant ivory.
Celluloid is a type of plastic that was discovered by John Wesley Hyatt in 1869. It was originally used to create buttons that imitated elephant ivory.
In 1909, the Belgian-American chemist Leo Hendrick Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first completely synthetic plastic. It was advertised as an "indestructible material" and was used to make buttons in dark colours.
Yes, in the 1930s, polystyrene was invented. This thermoplastic was made from vinyl resin and was suitable for moulding. Polyamide, or Nylon, was also invented in this decade.
By the 1960s, plastic buttons had replaced most inexpensive glass and pearl buttons. They were also used to imitate natural materials such as ivory and tortoiseshell, which were banned in the United States and other countries.
