bakelite
Vintage synthetic resin
Bakelite is an early synthetic plastic, hard and heat-resistant, used extensively in the early-to-mid twentieth century for electrical insulators, radio casings, telephone housings, and jewelry.
The material has a distinctive look—usually dark brown or black with a slightly glossy surface—that collectors now prize as vintage: Her grandmother's bakelite bracelets are worth a fortune.
The lowercase form appears in generic or informal contexts. (Capitalized Bakelite is the trademark.)
Resists electricity passage
- insulatorSubstance resisting energy flow
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- durableAble to withstand use
- electricalInvolving conducted current
thermal · flame-retardant · stability · moldable · rigid · brittle · lightweight · glossy
Hardens permanently when heated
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
- resinViscous plant secretion
phenol · cross-linked · polymerization · condensation · catalyst · monomer · curing · hardener
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- telephoneVoice communication device
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- billiard ballsNumbered spheres for cue sports
- switchesCircuit opening devices
handles · knobs · buttons · chess pieces · dominoes · cameras · earphones · ashtrays
Old valued collectible
- retroEvoking recent past
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- art decoGeometric interwar design movement
- 1920sPost-WWI American decade
1930s · nostalgia · patina · heirloom · classic · memorabilia · heritage · old-fashioned
Forcing into smaller space
- moldingDecorative architectural edging
- injectionSyringe-delivered dose
- extrusionPushing through a die
- pressesPushes or flattens
tooling · die-casting · industrial · casting · machining · polishing · laminating · mass-production
nonconductive
Resists electricity passage
- insulatorSubstance resisting energy flow
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- durableAble to withstand use
electrical · thermal · flame-retardant · stability · moldable · rigid · brittle · lightweight · glossy · opaque
thermosetting
Hardens permanently when heated
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
resin · phenol · cross-linked · polymerization · condensation · catalyst · monomer · curing · hardener · macromolecule
radio
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- telephoneVoice communication device
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- billiard ballsNumbered spheres for cue sports
switches · handles · knobs · buttons · chess pieces · dominoes · cameras · earphones · ashtrays · desk sets
antique
Old valued collectible
- retroEvoking recent past
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- art decoGeometric interwar design movement
1920s · 1930s · nostalgia · patina · heirloom · classic · memorabilia · heritage · old-fashioned · phonograph
compression
Forcing into smaller space
presses · tooling · die-casting · industrial · casting · machining · polishing · laminating · mass-production · factory
- art deco jewelrygeometric patterns, chevrons, bold colors, symmetry, onyx
- resinsepoxy, polyester, polyurethane, melamine, frankincense
- antique materialsbrass, cast iron, ivory, leather, linen
- telephonestelephone, rotary phone, phone, cordless phone, corded phone
- Art Decoart deco, sunburst, sunbursts, chevron, zigzag
- jewelry suppliesrhinestones, glass beads, plastic beads, faux pearls, cubic zirconia
bakelitethermoplastic
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
polyethylene · polypropylene · PVC · nylon · polystyrene
bakelitebioplastic
Plant-derived synthetic material
ivory · natural materials · carbon fiber · smart materials · wood