Celluloïd
Celluloid restoration
Celluloid or more precisely camphorated cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate was born in 1877 in the United States. United
implemented by the Hyatt brothers. It is considered the first plastic. The largest French celluloid production center at the beginning of the 20th century was located in Oyonnax but the use of this material developed mainly in the 30s until 1955, it was banned in the 60s because of its flammable properties .
Steps to restore a SNF celluloid bather
Bather Jacky brand SNF, 50s
whose elastics are to be changed and the head fractured
This bather having a great sentimental value, it was very important not to change the head. The majority of the pieces being present, I was able to reconstruct the head in full and fill the few gaps.
Contrary to what one might think, celluloid does not stick, it is welded. This is one of the essential reasons for the conservation of restorations. This material being particularly unstable, it is necessary to be patient and see if a deformation reaction occurs.
For this bather, despite the number of pieces, the restoration has remained particularly stable.
Some examples for opened-closed eyes
Petitcollin celluloid Baby doll around 1930 with flirty glass eyes or open closed eyes around 1950 whose acetate was self-destruct.
It is possible to restore your baby celluloid doll with sleepy eyes whether it is more or less old.
The blown glass eyes, if not broken, can be repositioned, and the opened-closed mechanism reconstituted. This operation is a bit tricky and can only be started if no bonding test has been done before.
Cellulose acetate eyes tend to self-destruct over time. They can be replaced by plastic, always keeping the system sleeper or flirty if necessary.
It is possible to restore your baby celluloid doll with sleepy eyes whether it is more or less old.
The blown glass eyes, if not broken, can be repositioned, and the opened-closed mechanism reconstituted. This operation is a bit tricky and can only be started if no bonding test has been done before.
Cellulose acetate eyes tend to self-destruct over time. They can be replaced by plastic, always keeping the system sleeper or flirty if necessary.
Restoring a bather's head seen at the lamp
Head of a bather François of the brand (Nobel company of France) breakage with lack to restore, change of the irises.
This bather François of the brand SNF had a strong emotional value. The only child of childhood of the owner, it had to be preserved. Following a fall, the head was broken into several pieces and kept as is for several years.
Traditionally at SNF the eyes are opaque, it is possible to change the iris. We took advantage of the restoration to do it.
This is to show that a simple lamp can reveal all the work done on an object.
Steps to restore a Jeanne d'arc SIC doll
Small doll SIC (celluloid industrial society) before 1930, winding the elatics, restoration of celluloid and makeup.
Doll of the SIC 20s mask in white celluloid very fine and often brittle. It is important to observe if this doll can be restored because in some cases the celluloid is so brittle that it is impossible to put back the elastics.
It had kept a certain flexibility in the joints, I was able to easily reassemble and make the small repair of the lip and retouch the makeup keeping much of the original elements.