Plastics have been described as "materials that can be moulded or shaped into different forms under pressure or heat." They were a cultural phenomenon in the twentieth century when they changed the way objects were produced, designed and used. It was also in the twentieth century that most plastic products moved away from natural raw materials to synthetically produced ones.

The museum's plastics collection began in the 1930s with the acquisition of specimens of plastic raw materials and finished products. The collection was driven largely by Arthur de Ramon Penfold (1890-1980), a former industrial chemist, who worked as curator and later director of the museum from 1927 until 1955.

Between 26 and 28 of September 1934, the Technical College and the museum collaborated to develop what was advocated as the first Plastics Industry Exhibition in Australia. A permanent display of plastics was established at the museum, and was described by the Sunday Telegraph as 'the best display of plastics and fibres in the world show(ing) the complete history of plastics from first experiments to the latest developments'.

These objects were donated to the Museum in 1933. They are early examples of applications of synthetic resins being manufactured in Australia at this time. Although they were donated by Standard Waygood Ltd, the 'Ellitane' synthetic resin was probably supplied by Elliotts and Australia Drug Ltd. Elliotts and Australian Drug Ltd are believed to have been the only firm in Australia manufacturing Ellitane at the time this sample was donated. The previous year Arthur Penfold had written to Elliotts requesting raw material samples, stating that: 'the policy of this Institution is to maintain it abreast of the times in all branches of technology, special attention being given to products of Australian manufacture' . These objects are some of the earliest Australian examples of applications that used synthetic resins.

These objects are a part of a large collection of plastics and plastic moulding powders acquired by the museum during Arthur Penfold's career. This collection gives an insight into a period of great social, material, technological and scientific development as well as the collecting practices of the museum at the time. Plastics continues to be an area that is explored and represented in the museum's collection, however today it reflects some of the more ambivalent attitudes towards plastics and their use, particularly in regards to the environment and sustainability.

Reference:

Sunday Telegraph, 'For plastics he saw great things', 11 November 1945.
M. Kaufman, the First Century of Plastics, The Plastics Institute, London, 1963. pg55
Penfold, A. R., 'Plastics and Synthetic Fibres', A.H. Pettifer, Government Printer, Sydney, 1956
Pritchard, R. R., (Elliiotts & Australian Drug Ltd), letter to A. R. Penfold, 19/12/1932, museum archives

Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator, May 2008.

These objects were acquired by Arthur Penfold in 1933 to Illustrate the production of synthetic resin in Australia and their commercial applications.

In 1928 the manufacturers Elliotts and Australian Drug Ltd began to synthesise phenolic resins from phenol and formaldehyde to make plastic products. They are believed to have been the only firm in Australia manufacturing Ellitane at the time this sample was donated .

Phenol-formaldehydes were the principal plastics manufactured in Australia at this time, using locally manufactured raw materials.

REF:

Penfold, A. R., 'Plastics and Synthetic Fibres', A H Pettifer, Government Printer, Sydney, 1956
Penfold, A. R., 'Reports on Plastics Investigation, 1945 in the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom', Thomas Henry Tennant, Government Printer, Sydney, 1946, p3
Pritchard, R. R., (Elliiotts & Australian Drug Ltd), letter to A. R. Penfold, 19/12/1932, museum archives

These objects were donated by Standard Waygood Ltd, Sydney, in 1933. Museum Archives indicate that the synthetic resin 'Ellitane' was used in their making. It is thought that the only company making Ellitane at this time was Elliotts and Australian Drug Ltd, who were also located in Sydney.

Series of tubes and other articles made from laminated paper and synthetic resin, 'Ellitane', phenol-formaldehyde / paper, made by Standard Waygood Ltd, [Elliotts and Australian Drug Ltd], Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933

Made: 1933

H3670

1933