Development of the museum's plastics collection began in the 1930s with the acquisition of specimens of plastic raw materials and finished products. This 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 the years 1927 until 1955. 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' (Sunday Telegraph 1945).

Penfold was greatly concerned with the technical and commercial development of local industries, particularly in the aftermath of two world wars, and believed that the museum was 'destined to play a conspicuous part in bringing Science to the aid of industry' (Penfold 1948) through both research and display. In December 1944 Penfold, along with Mr C H Hunt of Newcastle Technical College, was commissioned by the NSW Government to investigate overseas technological trends in the plastic industry, including the training of technical personnel, throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

This particular plastic torch was donated by Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd and made from moulded urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resin plastic. Phenol-formaldehyde plastics, commonly known by the tradename 'Bakelite', are characterised by their dark colour and are valued for their excellent heat resistance and low electrical conductivity. Penfold wrote that 'A drawback to the phenol-formaldehyde moulding powders was their dark colour, and efforts to produce lighter and brighter colours were successful in 1925 when urea-formaldehyde powders were introduced' (Penfold 1956). As is reflected in this torch urea-formaldehyde plastics were commonly used for brightly coloured cups and saucers, door handles, cigarette boxes and telephone handles. The variety of objects and colours that could be produced by phenol and in particular urea formaldehyde led to a surge of interest in plastics and plastics products.

The museum holds various objects donated by Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd between 1941 and 1945, many of which relate to the use of plastics within the defence industry. These objects are part of a large and significant collection of plastics and plastic moulding powders acquired by the museum throughout Arthur Penfold's career. The collection gives insight into a period of great social, material, technological and scientific development, and reflects some of the museum's collecting practices and research focuses at this time. Plastics continues to be an area that is explored and represented in the museum's collection, however today reflects some of the more ambivalent attitudes towards plastics and their use, particularly in regards to environmental and sustainability issues.


REF:
Penfold, A. R., personal correspondence, addressed to A. W. Baker, Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd, Arncliffe, 17/2/1942, museum archives
Penfold, A. R., paper, 'The Influence of Science Museums on Industry', read at the first Biannual Conference of International Council on Museums, 1948
Penfold, A. R., 'Plastics and Synthetic Fibres', A.H. Pettifer, Government Printer, Sydney, 1956, p9
Sunday Telegraph, 'For plastics he saw great things', 11 November 1945

Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator, April 2008.

The 1943 Australasian Manufacturers Directory lists Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd as operating from 242 Princes Highway, Arncliffe, New South Wales, Australia. The company is listed as producing such wares as aircraft parts, electrical appliances and parts, jewellery, furniture and interior decorations, household and kitchen appliances, industrial equipment, and optical equipment (Plastics Institute of Australia 1947).

Phenolic plastics, also known by popular names such as 'Bakelite' and 'Nestorite', are valued for their excellent heat resistance and low electrical conductivity. The scientific achievement underpinning the product is predominantly associated with the work of Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863-1944), a Belgian-American industrial chemist, who reacted (condensed) phenol and formaldehyde to form a resin that hardened upon cooling and which, when moulded, had excellent mechanical and electrical properties (Cook 1992). Phenol-formaldehydes were the principle plastics manufactured in Australia at this time, using locally manufactured raw materials (Penfold 1946). The development of urea-formaldehyde allowed for the production of brightly coloured plastics, also displaying excellent heat resistance.

Phenol and urea-formaldehydes are known as 'thermosetting plastics', being distinct from 'thermoplastics' which soften on heating and harden on cooling, with this process able to be repeated as often as may be required. Penfold wrote that: 'Thermosetting plastics...can be prepared in a form in which they are initially thermoplastics, in which condition they can be moulded under appropriate conditions of temperature and pressure; further heating at quite moderate temperatures (260-350F.) causes them to set permanently. They cannot again be softened by heating, but, being organic materials, they char at a temperature of about 650?F. (Penfold 1956)'


REF:

Penfold, A. R., 'The Story of Plastics', in Sydney Technological Museum News Bulletin, Sydney, No 8, 1943, p11

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

Penfold, A. R., 'Plastics and Synthetic Fibres', A.H. Pettifer, Government Printer, Sydney, 1956, p9

Plastics Institute of Australia, 'Australian Plastics Trade Directory', Sydney, 1947

This plastic torch specimen was donated to the museum in 1941 by Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd and reflects developments in the field of coloured plastics.

Torch, battery powered, 'Marquis', phenol-formaldehyde / urea-formaldehyde resin / metal / glass, made by Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd, Australia, 1941

Plastic hand torch with multi-coloured marbled body and white switch.

Made: Commonwealth Moulding Company Pty Ltd; ; 1941

See parts

H4393

1941