| This is probably the most
beautiful raw material used for fountain pens. First used in 1924 by Sheaffer, named
Radite, it quickly dominated the market. Celluloid is made from cotton, which is treated
with sulfuric acid and then mixed with camphor. This transparent gelly can be mixed with
pigments, hardened by evaporating the camphor, cut in sheets or broken to pieces, mixed
again and this way made into an endless variety of colours and strukturs. Celluloid
perfectly imitates precious natural materials like lizart, tortoise, mother of pearl of
precious stones like jade. Celluloid, not cured professionally tends to shrink with time.
These pens loose their shape or the cap bands and the threads tend to be too tight. The
main disadvantage is the tendency to discolour due to the chemistry of the ink or the
rubber bladder. Celluloid as the dominating material was in use till the mid fifties. |
|