Did celluloid handle scales ever get formulated to be stable?

Not that I am aware of. Celluloid is naturally unstable simply by the ingredients used to make it. ☹️
You're better off getting an acrylic, if that is an option. Some of the acrylics look like the ... umm ... "colorful" ... Celluloid patterns of days gone by.
 
The article linked below is a good read and provides a lot of food for thought about celluloid.


Based on reading that article, it seems there have been some slightly different formulations of so-called 'celluloid', a few of which might've been somewhat less volatile (flammable, explosive) than others. But even with those, the deterioration over time and potential corrosion issues have never been completely eliminated as a risk. There's also some variability (maybe) associated with certain colors of celluloid - some suggest that certain colored binders/fillers lend a certain neutralizing effect to the corrosion/outgassing problems, and others without those particular fillers or binders seem to exhibit more obvious problems later on.

But there's no definitive answer as to whether the issues with celluloid itself have ever been fixed or rendered insignificant. The article is titled "Celluloid - A Firm Maybe", which seems to sum it all up.
 
I wonder why companies continued using celluloid, especially if there wasn't any form of it that is guaranteed to be fully stable.
I have a straight razor with a celluloid handle, so it's displayed in it's own little display box. I mean, since it may be a gassy time bomb, it's not allowed to hang out with the others... Yup, it lives in solitary confinement, lol! 😅
 
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I believe the celluloid used on the German made Bulldogs, Fight'n Bulldogs, and Fighting Roosters knives in the late 1980's - 1990's was still pretty unstable. I see a lot of them on ebay that are obviously starting to break down ( and quite a few that have been polished to remove corrosion )
 
sceva said:
I believe the celluloid used on the German made Bulldogs, Fight'n Bulldogs, and Fighting Roosters knives in the late 1980's - 1990's was still pretty unstable. I see a lot of them on ebay that are obviously starting to break down ( and quite a few that have been polished to remove corrosion )
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I wonder if Renaissance Wax being applied to the steel blades of Celluloid handled knives would lessen, or even prevent, the gasses from rusting the blades? 🤔
 
Thing of the past, like cellulose nitrate once used for film, they came up with a newer, better more stable product.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I wonder if Renaissance Wax being applied to the steel blades of Celluloid handled knives would lessen, or even prevent, the gasses from rusting the blades? 🤔
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Even if the exposed part of the blade was protected, the liners and tang would be in trouble! When cell starts to go- and I have seen it several times- it is best to replace the cover ASAP!!!
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I wonder if Renaissance Wax being applied to the steel blades of Celluloid handled knives would lessen, or even prevent, the gasses from rusting the blades? 🤔
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Would probably lesson, but not prevent.
True cellulose is the reaction product of cellulose with nitric acid with additions of other materials to improve flexibility. Over time the material deteriorates and released nitric acid in the form of vapor. Wax won't form a robust barrier to that. Some celluloid colors tend to be more stable than others. I'm not certain that anyone understands why.

There are other plastics with similar cosmetic appearance. I don't know of any reason to use actual celluloid in this day and age.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I wonder if Renaissance Wax being applied to the steel blades of Celluloid handled knives would lessen, or even prevent, the gasses from rusting the blades? 🤔
Click to expand...

I doubt it. I had a celluloid knife run away and it damaged several other knives in that drawer, including a stainless steel Boker. I've had three celluloid knives fail, and in every case I did everything 'right' according to the experts, and still had trouble. Celluloid is not only unstable, but it's unpredictable.

Why was it used? It was the wonder substance of the day. It was cheap, bright, easily formed into countless forms and products. None of this stuff was supposed to last a hundred years.

I like old movies, I'm not one of those encyclopedic film buffs that can quote Citizen Kane or argue about the authenticity of Scarlett O'Hara's curtains. I just like old movies. It's fascinating to me the lengths that film preservationist will go to to restore an old film. They'll find 16mm prints in South America, and join them with negatives from Europe, then go frame by frame and make it all work. This stuff is never left on celluloid, though.

All of the money and expertise in the film industry has never found a way to preserve this stuff. Your Wostenholm doesn't stand a chance in the long run.
 
I thought these might be of interest

The Use of Cellulose Nitrate in Art Conservation
Dr. Charles Selwitz Getty Museum


CELLULOID OBJECTS: THEIR CHEMISTRY AND PRESERVATION

The stability of cellulose nitrate is dependent on the stability of its double bonded NO molecules. And anything ionic will break them, and given the acids used in its manufacture are never completely removed, the lifetime of any cellulose nitrate is highly unpredictable.

I love the colors and the translucency that celluloid plastics produce, but the material is not a forever thing. This Queen knife, that black spot is the celluloid deteriorating.

HPqYmYN.jpg
 
helobite said:
I thought these might be of interest

The Use of Cellulose Nitrate in Art Conservation
Dr. Charles Selwitz Getty Museum


CELLULOID OBJECTS: THEIR CHEMISTRY AND PRESERVATION

The stability of cellulose nitrate is dependent on the stability of its double bonded NO molecules. And anything ionic will break them, and given the acids used in its manufacture are never completely removed, the lifetime of any cellulose nitrate is highly unpredictable.

I love the colors and the translucency that celluloid plastics produce, but the material is not a forever thing. This Queen knife, that black spot is the celluloid deteriorating.

HPqYmYN.jpg
Click to expand...
Glad it hasn't affected the blade yet, but very sad it is deteriorating. ☹️
(Shrinkage and discoloration)
 
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