End of Days ??

B

bingo

Joined
Jul 29, 2004
Messages
43
Hi Everyone :)
This reference to some type, model, mfg, is one that I come across occasionally. The latest one is an Imperial with what looks like abalone handles. Can anyone help me learn something today?
Thanks, Guys
Jerry
 
Jerry, legend has it that in the celluloid building of a knife making operation, all the different colored scraps of celluloid were swept up at the end of the day for one last batch of handle material. Hence the name for these confetti-like handles, every color of the rainbow. "End of Day". Yes, of course one of these may have turned out abalone-like. Regardless of the legend, knife companies (or the extremely rare celluloid factory supplying them) make these on purpose.

Note that I wrote above 'celluloid building'. The material is very flammable and explosive, so it was done away from the other operations. At least one factory's cell building has a hinged roof, so the inevitable explosive force would go up and out without taking the entire building down. This is the same material used in old movie film, and that is/was a danger there.

Let me make this answer even longer: In the great old movie... was it 'The Front Page'??? a reporter needed to make a flash for his camera quickly. He gathered all the celluloid collars from his comrades and ignited them as he pushed the shutter button. Unlikely, but illustrative.

Hope this suffices. Phil
 
Imperial in the 1900 to 1930 time period made a handle material that some collectors refer to as "abalone chip"......it was clear celluloid, eith actual chips of abalone shell under the clear celluloid, against a black background. It was a beautiful handle material and its rare to find a knife with these handles.
 
Thanks guys,
End of the day floor sweepings makes sense.
Todays gunpowder is nitro-cellulose based. Yes, very hot stuff!
I'm gonna take a closer look at the Imperial.
Jerry
 
Good information guys, thanks.

You know, I read somewhere (honestly) that celluloid makers sometimes mixed fish scales into the celluloid to give it a "shimmering" effect!

Oh yeah.......ping pong balls are made of celluloid as well. :D

Bill
 
Often cherished and imitated like natural materials, for some things a substitute has not been found.

Old fountain pens were often made with celluloid.

Luis

uqyw7
 
Thanks for all the replies. Always learning something here from you guys. The picture of the fountain pens brought back memories of my youth. I remember using one like the one on the left with that little lever that pulled out. If I remember right, I think the tip of the pen was placed in the ink bottle, then the lever was pulled out to fill the rubber bladder inside the pen. I remember at some point they came out with the plastic refill cartridges that went inside the pen. I'm guessing that was the end of the lever operated fountain pens? Maybe not, as I'm not up on fountain pens. Think this in the late 50's to early 60's timeframe for me. Anyways, thanks for the memories. :)
 
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