Thread: Celluloid Degassing with impressive results

I wanted to post these pictures of a razor I had in storage since 2008 and possibly get your feedback ,if any .
This was a frame back that had been in storage since 2008 in a large plastic bin with 90 other frame back razors.This is the only one that suffered any damage.
They were all packaged in individual polyethylene sealed bags with camellia oil to prevent corrosion.I have had some celluloid degassing problems before,but never to this extent.It destroyed the bag that contained it,but the Id label was legible
The razor was a Fredrick Reynolds from around 1870.with imitation tortoise shell scales. (A Shame)

Thank,you,and Kindest regards,Gary

Hello Gary,

Welcome, pleased to meet ya

Hang around and someone will be along very soon that understands your problem and what to do about it.

In my very humble and inexperienced opinion, I would say serious cell rot but I'll be interested to see what the experts here say. It would be nice for me to be right, not for you of course.

Yea, that is one of the worst cases of cell rot that I have seen.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, that is one of the worst cases of cell rot that I have seen.

Bob

Yep
Straight to the garbage

There are several factors that can cause cell rot. Maybe heat maybe humidity maybe light maybe the particular formulation or maybe evil spirits. Take your pick.

I am a retired Mechanical Engineer BSME from Auburn University. I had a strong background in metallurgy,and better than average in chemistry,and this seems to be overly intense/energetic for a normal case of celluloid degassing.Ive had it occur in a few other instances, but this was surprising, regards Gary

Pleased to meet you, Gary. Sorry for your loss.

I'm afraid what combination of things made this case of cell root particularly virulent is anybody's guess.

Bob

Must have been one of the first to get celluloid scales, they were usually died horn or some other natural substance in that era.

Light it

Take that broken off piece outside and light it, see what happens

Better yet take it outside with your phone and take a vid when you light it I would be very interested to see what happens

Celluloid is believed to have been first used in the mid 1880's but it took a little while longer to get to Razor Scales I have also seen reference to 1871 as a first date and even as early as 1841

Keeping in mind that we can't tell if they were original either