The Pyroxylin Plastics

Industry in America

     By late 1872, Isaiah successfully convinced several wealthy New York capitalists, Joseph Larocque, Tracey Edson, and Marshall Lefferts, to back the new plastic material. Lefferts, the primary financial investor, was especially attracted to the possibilities of celluloid, as it had unlimited potential as a molding material.
     In the winter of 1872, 1873, the Hyatts moved to Newark, New Jersey, and established the Celluloid Manufacturing Company in a five-story brick building on Mechanic St. Employing 150 workers, they commenced the production of raw celluloid stock in block, sheet, and rod form. In 1873, Celluloid became a registered trade name with the U.S. Patent Office; exclusive rights for its use were granted to the Hyatts' and the Celluloid Manufacturing Company.
     Two years later in 1875, a devastating fire caused Hyatt to relocate his plastics works to the outskirts of Newark. The Celluloid Mfg. Company set up shop in an old cradle factory and the production of celluloid resumed. The owners also began construction of a large complex of brick buildings in the vicinity of Broad and Ferry streets, adjacent to the old cradle factory. This site later became the heart of Newark's industrial district.
     Throughout the 1870s, an array of utilitarian and ornamental applications for celluloid unfolded as the Hyatt Brothers improved on production methods and machinery for their wonderful pyroxylin plastic. One of celluloid's greatest assets was its ability to successfully imitate expensive luxury materials. Since it was clear in its original state, various dyes and fillers could be added during the production process, making celluloid a remarkable imitation of expensive ivory, tortoise shell, coral, jet, and amber.
     In the year 1878, Isaiah traveled to Paris where he started the French Celluloid Company. When he returned to America in the early 1880s, the brothers turned their attention to developing a more efficient method of purifying the water used in the production of celluloid. Together they established the Hyatt Pure Water Company in 1881, patenting their unique filtering process in 1884. Sadly, it was shortly after this that the collective genius of the Hyatt brothers abruptly ended. Isaiah died in March of 1885, leaving John to continue the work alone.
     The success of celluloid as a quality imitation material spawned tremendous growth within the infant plastics industry. In spite of its dangerously flammable nature, by the mid 1880s several companies were in business producing pyroxylin thermoplastics, identical in composition to celluloid, but marketed under their own registered trade names.
     Patent battles ensued between Hyatt and those who imitated his inventions. Companies which started with inexperienced help frequently manufactured inferior products or due to the ignorance of the dangerous materials used in manufacture, burned to the ground. Even the Celluloid Manufacturing Company experienced several devastating fires, but they always recovered and went on to become the most important manufacturer of plastics in history.