"Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, better known as Bakelite (/ˈbeɪkəlaɪt/ BAY-kə-lyte), was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. It was developed by the Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York, in 1907.
Bakelite was patented on December 7, 1909.
Because of its electrical nonconductivity and heat-resistant properties it became a great commercial success. It was used in electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings, and such diverse products as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe stems, children´s toys, and firearms. The "retro" appeal of old Bakelite products has made them collectible." - (en.wikipedia.org 20.03.2022)
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