To use, dampen a cotton swab with 409 and rub it gently on the inside of the item being tested. If it is Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. If a piece is lacquered, it may test negative with 409. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well.
How can you tell the difference between Bakelite and celluloid?
Bakelite will leave a yellow color on a soft clean cloth when rubbed on the underside of the item. Bakelite will emit a smell like formaldehyde when placed under hot water. Bakelite is a sturdy material and is heavier than Celluloid. Bakelite is denser and heavier than Celluloid.
How can you tell Catalin from Bakelite?
Bakelite only comes in dark colors, usually black or dark brown. Catalin can come in a wide variety of color colors, including bright colors and marbling. Bakelite is opaque, while catalin is often translucent (can often see this at the edges of an item).
How do you test Bakelite with hot water?
Some people who are well-versed in Bakelite identification recommend the hot water test as the standard when it comes to accurately identifying this form of plastic. In this method, the piece of plastic is placed under very hot running tap water. The heat from the water releases the formaldehyde-like scent of Bakelite.
What are backgammon pieces made of?
Vintage bakelite checkers are currently in high demand among players looking to put together their ideal backgammon set. Bakelite is a broadly generic term for a novel, highly durable synthetic material developed in the early 20th century, made from phenol and formaldehyde.
Why did the Catholic Church ban backgammon?
The game continued to be played throughout the latter stages of the last millennium but it had constant battles with authorities and the church who wanted to ban it because of the gambling element.
Why is the 5 point so important in backgammon?
Back in the 1970s, Paul Magriel, in his classic book Backgammon, labeled the 5-point the “Golden Point”, signifying its importance in the opening. While the 5-point is the best point to have in the early going, its power can be mostly neutralized if the opponent then makes the 4-point anchor.Jun 9, 2015
What pieces do you need for backgammon?
- A backgammon board.
- Thirty counters or checkers in two colors, fifteen of the same color for each player.
- A pair of dice numbered from 1 to 6.
- A dice cup, for shaking and rolling the dice.
- A doubling cube for keeping track of the stakes of the game.
How many discs are in a backgammon game?
There are fifteen white disks, fifteen black disks, two dice, two dice shakers and a doubling cube. The doubling cube is a die having the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 inscribed upon its 6 faces.
How many squares are in a backgammon board?
The backgammon board is composed of 24 squares, divided into 4 quadrants of 6 squares each, or, otherwise seen, two lines of 12 squares. Squares are numbered clockwise, starting at 1 on the bottom right, 12 on bottom left, 13 on top left, and 24 on top right.