// Buyer’s Guide
Art Deco example. The telephone probably qualifies as the most ubiquitous of all Bakelite products with collectors on the lookout for the GPO 200 series brought out in 1927. Its Deco pyramid shape adds to its desirability and price is determined by the rarity of the colour with black £150, cream £350, red £800 and green £1200.
Camera manufacturers were also quick off the mark in recognising the potential of this malleable and sturdy substance. An important word of warning is that when dropped Bakelite often suffers hairline cracks which in most instances reduce the value by 75%. Cameras are prone to such defects but when in sound condition can still offer good value for money. Keep an eye out for the colourful 'Coronet Midget', a pocket micro camera which was produced and marketed in a wide range of colours; keep your eye out for the blue example however which today sells for well in excess of £300.
Should your taste be more towards the decorative than the domestic, look no further than the quite astonishing array of Bakelite jewellery. Virtually every animal, flower, shape and form was created in a range of bold and bright colours. These were affordable little lapel statements for the fashion conscious lady of the day and in the modern market they are seeing a resurge in interest as young collectors return to a vintage look. Prices start from as little as £10 for a 'Scottie Dog' brooch to £1000 plus for an exotic carved necklace. The market is primarily US based and after witnessing big prices the market has softened recently which alongside a strong pound is good news for the Brits’.
Should you decide to set about collecting Bakelite and early plastics it's important to remember that seasoned collectors look for good shapes and vibrant colours. However the materials low resistance to UV light can result in significant colour loss and fading given the passage of time. This is probably the most significant factor when assessing the value of radios - especially those made in the USA.
Of all the items that are available for me it's these US radios that set the pulse racing! The combination of primary colours and inventive 'Deco' forms are magical. The 'Fada Streamliner' is tempting even with a £1000 price tag, but possibly upstaged by Norman Bel Geddes and his 'Patriot' range in red, white and blue, price £1500. If you want to go British 'Ecko' called on the services of Wells Coates to produce a radio set that is now as iconic to collectors as a red telephone box or London cab! His circular AD 65 produced in chocolate brown from 1935 till 1945 is worth thinking about at £500 and working or not, will make a smart addition to your home.
Plastics are all around us, they are, and have always been, mass produced, cheap, and disposable! That’s the reason so many collectors crave them today! So the next time you are about to throw some bit of cheap plastic tat in the bin…. just stop and think. Are you disposing of a future collectable?
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