British Industrial Plastics

It may just be me, it usually is, but I find these adverts strange...
...perhaps I should try and explain.
I found these adverts whilst skimming through the microfilmed pages of wartime copies of the 'Illustrated London News'. There is an indirect link with BAYKO, because B.I.P. were a supplier of plastic resins to Plimpton at one stage, however it's the quirky, sometimes downright uncommercial text of the adverts which intrigued me...
...why not see what you think...
...but, before you do, Jackie Britton pulled me up and suggested that there's nothing unusual about a large corporation 'apparently' advertising their wares direct to the public who have no direct need of them. I can't deny the truth of that, but it still seems to be a heavy campaign - and use of materials - to no avail other that the fairly nebulous one of "keeping the name up there".
Incidentally, I could have selected several others, but these five seemed to be the most interesting and are a fair sample. If you want to read the script direct from the advert, click on the image and a larger version will be launched.
 
'Illustrated London News' - June 24th, 1942
Illustrated London News, June 24th, 1942
The script of the advert makes interesting reading and gives a fascinating insight into wartime thought processes : -
 
A VITAL CLASS OF RAW MATERIALS
 
Ask any manufacturer what timber, metals, glass and concrete are useful for and he'll give you a ready answer. Ask the same question about Plastics and it's ten to one that he'll murmur something like "Plastics are made from milk (or something) and they're quite useful for moulding bottle tops, combs and other knick-knacks."
 
PLASTICS ARE A VITAL NEW CLASS OF RAW MATERIALS
 
There are thousands of articles, large or small, delicate or strong, useful or decorative, simple or complicated, cheap or expensive, plain or coloured, that can be made, and made better, from these materials, yet many manufacturers are not alive to it. During wartime B.I.P. are doing something more than continuing with production, research and their policy of pointing the way - they offer a service to any manufacturer who, while working all-out for the war, is yet concerned about his post-war business. That service hinges on a knowledge of mouldings and mould stuffs which cannot be bettered by any county in the world.
 
'Illustrated London News' - January 23rd, 1943
The pseudo-educational theme continues with the following : -
 
What are Plastics?
 
One might a well ask "What are metals?" - for Plastics are becoming as numerous and varied as the older raw materials. All are different, behave differently and have their own particular usefulness to Industry. To name a few members of the Plastic family there are Celluloid, "Erinoid", "BAKELITE", "Beetle", "Perspex", Nylon, "Rhodoid", "Scarab", Melamine, Vinyl, Styrene, each with its own particular properties and uses. We do not make all the plastics mentioned above; indeed, many of them bear the trade names of other manufacturers.
If you think you could use Plastics as raw materials for your industry our advice is freely given. If one of our Plastics is suitable for your use we shall recommend it. If not, we shall quickly put you in touch with another manufacturer able to supply a Plastic which is more suited to your particular job. It is of more interest to us that you use the right Plastic than that you use one of ours at all costs. A Plastic wrongly chosen can result in a bad product which would bring discredit to an industry to which we are proud to belong.

Illustrated London News, January 23rd, 1943
 
'Illustrated London News' - March 20th, 1943
Illustrated London News, March 20th, 1943
Further educational content - and perhaps the inspiration for Gary Birch's panels and plans.
 
That pre-fabricated House
 
We've no doubt that it could be done - but what a price! Yet to listen to some people we've only got to get the moulds right and out the houses will come, like bullets from a Bren!
Plastics in their many forms will certainly contribute much to the better homes we hope to live in. Plastic mouldings will bring colour, lightness and cleanliness to a host of the smaller articles and fittings. Plastic surface finishes will set new standards for scratch resistance and easy cleaning. Plastic bonded plywood and laminated construction will change traditional joinery methods. But plastics are too valuable and versatile to waste on jobs which materials like bricks and mortar can do very well. Let B.I.P. advise you when and where plastics should be used.
 
'Illustrated London News' - July 1st, 1944
Of the five adverts featured here, this is easily the quirkiest : -
 
Don't go into the PLASTICS Industry
 
Don't imagine that all you'll need is a moulding press and some moulding powder and you'll by ready for the competition. The plastic moulding business is probably already overcrowded by peace-time standards and it's not the main way in which plastics will develop anyway.
You're probably in the plastics business already and don't know it. Don't you already have to bind things together? Don't you make something that could be stronger, lighter or more weatherproof? Are you in paint, timber, textiles, paper, or a hundred and one other trades?
The possibilities of BEETLE RESINS (Urea-Formaldehyde thermo-setting plastics) used as a binder with other material are well-nigh unlimited - that was lies the greatest post-war use of plastics and there's probably a use for this type of plastic development right on your own doorstep.
Illustrated London News, July 1st, 1943
 
'Illustrated London News' - July 15th, 1944
Illustrated London News, July 15th, 1944
Last, but by no means least : -
 
"PLASTIC are a BIND"
 
BEETLE RESINS. They bind together lots of things - for instance sawdust, fabric, wood, pigments and so on. Sometimes they make moulded articles like electric switches, sometimes they make cardboard weatherproof and tough. They may stick a Mosquito aircraft together or appear as the bond in laminated sheets. And the bind is permanent - once the operation is performed heat or damp has no effect. There's a great future for Beetle bonding - are you interested in the future?
 
Below here are links to related info : -
 
Click on any of the links below for related information.
 
     
 
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Latest update - November 24, 2010