Social History of Casein

The first semi-synthetic plastics material, Parkesine, was based on cellulose nitrate and was introduced at the London International Exhibition of 1862. It was hailed as a new material, but did not gain acceptance until the manufacturing process was improved and it was re-introduced in imitation of traditional, expensive materials such as ivory, tortoiseshell and, later, fine linen for easily cleaned collars and cuffs.

Casein plastic was introduced in imitation of less exotic material - horn and semi-precious stone. The trade association was known as the Artificial Horn Manufacturers Association and it was not until 1938 that its name was changed to the Casein Plastic Association.

Casein was first exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1900 under the trade name Galalith. Much work was still required to make it a commercial success, and Mr Carl Kunth (left) was the business man behind this development. With the technical expertise of Dr Bartels, the 'dry process' of casein manufacture was introduced. This process became universally adopted and is still used today, largely unchanged.

E. Petersen (left) had had a varied career which had taken him across USA before returning to Germany as a manager at Galalith. In 1914 he became Works Manager of Erinoid in the UK, where he introduced the 'dry process' of making casein plastics.

Erinoid casein was exhibited at the first British Industries Fair in 1915. It was here that Queen Mary first became acquainted with Erinoid and was so impressed that she ordered several articles of casein jewellery. Her interest in the material continued and the picture (below) shows her ordering 'boudoir articles' from the Myers stand at the 1930 British Industries Fair.

The plastics industry owes much to casein for its pioneering efforts. In particular, it was very easy to colour and also took a surface dye easily (it is a protein, not dissimilar to wool). It was produced in a wide range of beautiful colours and configurations, and could be dyed, at short notice, to match fabrics for buttons. These, and other items such as fountain pens, were handled every day and accustomed people to accept plastics in their own right rather than as imitations of other materials.

Before World War II, Britain obtained raw rennet casein mainly from Europe, but with the German occupation of France, a new source was needed if button manufacture was to continue. The British Government encouraged the Casein Plastic Association to urgently seek alternative supplies. They had obviously learned the lesson of Napoleon's defeat when tin buttons on his soldiers uniform crumbled in the intense cold of a Russian winter.

Mr EO Weekes, of Erinoid in France, went to Argentina to organise the production and supply of rennet casein. After the war he reopened the Erinoid factory in France and was promoted 'Officer de la Legion d'Honeur' by the French Government for his work - a decoration which he proudly wore. He then set about improving rennet casein manufacture at dairies in New Zealand and Australia. He wrote . . . . there can be no doubt that casein is the king of materials for buttons. No other material can approach it for beauty; for polish; or for its silky, satisfying touch. A sufficient and cheap supply of a standard high grade casein will solve many of the plastic makers difficulties. He will be able to offer his customers a regular, easily worked material at a falling price on a market that is sure to rise for all other materials used for buttons. It is with these hopes that the writer sets off for the Antipodes.

About this time the fashion was for pastel colours and the base colour of casein needed improving. The Casein Plastic Association took up this challenge and, assisted by Weekes experience, a method for improving the purity of raw rennet casein was patented by Erinoid in the 1950s. These patents were taken up by the New Zealand dairies and resulted in a casein of much improved clarity and colour.

Casein production continued hardly changed throughout its history. Over the years, many attempts have been made at modernising production, particularly the formalisation process, but nothing better could be found. In the end this proved its downfall, and most casein manufactures had closed by about 1980. Forthcoming regulations for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health would have meant substantial investment to eliminate the open formalin tanks and deal with effluent. There was a dwindling market that did not justify the expenditure.

Fountain pens manufactured from casein by Conway Stewart