Inventor of Celluloid Plastic John Wesley Hyatt

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Plastics have played an important role in the industrial sector worldwide. In addition to daily use, plastics are widely used in the manufacture of industrial equipment. Plastic has replaced wood and metal. From furniture to toys, many products are made from different types of plastics. Celluloid plastic is hard and durable. It is used to make furniture, sports equipment, and many household items. Its discovery was made by John Wesley Hyatt. Hyatt invented around 200 things, including ball bearings and the Hyatt filter for water purification.

John Wesley was born on November 28, 1837, in Starkey, New York. He did not study much. At the age of 15, he started working in a toy-making company in Illinois. This company mainly made chessboards and chess pieces, which were crafted from ivory. Hyatt thought of creating a cheaper and stronger material as an alternative to ivory, which led him to the discovery of cellulose. By experimenting on the soft plastic discovered by England’s Alexander Parkes, Hyatt developed hard celluloid, which could melt when heated, molded into shape, and then hardened upon cooling. This made it easy to manufacture sports balls and chess pieces from celluloid plastic. In 1869, he named the material celluloid, a name still in use today. After its discovery, he established a company for its production. Many products such as musical instruments, sports equipment and other items formerly made from ivory began to be manufactured from celluloid. For his invention, Hyatt was awarded the Perkin Medal in 1914. He passed away on May 10, 1920.