THE EARLY DAYS

A recent addition to our collection shows that Brookes and Adams were associated with the plastics industry, even earlier than we first thought. It is a Union Case made of moulded shellac in around 1860. Union cases were made to protect Daguerratype photographs from damage by ultra-violet light.

According to an article by Dr. John Hannavy and Dennis Firkins in Photographica World September 1995, this particular union case was made by a guy called John Smith, in Birmingham, who was the only known English manufacturer of Union Cases. He made three different styles of case with the same "Morning" image on them based on an early nineteenth century medallion called "Day, Aurora With the Genius of Light" by a Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. The die for the second version of the case was engraved by Brookes and Adams. According to the article, the name engraved in the border reads "Brookes & Adams Fec.t". (After sometime wondering what Fec.t means, we finally have the answer thanks to Gaston Vermosen who used to maintain the Ebena website (sadly now defunct)- "In fact it should read "FECIT" which is Latin for "Made it" The letter "I" is probably missing due to an accident or imperfect moulding.")

Here's a short quote from the Hannavy and Firkins article: -

"Central to the manufacture of any moulded plastic products was the employment of high quality die engravers, and Smith was fortunate in being able to contract within a short walk of his premises, the services of two fine engravers, Brookes and Adams, of Great Charles Street."

So now we know. They were the same Brookes and Adams who founded the firm that later went on to produce "Bandalasta". Another piece of the puzzle solved.

BANDA WARE

The story continues in 1923, 13 years after Dr. LEO BAEKELAND patented a technique for combining Phenol and Formaldehyde. When combined with large amounts of wood flour or other "fillers" this Phenol Formaldehyde could be used for moulding consumer goods, usually in black or dark brown, and was known by the now familiar term BAKELITE. Brookes and Adams were one of the first, if not the first, to use these Phenolic resins to produce and market tableware and other household items in the U.K. This tableware was known as "Banda Ware".

It would appear, however, that there must have been a short transition period after the development of thiourea formaldehyde and before the term BANDALASTA was introduced. There are some early marbled Beatl products bearing the name "Banda Ware" . (See items 55, 57 and 62 in the catalogue section of this website).

The "Rotary" Knife Sharpener, illustrated below left, was patented to Karl Mellor Gibbons in 1925 (patent no. 233855), but is definitely moulded by Brookes & Adams as part of their "Banda" Household Utilities range as illustrated in one of their price lists from 1933 (Below right). It was sold in three colours: - Walnut (see below), Mottled Green and Mottled Red.

BOWLS

Brookes and Adams have been manufacturing Bowls, in a variety of sizes, for many years. They are probably best known for their Carpet Bowls but did once produce Garden Bowls which were larger than the carpet bowls but smaller then full size ones. The packaging of the Bowls has changed over the years, some of the earlier ones being packaged in wooden boxes. The cardboard boxes have also changed, the earlier ones being in brown and subsequently in grey and green. Carpet Bowls are still being manufactured in two sizes, 2 inch and 2.5 inch (see the Brookes & Adams website ). Each set consists of four pairs of handed polished compression moulded bowls, jack, mat and rules. Recently, Brookes and Adams moulded sets of carpet bowls for Marks and Spencer.

Minor Bowls - 4 inch Diameter - "For the lawn large or small".	Mini Bowls - 3 inch diameter - In wooden box.
Carpet Bowls - 2.5 inch diameter - Still being made.	Carpet Bowls - 2 inch diameter - "Made in England for Abercrombie and Fitch".

OTHER GAMES

As well as draughts, dominoes and skittles (illustrated in the Catalogue pages), Brookes and Adams also produced compression moulded Snooker and Billiard Balls. There is also a patent for a golf game.

	Snooker Balls (with triangle) The snooker balls illustrated to the left, are only 1.375 inches in diameter although B&A did produce full size ones. We read somewhere (although we've forgotten where!) that production of Snooker balls ceased just before the BBC launched it's successful "Pot Black" snooker programme in 1969. Had they continued production they may well have capitalised on the sudden upturn in the fortunes of the game.
Billiard Balls Available in sizes 1" 1/8", 1" 1/4", 1" 3/8", 1" 1/2", 1" 5/8", 1" 3/4", 1" 7/8", 2" and 2" 1/16", to match Snooker Sets.
	BANDA GOLF - Patent No. 481326 "This invention relates to apparatus for playing an indoor game resembling golf" This game later went into production under the name "Whizzy Golf". "An entirely new game of skill, played on self-contained board, NO loose parts to get mislaid. FASCINATING - ENTERTAINING. Various games can be played according to skill or desire. TABLE GOLF - BAGATELLE. Complete 12/6" (B&A Price List, 1938)

A recent discovery, on eBay, was the game "HAZ-IARDS" (Hazard Billiards), played on a Billiards table with the skittles placed in approximately the same positions as the coloured balls in Snooker. A full set of instructions is given below.

Chess Set According to Adrian and Frank Brookes this is probably a one-off chess set made by Arnold E. Brookes. Note the depressions in the lid to take the King's crowns! Photo taken at Brookes & Adams, 24/09/08

FIESTA MELMEX

Just as the 1930s had seen a change from "Beatl" - Thiourea Formaldehyde to Urea Formaldehyde, the 1950s saw yet another change to Melamine Formaldehyde (Melamine). During this period there was a degree of overlap, and some of the "new" Bandalasta items were moulded using Melamine, specifically a brand from British Industrial Plastics known as "Melmex". Some of the old designs continued to be made using this new material. In the late 50s early 60's, Brookes and Adams introduced a new range, using Melmex, called "Fiesta" designed by Ronald E. Brookes. This new range was one of the winners of the 1960 design centre awards. Gradually Melamine replaced Urea Formaldehyde.

	Left, Advert from "Design, No. 138, June 1960".     Below, two pages from a sales brochure from the early 1960s.
Fiesta Melmex Cups and Saucers, designed by Ronald E. Brookes.	Plates designed by Ronald E Brookes. "The gay colours in which this almost unbreakable plate is produced make it suitable for informal meals or picnics. (The plain white version would be better for formal use.)" (Design, No. 138, June 1960.)