Collect things made of celluloid
Celluloid is generally considered the first modern plastic. It was introduced in 1871 by the Celluloid Manufacturing Company of Albany, NY. The use of celluloid began with the manufacture of billiard balls and was intended to replace ivory. However, by the end of the 19th century it was used for everything from billiard balls to bobbin punches, bracelets, button hooks, buttons, cameo brooches, cameo earrings, charm bracelets, dolls, folding toothpicks, etc. fountain pen bodies, guitar picks, etc. hair combs, hand mirrors, hat pins, knife handles, letter openers, match boxes, mechanical pencils, money clips, necklaces, paperweights, packs of pins, pocket mirrors, ring boxes, rulers, shoehorns , pins, tatting shuttles, thimbles, toys, dressers and many other items.
The aforementioned celluloid products were made between the late 1800s and 1940s. Millions of buttons were made for use on clothing and jewelry, such as brooches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, which also saw widespread use. Vintage celluloid fountain pen barrels are a very popular collectible today.
Some of these products were freebies distributed by all kinds of companies throughout the United States. The most popular celluloid giveaways were pin-backs and pocket mirrors. Major producers of celluloid advertising buttons were the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ, American Artworks of Cochocton, OH, The St. Louis Button Company, and Bastian Brothers of Rochester, NY. This same group of manufacturers, along with two others in Chicago, the Partisan Novelty Company and the Cruver Manufacturing Company, used celluloid for the backs of advertising pocket mirrors.
Celluloid was not the best of all materials to use for prized collectibles, as it was highly flammable. Table tennis balls are the only known products using celluloid today.
The best place to find vintage celluloid products and advertising celluloid products is eBay.