THE GREAT MULLARD MAGIC BLOG — balkite

I used to marvel at the postings on a vintage radio forum where the inmates would comment with a frenzied, self satisfied, superior scoffing towards anyone who incorrectly spelled  the trade name Bakelite.    If you had difficulty in spelling Bakelite then if you were tempted to move away from its trivial name, you would have even more trouble with its chemical name,  - Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, Bakelite was developed by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907 and  patented on December 7, 1909.  We know it as the material from which many radio cabinets were made, cue Ekco, however, it had many more uses as you can see...