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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lucille.b, post: 735707, member: 51&quot;]Hot water is one method, but I worry about getting an old vintage string wet.&nbsp;&nbsp; You can carefully rub a piece with your hand until you feel some heat in your finger, then quickly smell the plastic and the smell is unmistakable.</p><p><br /></p><p>Maybe get a control piece --something 100% verified as Bakelite.&nbsp; Practice doing the various tests on it like the friction test and get used to the smell.</p><p><br /></p><p>As I side note, I might be the odd person out, but I&#039;m not 100% sure the necklace you showed in another post was Bakelite.&nbsp; It may well be, but it is unusual stylistically to have such large Bakelite beads, and I had a vintage mottled green bead necklace with oversized plastic beads that was almost a dead ringer to yours, looked like Bakelite and were not. Also your result on the Q-tip was a bit light but again don&#039;t have it in the hand.&nbsp;&nbsp; So for now, just keep that necklace to the side.&nbsp; You are in the UK, maybe vintage designs were a bit different than the US.&nbsp; Not impossible.&nbsp; Finger&#039;s crossed it is Bakelite, of course!</p><p><br /></p><p>There are certain pieces I could ID from a photo alone (or from 10 ft away) to be Bakelite, just based on style and design.&nbsp; This necklace is not one of them so you will need to test.&nbsp; I don&#039;t see any seams which is good.&nbsp; Is the clasp marked?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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