Historic School Trophy Bases: Bakelite Identification Referral and Handling Records
School trophies awarded between roughly the 1920s and the early 1960s often rest on bases that may be phenol-formaldehyde resin — produced commercially under trade names including Bakelite, Catalin, and Durez. Recognizing those bases provisionally before a trophy returns to public display matters because phenolics respond poorly to solvents, abrasive polishes, and rough handling. An equally important caution: a base that looks identical to Bakelite might be casein-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, hard rubber, or a later epoxy casting — and each material has different vulnerabilities. This checklist guides athletic staff through provisional visual assessment, safe support, condition photography, and conservation referral before a historic trophy is re-installed.
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