142 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. Ill, 



THE USE OF CELLULOID FOLIAGE IN GROUP 



BUILDING 



By E. R. Tyrrell« 



A previous edition of the Museum Yearbook contained a brief 

 chapter on the use of celluloid as a modeling medium/*^ since when its 

 continued application in the production of models requiring lightness 

 and durability has proven it to be indispensable. 



There has recently been installed in the Museum, a habitat pond 

 group, in which is represented a collection of the various forms of 

 aquatic life. Among these are some fift}^ or more models of different 

 species of fish, all of which are reproduced in celluloid. Celluloid has 

 also been used for the making of much of the native plant life therein 

 exhibited. 



The requirements of this group called for the introduction of a 

 medium-sized birch tree and it was in connection with its production 

 that the writer was led to seriously consider the substitution of cellu- 

 loid for wax in the foliage. 



Wax leaves were at first attempted, but they did not seem to pre- 

 sent the light and airy quality so natural to this particular tree. 

 Without waiting to make any great quantity of such, celluloid was 

 called into use, and so successful have the results proven, both in the 

 quality and speed of production, that all doubts of its practicability 

 have forever been removed. Since it was in the making of the birch 

 leaves that our experiments were first attempted, a brief description 

 of the work on this model may be used to illustrate the modus oper- 

 andi. 



First of all it is quite essential that good sharp molds be secured. 

 The molds are to be made from the back or underside of the leaf only. 

 Cut the celluloid into squares with the grain running lengthwise with 

 the leaf, allowing a slight excess of material for trimming, and a suffi- 

 cient length to include the entire stem, as this is to remain attached to 

 the leaf. The oblong pieces of celluloid are submerged in a shallow tray 

 containing amyl acetate or acetone, for a length of time governed by 

 the thickness of the celluloid used. After removal from the chemical 

 the celluloid is laid for a second or more in an adjoining tray of water. 

 This part of the operation is the one grand essential to the rapid hand- 



*Modeler, Department of Groups and Murals, Milwaukee Public Museum. 



^^E. R. Tyrrell. "Celluloid as a Modeling Medium," Public Museum Yearbook, vol. I, pp. lOo- 

 108, 1921. 



