WWII plastic bugle

[Dale Proctor]

This is a fairly rare Army bugle (field trumpet) that was manufactured by the Frank Aman Corporation from a plastic material called tenite, produced by the Eastman Corporation of Tennessee. Tenite was used as a brass saving measure in the later part of the war. It’s missing the plastic mouthpiece, but I have an old metal bugle mouthpiece that fits it. Old tenite has an unpleasant odor, so I won’t be playing this one much…lol

[J. Jericho]

How does it play? Do you think that a good car wax or perhaps ceramic coating would seal the smell?

[Dale Proctor]

@J-Jericho said in WWII plastic bugle:

How does it play? Do you think that a good car wax or perhaps ceramic coating would seal the smell?

It’s a little dull sounding, but plays ok. I probably won’t play it again due to the unstable material it’s made of. I’ve read that the chemicals in them break down over the years and they can deform and/or disintegrate. This one seems to be in fine condition, so I probably won’t do anything but dust it. It’s on a shelf in the spare bedroom, and you don’t catch the smell unless you get really close to it.

“In order to prevent decay and prolong the life of Tenite materials, the US National Park Service recommends these items be stored with a "stable temperature below 68°F; stable RH between 30%-40%. Well ventilate, segregate; use gas adsorbents if stored in closed container.”

We keep the house a little warmer than that, around 73 or 74 during the day, but that will have to do…lol

[oldpete]

I have seen one of those.

[USAFBugler]

@Dale-Proctor I have four these and am convinced that the odors reflect the history of smoking and the diet of their respective buglers. I use them for Military Honors and other events where WW2 Veterans are present.

[Trumpetb]

There may be cause for concern.

Tenite was a regenerated cellulosic plastic.

It was made by the Eastman chemical company which was a part of Eastman Kodak until Eastman and Kodak separated in 1994.

Tenite cellulosic plastic was a plasticised cellulosic resin similar to celluloid which was the prime material that film stock was made from, and I believe this is the connection to Kodak.

Cellulose plastic used in the film industry was found to deteriorate and then it became a fire risk and a number of old movies burst into flames prompting the industry to find an alternate product.

The alternate product they found was acetate or polyester.

There is no suggestion that Tenite is a fire risk. The original celluloid film stock was in fact nitro cellulose based and the nitro part of the name suggest a link with nitro glycerine which also carries an element of risk.

There is no nitro element or association with Tenite it being a product based upon regenerated cellulose fibres.

Other materials made from regenerated cellulose fibres include Cotton, Flax, Lyocell, Viscose, and Rayon.

None of these products cause any concern or significant risk of fire.

However, The internet reveals this
"Not to be mistaken for mold, the powder from Tenite decay is considered hazardous and proper gear such as nitrile gloves are recommended for handling".

Recommending that nitrile gloves be used for handling Tenite is worrying to me.

I suspect that it may be wise to encapsulate the instrument in a sealant of some kind to limit its decay and decomposition, and limit any possible exposure to the products of that decay.

I am thinking of the application of a clear acrylic laquer and then storage behind glass.

I have used clear acrylic laquer spray on instruments and found it to cover well and totally seal the instrument and the resulting finish was very thin and long lasting.

Having said that I only used it on raw brass and not on any plastic material.

I cannot predict the effect that a spray coating of acrylic laquer would have on Tenite. It could damage the material if it is carrying with it any solvents.

The internet also states that acrylic laquer is solvent based.

I would therefore consider it risky to use spray acrylic laquer on a Tenite instrument without testing it first on a sample.

The question now is this, is the desire to own this plastic instrument worth the risk given that there appears to be clear evidence that when Tenite breaks down and deteriorates as it ages it becomes hazardous.

I hope this is of some value in reaching a decision about what to do with this instrument.

[Dale Proctor]

Thanks for your concern. It sits on a shelf in the spare bedroom, and I’m not overly concerned about any health hazards or deterioration of the bugle itself. It’s probably 80 years old and still looks fine, I don’t handle it, and it will probably still be on the shelf for my daughter to dispose of when I’m gone…