More information on retro plastics

Melamine double ashtray by Mebel, 1965? (Italy)

In two matching halves, not hinged, but fitting together perfectly with no looseness. In the lower photo, the yellow half looks bigger than the white, but in fact that is the barrel distortion of the camera. A design classic sometimes referred to as a 'clam' ashtray. Slight wear on top and bottom but no damage, and shiny inside. Smaller unmarked reproductions are seen, but this is a large original embossed inside on both pieces: 'Mebel ITALY Des.: A. Fletcher'. The designer was Alan Fletcher. An identical one is listed on designaddict.com Value: £20-30

Weltron 2001 (USA/Japan)

Spaceball with original box
The Weltron Company was based in Durham, North Carolina, USA, but the unit was manufactured in Japan. UK models marked "PrinzSound" are sometimes seen (this was a brand name used by Dixons electrical retailers). The box and spaceball are in heavily used condition, and one of the battery compartments has leaked causing a patch of corrosion on the metal lining. There are no documents in the box. The aerial is missing and the chrome ring on the front has some dents. I don't know if this unit functions electrically. Another of these spaceballs is shown in Your Collections 8. Value in this condition, and with box in fair condition: £40-70

Artemide Spiros Ashtray (Italy)

To the best of my knowledge, this wonderful talking piece has not been re-issued or reproduced and is quite rare. I can only assume that it was not a great seller at the time. The ball can be rolled down the spiral, but does so rather awkawardly, almost jumping when it hits bottom. Desgined by the Swiss-born Eleonore Peduzzi Riva in 1969. In melamine, and seen in a variety of colours (black, white, mustard yellow, avocado, or orange). The balls are heavy. Definitely intended as an ashtray and/or desk feature, because it is shown with cigarettes in Artemide adverstising literature of the time.

Green body
No ball with this one, black ball shown for sake of photo. The green colourway is scarce. Has a small brown spot from a cigarette on the spiral and some white flecks. Otherwise undamaged. Value: £30-40

Olivetti (Italy) Synthesis

Office accessories in melamine designed by Ettore Sottsass, c. 1973

Large grey table ashtray
Mint condition, unboxed. Impressed: Olivetti Synthesis Made in Italy. Value: £30

Cogebi Ornamin (Belgium)

According to the Company Website, Cogebi was founded in 1929 as "Compagnie Générale Belge des Isolants" (General Insulation Company of Belgium) and specialised in industrial electrical insulation products. The company also made souvenir pieces for the Brussels Expo '58. It was not uncommon for industrial plastics companies to branch into plastic household items when they became popular in the fifties and sixties; the same happened with British Industrial Plastics who made Melmex tableware (see below). Ornamin also operated in the UK: ashtrays, sometimes with birds on them, are marked MELAMINE PRAESIDIUM ORNAMIN.

Serving tray with spectacular zebra pattern. Design number 3310. A few fine surface scratches but no damage. Value: £5-10

Kartell (Italy)

Beware: Kartell still manufacture many of the classic lines, so take care that you are buying an original. See the Kartell website for a directory of current lines and designers.

Magazine rack (Portiviste?)
Classic design by Giotto Stoppino. Kartell code number 4676. This is a modern reissue in mint condition. In clear plastic (although it was dusty when I bought it, and so the plastic looks a bit opaque in the photo. It is now cyrstal clear, after rinsing in the shower. By the way, don't clean these with cloths; this can cause fine scratching to the surface). Value: £20-30

Gideon C. kindly emailed me with information about this and other Kartell pieces. Click on MORE, below:

Gaydon Melmex c. 1960

British Industrial Plastics (B.I.P.) of Brimingham manufactured Melmex, a form of melamine. Melmex had a lion logo as its trade mark, and this lion is seen stamped on the wares of companies to whom B.I.P. supplied Melmex. Gaydon was a very popular range of Melmex tableware, freeform in shape, and carrying the lion backstamp. It was manufactured by Streetly Manufacturing Co. Ltd., a part of B.I.P. Later, the tableware was restyled as the straight-sided, cylindrical encore range. A.H. Woodful joined Streetly in c. 1931 as a product designer and in 1952 headed the new Product Design Unit of B.I.P. He designed much of the melmex tableware produced in the UK. His cruet (not shown) is something of a design classic and is quite collectible. Items marked Streetly, Melmex are sometimes seen. The lion logo is also seen on pieces marked ARGOSY WARE, MELMEX MELAMINE MADE IN ENGLAND. Another maker of domestic plastic wares was Viking Industrial Plastics (who made permaware). The successor was the more straight-sided Encore in 1966 (read more about Encore).

Mixed colour cup and saucer set
In green, brown and blue, with white lining. Value: £1-3 (each).