John Wesley Hyatt
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Hyatt was an American
inventor. He is mainly known for simplifying the production of celluloid
, the first industrial plastic
. Hyatt, a Perkin Medal
recipient, is an inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
.
, and began working as a printer when he was 16. Later, he became an inventor, receiving several hundred patent
s. Aided by his brother Isaac, he experimented with Parkesine
, a hardened form of nitrocellulose
, while researching a substitute for ivory
to produce billiard ball
s. Parkesine had been invented by English
inventor Alexander Parkes
in 1862, and is considered the first true plastic, although it was not a success as a commercial or industrial product. Liquid nitrocellulose, or collodion
, had been used as early as 1851 by another English inventor, Frederick Scott Archer
, in photographic applications; it had also been used extensively as a quick-drying film to protect the fingertips of printers
. Hyatt's eventual result was a commercially viable way of producing solid, stable nitrocellulose, which he patented in the United States
in 1869 as "Celluloid" (US patent 50359; now a genericized trademark). In 1870 Hyatt formed the Albany
Dental Plate Company (later renamed the Celluloid Manufacturing Company) to produce billiard balls, false teeth and piano keys, among other products.
In parallel, a third English inventor, Daniel Spill
, had independently developed essentially the same product, which he patented in the UK
as "Xylonite". Spill later pursued Hyatt in a number of costly court cases between 1877 and 1884. The eventual decision was that the true inventor of celluloid was Parkes, but that all manufacturing of celluloid could continue, including Hyatt's.
Hyatt's other patented inventions include roller bearings and a multiple-stitch sewing machine
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor. He is mainly known for simplifying the production of celluloid
Celluloid
Celluloid is the name of a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, plus dyes and other agents. Generally regarded to be the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1862 and as Xylonite in 1869, before being registered as Celluloid in 1870. Celluloid is...
, the first industrial plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
. Hyatt, a Perkin Medal
Perkin Medal
The Perkin Medal is an award given annually by the American section of the Society of Chemical Industry to a scientist residing in America for an "innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development." It is considered the highest honor given in the US industrial chemical...
recipient, is an inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
.
Biography
Hyatt was born in Starkey, New YorkStarkey, New York
Starkey is a town in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 3,465 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county and south of Geneva, New York.- History :...
, and began working as a printer when he was 16. Later, he became an inventor, receiving several hundred patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. Aided by his brother Isaac, he experimented with Parkesine
Parkesine
Parkesine is the trademark for the first man-made plastic. It was patented by Alexander Parkes in 1856. In 1866 Parkes formed the Parkesine Company to mass produce the material. The company, however, failed due to poor product quality as Parkes tried to reduce costs...
, a hardened form of nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. When used as a propellant or low-order explosive, it is also known as guncotton...
, while researching a substitute for ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
to produce billiard ball
Billiard ball
A billiard ball is a small, hard ball used in cue sports, such as carom billiards, pool, and snooker. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played...
s. Parkesine had been invented by English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
inventor Alexander Parkes
Alexander Parkes
Alexander Parkes was a metallurgist and inventor from Birmingham, England. He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic.-Biography:...
in 1862, and is considered the first true plastic, although it was not a success as a commercial or industrial product. Liquid nitrocellulose, or collodion
Collodion
Collodion is a flammable, syrupy solution of pyroxylin in ether and alcohol. There are two basic types; flexible and non-flexible. The flexible type is often used as a surgical dressing or to hold dressings in place. When painted on the skin, collodion dries to form a flexible cellulose film...
, had been used as early as 1851 by another English inventor, Frederick Scott Archer
Frederick Scott Archer
Frederick Scott Archer invented the photographic collodion process which preceded the modern gelatin emulsion. He was born in Bishop's Stortford in the UK and is remembered mainly for this single achievement which greatly increased the accessibility of photography for the general public.tyler was...
, in photographic applications; it had also been used extensively as a quick-drying film to protect the fingertips of printers
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
. Hyatt's eventual result was a commercially viable way of producing solid, stable nitrocellulose, which he patented in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1869 as "Celluloid" (US patent 50359; now a genericized trademark). In 1870 Hyatt formed the Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
Dental Plate Company (later renamed the Celluloid Manufacturing Company) to produce billiard balls, false teeth and piano keys, among other products.
In parallel, a third English inventor, Daniel Spill
Daniel Spill
Daniel Spill was born in Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, England. He became a rubber and an early thermoplastics manufacturer. For over 20 years Spill had pursued the goal of making a successful business from Alexander Parkes' invention Parkesine, the first man made plastic.-Career:Although he...
, had independently developed essentially the same product, which he patented in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as "Xylonite". Spill later pursued Hyatt in a number of costly court cases between 1877 and 1884. The eventual decision was that the true inventor of celluloid was Parkes, but that all manufacturing of celluloid could continue, including Hyatt's.
Hyatt's other patented inventions include roller bearings and a multiple-stitch sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
.