Me being the slight geek that I am that must have been quite interesting! 🙂

Yes it was and the more so as I became older and understood more. And I dare say many people do not realise just how many items they come into contact with, daily, are made from some form of plastic or another.

Moggy’s a late arrival here – it’s in danger of becoming a groundhog thread.:D

And the key factor was probably the invention of both the injection moulding and thermoforming processes in the latter part of the 19th century which, in more sophisticated form, is how all of our plastic containers are manufactured today.

However the explosion of the use of plastics came with the invention of the extrusion process for thermoplastics and it would be fair to say the the plastics industry really took hold in the 30s.

Having grown up with a polymer chemist as a father I learned about the early days at his knee!!

Can openers, i.e. a devices for opening a metal can, were patented in the middle of the 19th century – I’m not sure what you are saying….

I had a marvellous day there 3 or 4 weeks ago and the restoration hangar was busy with mechanics more than happy to talk. Several aircraft were being wheeled about and once outside could be enjoyed without ropes or barriers. I enjoy every visit I make to Duxford.

Yup, calculators are computers, so well done that man……;)

Oh, and by the way, Linc, can openers are 19th century!

Plastics.

19th century again.