Subject: Darkening bakelite tils.. Advice/Tips?
From: pega@xs3.xs4all.nl (Peter Gallagher)
Date: 15 Feb 2000 22:45:10 +0100

I hope this is not too off-topic:
I have recently acquired a couple of bakelite tiles to supplement a set. They are just a little yellower than the other tiles and I am afraid they are noticeable as "different" to the rest of the set.
Does anybody have any ideas as to how I can "richen" (darken) them to the same "butterscotch" colour as the rest of the tiles?
I have discussed this with (other) friends and nobody seems to be 100% sure if the colour of bakelite tiles darkens with age or if they stay the same colour as they were originally made.
My personal feeling is that they darken with age, but it is unclear if this is due to "handling" (perspiration, smokey rooms, etc) or exposure to light and other factors.
Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated!
best regards,
Peter
--

Peter Gallagher, Amsterdam, Netherlands pega(at)xs4all(dot)nl

Subject: Re: Darkening bakelite tils.. Advice/Tips?
From: "Tom Sloper" <actsearch@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 15:31:21 -0800

Hey Peter! (pega@xs3.xs4all.nl)

I just posted a reply via AOL last night from home, and today it's not here (even from AOL I don't see it). So here goes again:

>I hope this is not too off-topic:

Not at all. Very much on-topic.

>I have recently acquired a couple of bakelite tiles to supplement a set.
>They are just a little yellower than the other tiles and I am afraid they
>are noticeable as "different" to the rest of the set.
>Does anybody have any ideas as to how I can "richen" (darken) them to the
>same "butterscotch" colour as the rest of the tiles?

I recommend you visit Sandy Beach's Maj Exchange and Jim May's Cyber Museum. They both have tile care pages:

http://beachsite.com/majexchange
http://members.aol.com/MahJongMuseum

>I have discussed this with (other) friends and nobody seems to be 100%
>sure if the colour of bakelite tiles darkens with age or if they stay the
>same colour as they were originally made.
>My personal feeling is that they darken with age, but it is unclear if
>this is due to "handling" (perspiration, smokey rooms, etc) or exposure to
>light and other factors.
>Any advice or opinions greatly appreciated!

Why don't you just email Jim May? He's probably the best expert on this topic (his email addr is posted at the Cyber Museum). Or you could try Marvin Backerman at plomb21055@aol.com. Those two guys are the most knowledgeable people I can think of in terms of bakelite tiles (I don't even own a bakelite set). Another person you could try is Carol Kaiserman of the Mah Jongg Network (her address is posted at
http://www.mahjonggnetwork.com/).

Good luck! -- Tom

--
Tom Sloper, Activision
Executive Producer, Shanghai
tsloper@activision.com
http://www.activision.com/games/shanghai/faq/faqmain.html
(Opinions expressed are mine, not those of my employer)

Subject: Re: Darkening bakelite tils.. Advice/Tips?
From: pega@xs4.xs4all.nl (Peter Gallagher)
Date: 17 Feb 2000 22:34:39 +0100

Not much more I can say than: "Thanks very much, Tom. Sound and promt advice as always!"
Cheers!
Peter

"Tom Sloper" <actsearch@aol.com> writes:

>Hey Peter! (pega@xs3.xs4all.nl)
>I just posted a reply via AOL last night from home, and today it's not here
>(even from AOL I don't see it). So here goes again:
[snip[

--

Peter Gallagher, Amsterdam, Netherlands pega(at)xs4all(dot)nl