April 2017 Archives: A Month of Practical Discovery

April 2017 Archives: A Month of Practical Discovery

Scrolling back through the April 2017 entries, one post still draws the most attention: a detailed walkthrough of how to identify and restore a celluloid hair slide from the 1930s. The reader who submitted the query had inherited a small collection from her grandmother, and the comments section turned into a lively exchange about the telltale camphor scent of early celluloid versus the denser feel of Bakelite. That single thread captured the spirit of the month — hands-on, conversational, and anchored in the real experience of caring for inherited pieces.

What the April 2017 Archives Actually Covered

If you browse the archive index for that month, you will find five main posts, each focused on a specific type of accessory or a practical skill. The editorial calendar was shaped by the approach of spring — the London season of garden parties, weddings, and the first outdoor events where a well-chosen hair accessory can tie an outfit together. The topics ranged from Edwardian tortoiseshell combs (with a frank discussion of why genuine tortoiseshell is now illegal and how to spot the difference from imitations) to a two-part series on cleaning and polishing vintage metal hair pins without damaging their patina.

One post that still generates email enquiries is the guide to storing hair accessories through humid British springs. The advice was simple: store combs and slides in individual cotton pouches, away from direct sunlight, and never use plastic bags for long-term storage because they trap moisture. That piece included a checklist of materials that should never touch vintage Bakelite — and that checklist remains pinned on many collectors' noticeboards.

Practical Lessons That Endure

A recurring theme in the April 2017 archives was the tension between preserving the original finish of an accessory and making it wearable. One reader asked whether it was acceptable to reshape a bent 1920s hair comb by heating it. The response, written by a restorer who contributed to the blog that month, explained that dry heat can cause irreparable cracking in cellulose acetate. Instead, the recommended method was a gentle steam bath followed by manual bending over a padded form. The restorer also noted that the same technique works for many early plastic combs, provided the temperature stays below 60°C.

• Bakelite care: Avoid alcohol-based cleaners; use a mild soap and water, then dry immediately.
• Celluloid identification: Look for a faint camphor smell under warm water; handle with care as it is highly flammable.
• Metal hairpins: Clean with a soft cloth and a drop of mineral oil to restore shine without stripping the metal.
• Storage: Keep each piece in its own soft pouch; never stack heavy combs on top of delicate slides.

For those who prefer a more structured approach to building a collection, the April archives also introduced a simple HTML template for cataloguing your own accessories. That template later evolved into a more detailed guide, which you can find on the Build a Vintage Collection Page with Simple HTML: No Code Needed page. The idea was to encourage collectors to document their pieces not just for insurance purposes, but as a way of deepening their understanding of the materials and makers.

Spotlight on the Hair Bow

One of the most popular posts from April 2017 was a close reading of the Victorian hair bow — not the ribbon tied in a lump, but the structured, wired bow that held its shape through a day of dancing. The post traced the evolution from the 1860s, when bows were often made of velvet and pinned to the back of the head, to the 1950s, when smaller, more delicate bows were used to accent bouffant styles. The archive entry included a pattern for recreating a period-accurate bow using modern materials, and it pointed readers to a more extensive guide that was published later that year. If you are interested in the full history and construction techniques, the The Vintage Hair Bow: A Practical Guide for British Collectors expands on that April post with step-by-step photographs and a list of recommended suppliers for vintage ribbon.

Why Revisit an Old Archive?

Some might wonder why a blog about vintage hair accessories would devote a whole article to a month of posts from seven years ago. The answer lies in the nature of the knowledge itself. Styles change, materials degrade, and the market for vintage accessories shifts, but the underlying principles of good conservation and informed collecting remain remarkably stable.

The April 2017 archives contain foundational advice that is just as relevant today — perhaps more so, as the vintage market has grown and the number of new collectors has increased. A collector who wrote in last year admitted she had been cleaning Bakelite with rubbing alcohol for months before she found the April post explaining why that damages the surface. Reading those early posts can save a beginner from costly mistakes, and even experienced collectors often pick up a detail they had forgotten.

Summer Preparation and the June Archives

As spring gave way to summer in 2017, the blog shifted its focus to lighter accessories suited to warmer weather. The June 2017 archives, for instance, contained a series on heat-safe styling and the use of combs in updos that stay secure without heavy pins. That material was revisited and updated in a later post, which you can read in Why the June 2017 Archives Still Matter: Vintage Hair Accessories Knowledge That Holds Up. The April content, however, remains the best starting point for anyone who wants to understand the material science behind these beautiful objects.

One Final Tip from the Archives

Among the many comments on the April 2017 posts, one piece of advice has been repeated by several readers since. When you acquire a vintage hair accessory, spend the first week simply observing it. Place it on a clean white cloth in good light and turn it over in your hands. Look for hairline cracks, areas of discolouration, and any signs of previous repairs. Learn its weight, its smell, the way it reflects light. This quiet observation, before any cleaning or wearing, will tell you more about the piece than any guidebook can. It is the same practice that museum conservators use, and it costs nothing but time. One reader later wrote back that this single habit saved her from ruining a 1920s tortoiseshell comb that had a crack hidden under the decoration — a crack she only spotted because she took that first week to look.