Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1895 — Good Imitations of Amber. [ARTICLE]

Good Imitations of Amber.

When a man buys a pipe or cigar holder with a mouthpiece, which the dealer declares is amber, the chances are ten to one that the purchaser is being deceived. This assertion may seem hard upon the seller, but so clever are the imitations of amber now in the market that dealers need not fear in selling them, as none but an expert can tell the false from the real. Celluloid and amberine are the cheapest of the imitations, says the New York Press, and no dealer would think of recommending them as amber to any one who appeared to know much about what he wanted. But with amberoid it is a different matter, for, as this substance is made from the amber itself, there is no perceptible difference in its appearance or properties. This is made from small bits of amber ground tine and compressed by hydraulic power. The process is a secret possessed only by a few manufacturers in Vienna. All the long stems of a clear, beautiful amber, which give a meerschaum or briar so fancy a price, are made of amberoid, excepting, perhaps, pipes of the highest value. The belief that the sure test of amber is that it will pick up paper has deceived many people, for amberoid will do the same thing, as will amberine, which is a still cheaper composition made in England. Experts tell celluloid at a glance, but any one may distinguish it by its smell of camphor, which enters largely into its composition. Most of the amber sold comes from along the Black Sea in Turkey and Germany. Here, buried in the sand, is found the sea-green amber of almost priceless value. This is chiefly used for jewelry, although smokers’ articles are sometimes made from it. Green amber is seldom seen In this country. Black amber, used for jewelry and inlaying, and milk-white amber are also valuable.