I Have This Little Metal Compact Mirror/powder Case With A Ceramic Rose Inside Glass On Front That Belonged To My Granny

[FrillyPancake]

I used to play with it as a kid, it's probably about 40-50 years old.
I took it out to put in my make-up bag the other day and my word it really smells of oldness - how is this, why does it really smell? It's just been sitting in a bag in my dressing room! Why does it smell like this 0 and why so strong(?) - I guess my question is what causes it to smell like this?
It really smells so strong of "ancientness"!?!?!
Weird or what??
Any ideas why this is?

[EDDIE51]

Lucite Rose seems to be one of Melissa's more popular designs
http://cariboocollectibles.com/fashion-accessories/82-1950s-melissa-lucite-rose-powder-compact.html
They are going for around £20

[HansUrbancka]

Depending upon its condition and approx year of manufacture it might be worth £50/60: if it's similar to the following :-

http://www.le-boudoir-online.com/ourshop/prod_526997-Vintage-Reverse-Carved-Lucite-Powder-Compact-Mellisa.html

Hans.

[HansUrbancka]

You said yours was Black Enameled. Here's one, but it's round, whereas yours is rectangular :-

http://www.braceletstobucklesjewellery.co.uk/vintage-compacts/Melissa-lucite-flowers-enamel-compact

Hans

[theprof]

It seems the glass you describe on the front of the compact is actually Lucite, a type of early plastic related to acrylic. It was commonplace in jewellery after the war and was used in furniture from the late fifties. As far as the compact is concerned, lucite is very resistant to the action of light and the rose and leaves can probably be seen as clearly now as the day the compact was made.

The reason the compact smells in simple terms is because the base metal that the compact is made from has reacted over many years with perspiration and oils from the skin of the owners. In your case, the most likely chemical is the one called 1-octene-3-one that I mentioned yesterday. This is very pongy to say the least and is often described as musty or smelling like some types of mushrooms. Describing it as smelling of "ancientness" is very apt. This compound clings to metal substrates like the devil and the smell won't diminish easily through time.

So how do you get rid of the smell? Well, I know of some chemicals that would be ideal to do the job, but they are pretty nasty to use. Instead, I'd suggest that if you want to clean the metal and get rid of the smell, I would try a 50/50 mix of lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda applied with a soft toothbrush. Try it on a small hidden area first and leave overnight if possible. Rinse it off in the morning and dry the area with a piece of kitchen paper towel.

Should you not want to clean it, one of the most effective things you could try to get rid of the smell is to bury the open compact under a few inches of cat litter for a few days. The stuff is brilliant for this purpose and we use it now and again in the lab for this purpose. Cat litter will not harm nor tarnish the metal.

[FrillyPancake]

The prof - thank you very much! You're a star! I will give that a go, I am not that keen on cleaning it to be honest, as it holds so many good memories and I'd hate to ruin it, yes the roses are as clear as the day I first got given it to play with! The actual compact is in brilliant condition, apart from a few scratches on the black polished bit on the outside, I guess it's been on it's travels lol. I love this piece, and want to preserve it as much as I can. It's very pretty and the "ancientness" thing was the only word I could use to describe it best. This is wonderful advice thank you everyone! I don't care much for it's value as I say I love it so much so would never want to sell it. I may look at getting the wee blemishes restored at some point, and brought back to it's former glory. I wonder how much this would cost to do successfully? I have never had anything "restored" before. very interesting, I find the whole thing fascinating, and to think that I am using it now after let's say 50/60 years is amazing. I am going to treasure it for sure. Thanks again everyone! Frilly xx

[FrillyPancake]

The prof, what sort of lab to you work in just out of interest? It's fascinating that you got back to me with such a lot of information on this - I am now curious!!! :-)

[theprof]

Hi FrillyPancake. I'm an Oxbridge professor (I'll leave you to guess which!) specialising in Biochemistry. I've got umpteen degrees in chemistry, biology and biochemistry and lectured at UK universities in senior positions in all three subjects. I'm a visiting professor at many of the major USA universities you'll have heard of as well as half a dozen in Europe. I have also advised UK governments for many years in some specialised areas of my expertise and spend quite a bit of time at various research establishments. I'm also a consultant to some major UK and European food manufacturers and government bodies. I usually get persuaded to make a couple of TV appearance a year as I'm told I'm an "expert". I've also written and edited the odd textbook or two over the years. To cap it all, I'm also married to a Professor!
When I said "lab" it was a slight understatement. I mooch around in around 62 of them at the university colleges plus around 40 at the other places I work. I also somehow find the time to teach biochemistry in university lecture theatres.

[Bazile]

theprof

As Eric Morecambe once said

Rubbish :-)

[alavahalf]

Cant help on this one .... but why do so many blokes on AB know so much about make up ?

Takes all kinds I suppose !

[jadyn]

alavahalf, having looked through the thread from the beginning, it seems to me that the men have been discussing either how to clean metal, get rid of a smell or provide links photographs. Can't see anything that shows they know anything about make up.

Bazile, if you know better let's see your contribution to the thread.

[FrillyPancake]

Thanks all!
Prof, that's really really interesting, again thanks for all your help with this - glad I posted now :-) as I got much more information that I thought I would!
I shall go forth and try to clean this as gently as I can now....wish me luck!

[Bazile]

I hope theprof realises i was only joking

[Bazile]

//Bazile, if you know better let's see your contribution to the thread. //

Just saw that ^^^^
jadyn - For your information , i was not questioning the advice of any of the posters .

I see you can't tell when someone is having a joke - so let me explain .

My post was only a lighthearted response to theprof's impressive qualifications

[HansUrbancka]

@Bazile....I would say that the 'prof' is unlikely to think that you were Not joking; especially as a person of my lowly intelligence knew you were. It could be that a lot of ABers can now put a real name to him: as I think I can, but will allow him anonymity. However, he certainly has professed a lot to be admired....a true Professor!!

Hans.

[theprof]

No harm done Bazile. I guessed you were joking and HansUrbancka was absolutely right about it.

As for putting a real name to me, well you can have a go but it won't be easy due to a restricted amount of information on the public version of the university website. Neither Oxford nor Cambridge list their Biochemistry Professors, Readers and Lecturers in detail any longer for various reasons although staff names are available. Having said that, find a list of them somewhere else and I'll be on it!!

I'm grateful you've not disclosed who you think I am HansUrbancka and I thank you for the quip in your final sentence. I'll have to try to remember that one!

Seeing I'm in a teasing mood tonight, I'll give you a couple of cluesas to my ID though. Firstly, I'm not female and secondly could I be an FRS?

[alavahalf]

Really speaking as Baz has been pulled for his input .. I think I should re-phrase my comment and commend the gentleman on AB for their expertise regarding make up containers .. not for their knowledge of the contents within ... hopefully no one was offended .. ;-)

[theprof]

I'm sure no one was offended alavahalf. Personally, I was only thinking about the metal not the contents within. I leave that sort of stuff to the wife - it's a no go area for me!