---
title: "Who invented the Celluloid?"  
description: "Who invented the Celluloid?"  
author: "Harsh Srivastava"  
published: 2018-08-30  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49166/who-invented-the-celluloid  
category: "innovation, discovery and technology"  
tags: ["innovation, discovery and technology"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Who invented the Celluloid?

Who invented the Celluloid?\
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## Answers

### Answer by UTKARSHA SINGHROUL

**The ‘Celluloid’ was invented by a metallurgist inventor “Alexander Parkes” and it gets registered with this name in the year 1870.**

![Who invented the Celluloid?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/50511907-2480-4367-a335-63654eb1e7c8/images/113877a8-1965-41c6-9ed1-d59fb9f69114.jpeg)\
**Celluloid is a compound made with the Nitrocellulose (or Cellulose Nitrate) and Camphor with dyes and other agents.** Generally named as Thermoplastic, was first created in 1856 in Birmingham, [England](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/40616/what-was-burgoyne-s-strategy-for-cutting-new-england-off-from-the-other-colonies). Celluloid can be easily molded and shaped, and it was initially made as an Ivory replacement. The main use of Celluloid was in Movie and [Photography](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39772/which-rays-is-very-helpful-in-long-distance-photography) Film Industries, it has been in use till 1950. Celluloid decomposes easily and is highly flammable. It is mostly used in [table tennis](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/36643/who-are-the-greatest-table-tennis-players) balls, musical instruments and guitar pick at the present time. **Parkes patented Celluloid as a clothing waterproofer for woven fabrics. Later, in 1862, he has been awarded Bronze medal for his invention in “International Exhibition in London”.** This invention was generally regarded as the birth of Plastic Industry and the invention named as ‘Parkesine’. Alexander Parkes was a metallurgist and an inventor who belongs from Birmingham, England. He was born on the year December 29, 1813. **Parkes was posthumously included in the American ‘Plastics Academy’s [Hall of Fame](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33144/how-many-years-must-a-player-be-retired-to-be-eligible-for-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame)’ in September 2005.** Alexander Parkes has been remembered at various places like; the Plastic Historical Society placed a Blue Plastic Plaque on his home in Dulwich, London.


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