Applications Générales du Celluloïd "Petitcollin"

Celluloid was first manufactured in 1856. A patent was filed by the American Isaiah brothers in 1870, who marketed it under the name "Celluloid" in 1872. It is a material composed of cellulose nitrate and camphor. It was used for many objects: knife handles, piano keys, billiard balls (replacing ivory!), ping-pong balls, toys (Peticollin)... Highly flammable, its use declined with the appearance of new plastics.

In 1857, in Etain (Meuse) Nicolas Petitcollin, manufactures hairdressing articles. His nephew Gustave Petitcollin joined him and they founded in Paris in 1899 the Société Applications Générale du Celluloid "Petitcollin".

Gustave joined the board of directors of Société Lyonnaise du Celluloid and succeeded in becoming president, bringing together companies in his Parisian premises at 20 boulevard Saint-Denis. He bought the capital and founded the Compagnie du Celluloid.

In 1924, he took control of the Oyonnithe company, distributed the three and founded the Compagnie du Celluloid Petitcollin-Oyonnithe.

The brand of the company is an eagle's head, is still the current symbol of this company which manufactures toys, in polyethylene or in PVC from now on. This business still has many difficulties and still exists. Some of her dolls are still made in France.

Gustave Petitcollin died in 1927 and Huguenin and Hutin took over the management of the company, then taken over by Gabriel Albisson.

Specimen.