Anybody remember Glitterwax?

[Texas]

And that's it basically. What was it? I remember chewing it because you couldn't get chewing gum.

[oldrowley]

And that's it basically. What was it? I remember chewing it because you couldn't get chewing gum.

 

 

All I recall is a stick of wax, possibly in a cardboard tube about five or six inches long, maybe triangular. This could be warmed in the hands and moulded into different shapes. Definitely not for chewing though although we probably all did. Don't remember how the 'glitter' came into it.

[Mardy Tyke]

I just asked my wife if she remembered Glitterwax (but being 10 years younger than me, she doesn't) so Googled the question and came up with your forum. Sorry to say, though born a Yorkshireman, I wasn't born in Sheffield, but in Rotherham. Now, not having lived in Yorkshire for decades (I've spent most of my 70+ years in Cornwall) I have no idea if there's any rivalry between Rotherham and Sheffield. The two towns closest to where I live - Camborne & Redruth - still make rude jokes about one another, but it doesn't (usually) go much further. Back to Glitterwax. Yes, I remember it well. I loved the smell of it, though I can't say I ever tried chewing it, Texas! I think it was called 'Glitter' wax because it was very glossy. Definitely no (Christmas) glitter in it! It came in a range of bright colours and when you warmed it in your hands you could model it. Better than Plasticene to my mind, as it hardened as it cooled so you could make more delicate shapes with it. I also loved my Bayko Building Set, and was amazed just now to see there's loads of the kits available on eBay and from specialist sellers, though it's not been made since 1967.

[Puffin4]

I remember my mother buying Glitterwax during the war and making flowers on privet cuttings. Presumably there was not enough in the kitty to buy fresh flowers and she was not into gardening whilst my father was serving with the RAF in Iceland.

 

Mike

Edited January 8, 2016 by Puffin4
Correct typo

[rohsgran]

I also used to make flowers out of Glitterwax and bare branches during the war. Being enterprising we used to try and sell them to the neighbours.

Edited January 9, 2016 by rohsgran
one word not two

[reneh46]

I have nothing to do with Sheffield but came across the Glitterwax query when searching myself on Google. I am surprised there is nothing online, as I discovered myself, but can fill in details.

It was a modelling wax made by the Cosmic Crayon Company of Bedford. The company was formed in 1917 and operated independently until 1958 when it was purchased by Binney and Smith, a US company who made (& still make) the Crayola range of Crayons. Cosmic's main products were Fineart Crayons, the larger Freeart Crayons and Britannia Chalks. Anyone who was at school in the 50s and 60s (and probably earlier and later) will remember the gross boxes of chalks. Production in Bedford ceased in 1972 and before that the product names were replaced by Crayola ones.

Glitterwax was competitor to Plasticine but rather than being mouldable at room temperature you needed to warm it in your hands until it could be shaped, it became solid again at room temperature.

I have no idea how long the product was in production for but can remember having it in the 50s. My father worked for a printing company that was in the same ownership and Cosmic and on the same site so I enjoyed a free supply. I was never very artistic and found it very had to use and I suspect it was never very successful as a product.