Rexine facts for kids

Rexine was a special type of artificial leather fabric. It was made in the United Kingdom by a company called Rexine Ltd.

Rexine was created by putting a mix of materials onto cloth. These materials included cellulose nitrate (which is also used in some explosives, but was safe in Rexine), camphor oil, color, and alcohol. This mixture was then pressed to make it look and feel like real leather.

Rexine stopped being made in 2005. However, other companies, including the original one, still make similar artificial leather fabrics today.

What Was Rexine Used For?

Rexine was very popular because it was much cheaper than real leather, costing about a quarter of the price.

Inside Cars and Trains

Starting in the 1920s, Rexine was widely used inside cars made in Britain. It covered seats and other parts of the car's interior. In the 1960s and 1970s, the British Motor Corporation used Rexine for things like dashboards and door panels.

It was also used to cover seats and walls inside railway carriages. This made train travel more comfortable and stylish.

Books and Toys

Rexine was a common material for covering books, especially older ones. It gave them a durable and attractive cover.

From the late 1930s to the early 1960s, Rexine was even used for the paw and foot pads of British teddy bears.

How Rexine Reacted to Fire

While Rexine was useful, it had a downside. Because of the materials it was made from, Rexine could make fires spread quickly. For example, in 1951, a fire on a train near Huntingdon spread faster because Rexine was used inside the carriage. This showed that while it was a good material for many things, its flammability needed to be considered.