The ubiquitous dark brown oval Bakelite door knob which graced so many doors in the first half of the twentieth century is no doubt familiar to many readers. This exciting, modern new material was introduced in 1909 and enjoyed immediate success. It was hard-wearing, affordable, and ideally suited to household objects. The Bakelite door knob works because it is well-proportioned, fits into the palm of a hand, feels smooth and warm, and turns well. It is easy to imagine it on the doors in many of the houses in Dorothy Whipple's novels.