Located in Mentone, Victoria, ‘Nylex’ was a brand name of nylon products made by Moulded Products (Australasia) Ltd. used from 1942. In 1966 the company itself was renamed Nylex Pty. Ltd. The Mentone factory was closed in 2006, although the company continues today. In the 1970s, Nylex produced Capri designs which they had acquired from BX Plastics, but under the Nylex branding.
Products
Toothbrushes, coated wire, garden hose, coated fabrics, building products, funnels, measuring cups and spoons, plastic cloth, bags and wrap, shoes, braces, watch bands, canisters (from 1947- ?1980s), ice buckets.
The Australian Women’s Weekly, 8th January 1944 p.y
The first Nylex branded products were flexible tubing (to cover wiring) and toothbrushes.
The Australian Women’s Weekly, 23rd August 1947 p.43
The Australian Women’s Weekly, 21st November 1951 p.10
Woman’s Day 1962: The colours are “Copper, Daydream Lilac, Hayman Blue, Lagoo Green, Magnetic Flame, Reef Gold, and Harlequin with gold knobs and motif ”. How dreamy. This line was available from 1962-70.
Queanbeyan Age (NSW), 3rd August 1962 p.9.
The Canberra Times, 7th December 1962 p.15
?1980s
From 1964-1994 they produced ‘Bessemer’ brand Melmac products: jugs, coasters, sugar bowls, egg cups, shakers, butter dishes, platters, plates, ashtrays. These were sold by party plan.
Colours
Canisters sets in white or “Colorama”(i.e. multicoloured) with gold lettering and/or pictures. Colours included pink, blue, brown, grey, teal, olive, red, mauve, orange.
Another company by the name of “Hollywood Home Products Pty. Ltd.” also sold Melmac dinner ware by party plan around 1964-69. Some of these products are trademarked with Nylex, and others the ‘F&T’ logo.
F&T branded canister