Although plastic was brought into industrial use in 1909 by L.H. Baekeland of
Yonkers, it was not until after World War II that the modern miracle substance
was used in a wide variety of consumer goods, among them speedboats, dentures
and flamingos. Previously flamingos were made of cement. Before that they were
made by other flamingos.
-- William E. Geist, The New York Times