In article , ned
writes

'Depends how old you are. ;-)
When I were a lad, matey, ...... it were 'ally'.
Short for allyminiminum.
Or in old blacksmith terminology, ..... 'muckite'. ;-)

Muckite was my Dad's term for Bakelite - 50/60 years ago.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.