Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
In addition, this page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Day and Martin's Blacking
According to Mr. W. C. Day, the method of making the famous "Day and Martin's Blacking" is as follows: Bone-black in a state of powder, is mixed with sperm oil until the Brilliant Paste Blacking. two are thoroughly incorporated. Sugar or Ivory-black, 2 pounds; molasses, 1 pound; molasses is then mixed with a small portion olive oil and oil of vitriol, of each + pound; of vinegar and added to the mass. Oil of sufficient water, as before. vitriol is next added, and when all efferves-