Some folks have expressed an interest in the original process used to "paint" our sewing machines.
I am sure that each company had their own "secret method" but here are some links to information that I have found in my searches.
Here is the Oxford English Dictionary definition of Japanning:\Ja*pan"\, n. def 2: A varnish of exceptional hardness which originally came from Japan. The name is now extended to other varnishes of a like sort esp., to (a) a black varnish obtained by cooking asphaltum with linseed oil, used for producing a black gloss on metal and other materials; (b) a varnish-like liquid made from shellac, linseed-old and turpentine and used as a medium in which to grind colours and for drying pigments.
For starters, do a Google search for "
Japanning Asphaltum" and you will get a ton of info.
This is one of my favorite launch points for Japanning reading
http://www.cranialstorage.com/Wood/japanning.html
That site includes a link to the Project Gutenberg listing for the 1913 2nd edition of "The Handbook on Japanning" (1st edition was 1901)
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15622
Here is a direct link to a PDF of it.
http://www.wswells.com/data/japannin...nJapanning.pdf
Here is a cool site with pictures and a discussion of their experiences with the process
http://www.woodcentral.com/articles/...cles_117.shtml
Here is a source for "Asphaltum paint" ($62 / quart..... YIKES!!)
http://libertyonthehudson.com/pontypool.html
Let the discussions begin!