Japanning research - For all the "repaint" threads...
 

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!

I forgot to add that i am currently preparing two machines that will hopefully be done with this process.

Steve...
Thanks so much, I'm going to try it!

I have a video called "Birth of a sewing machine" It's from the Scottish Screen Archive. It looks to be a film from Singer's factories showing how they made machines. It's silent, and about 74 minutes long. I signed a release saying I wouldn't "share" it, but I could probably watch it again and try to describe what I see in the japanning phase.

If memory serves, they set it up a lot like a waterwheel, dunking the machines, then putting them in a furnace of sorts.

Maybe this should be a sticky thread.

Ah! So it is the same stuff as I have on my floor... I thought it must be :) When we were renovating it was hard to get, and cost a bomb... and it has been a sorry tale as I don't think we ever applied enough shellac to protect it. I must say it looks very interesting now with the places where it is faded and worn. I just wish it was sealed for cleaning.

....Seems very funny now to find myself working with the stuff again on my sewing machines. I can't get away!!