Original Decal Techniques?
 

I was wondering if anyone knows how the original decals were done.
What I'm especially curious about is the Wheeler & Wilson technique. When the gold is worn away, there is still a fairly detailed image that's etched below the black japan surface. It looks more like they were stenciled and then painted, as opposed to my Free machines, which seem to have had the whole surface finished and then decals applied on top.
I read an old article from Scientific American about a visit to the Wheeler & Wilson factory that mentioned the room where the japan finishing and 'enameling' were done, which made me wonder whether they used a different process. Here's what the Wheeler & Wilson looks like. The missing portions are literally beneath the japanning. [ATTACH=CONFIG]460056[/ATTACH]

Here's what the Free decals look like when they're missing. The japanning is intact under the spots where the decals are damaged.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]460055[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]460057[/ATTACH]
Thanks,
Linda

I've wondered about water slide decals and how they were made back in those days also. Seems like plastic films would not have been around yet? Good topic!

I also have an interest in this topic. I've contemplated re-decalling a couple of my most needing machines.