This section is from the "Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas Recipes Processes" encyclopedia, by Norman W. Henley and others.
The following mediums hitherto known as possessing the aforenamed properties, lose these qualities upon having been kept for some time, as the metal salt is partly reduced. Furthermore, it has not been possible to admix reducing substances such as zinc to these former polishing agents, since moisture causes the metal to precipitate. The present invention obviates these evils. The silver or gold salt is mixed with chalk, for instance, in a dry form. To this mixture, fine dry powders of one or more salts (e. g., ammonia compounds) in whose solutions the metal salt can enter are added; if required, a reducing body, such as zinc, may be added at the same time. The composition is pressed firmly together and forms briquettes, in which condition the mass keeps well. For use, all that is necessary is to scrape off a little of the substance and to prepare it with water.
This polishing agent is a powder made into balls by means of a binding medium and enjoys much popularity in Germany. It is prepared by adding 5 parts of levigated chalk to 2 parts of yellow tripoli, mixing the two powders well and making into a stiff paste with very weak gum water — 1 part gum arabic to 12 parts of water. This dough is finally shaped by hand into balls of the size of a pigeon's egg. The balls are put aside to dry on boards in a moderately warm room, and when completely hard are wrapped in tin-foil paper.
The stuff must be pure woolen, colored with aniline red, and then put in the following:
Castile soap, white.. 4 parts
Jewelers' red....... 2 parts
Water............. 20 parts
Mix. One ounce of this mixture will answer for a cloth 12 inches square, where several of them are saturated at the same time. For the workshop, a bit of chamois skin of the same size (a foot square), is preferable to wool, on account of its durability. After impregnation with the soap solution, it should be dried in the air, being manipulated while drying to preserve its softness and suppleness.
Rub the objects with a sponge charged with a mixture of 28 parts of alcohol, 14 parts of water, and 4 parts of lavender oil.
Mix and beat the whites of 3 eggs with one-third, by weight, of javelle water, and apply to the gilt work.
Steel dust is well adapted for polishing precious stones and can replace emery with advantage. It is obtained by spraying water on a bar of steel brought to a high temperature. The metal becomes friable and can be readily reduced to powder in a mortar. This powder is distinguished from emery by its mordanting properties and its lower price. Besides, it produces a finer, and consequently, a more durable polish.
Stir into a thick pulp with water 10 parts of finely powdered and washed chalk, 1 part of linglish red, and 2 parts of powdered gypsum; give it a square shape and dry.
Denaturized alcohol 400 parts
Spirit of sal ammoniac............. 75 parts
Water............. 150 parts
Petroleum ether .... 80 parts
Infusorial earth..... 100 parts
Red bole or white bole............. 50 parts
Calcium carbonate. . 100 parts
Add as much of the powders as desired. Mirbane oil may be used for scenting.
Infusorial earth (Kieselguhr).... 8 ounces
Paraffine......... 2 ounces
Lubricating oil... . 6 fluidounces
Oleic acid......... 1 fluidounce
Oil mirbane....... 30 minims
Melt the paraffine with the lubricating oil, and mix with the infusorial earth, then add the oleic acid and oil of mirbane.
 
Continue to: