This section is from the book "The English And American Mechanic", by B. Frank Van Cleve. Also available from Amazon: The English And American Mechanic.
Take of water, 2 qts; flour, ½ pint; Castile soap, 1 oz.; make into paste.
Take or first paste, ½ pt; gum tragacanth, l gill; water, l pt.; mix all together. This will finish eighteen sides of upper.
This is for finishing skirting and the flesh of harness leather, in imitation of oak tanning. Take of chrome yellow, ½ lb.; yellow ochre, 1 lb.; cream of tartar, 1 oz.; soda, ½ oz.; paste, 5 qts.; mix well. This will finish twelve sides.
For the grain to imitate oak ten. Take of chrome yellow, ½ lb.; yellow ochre, ½ lb.; cream of tartar, 1 oz.; soda, 1 oz.; paste, 2 qts.; spirits of turpentine, 1 pt; mix well. This will finish twelve sides.
Take of sizing, 1 qt.; soft soap, 1 gill; stuffing, 1 gill; sweet milk, ½ pt.; boil the sizing in water to a proper consistence, strain, and add the, oilier ingredients; and when thoroughly mixed, it is ready for use.
 
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