There is an ongoing discussion about techniques how to perform wood
finishing.  In this context I would like to mention a most interesting
small book which describes really old techniques and recipes. There is
only one difficulty: Only those of you who can read German might be
able to enjoy it.  The Book was published in 1852 (yes eighteen) and
was reprinted in Germany in 1995.

The original title is:

"Praktisches Handbuch der Lackir-/Vergoldungs-/Bronzir-/Beiz-/Faerbe-
und Polirkunst enthaltend aus der Feder eines Praktikers geflossene,
vielfach gepruefte, gruendliche Vorschriften zur Bereitung aller Arten
von geistigen und fetten Glanzlackfirnissen, Goldlacken fuer Holz,
Leder, Metall und Papier, nebst genauen Anweisungen zum Vergolden,
Bronzieren, Beizen, Faerben und Polieren.  Ein unentbehrliches Handbuch
fuer Schreiner, Drechsler, Ebenisten, Sattler, Wagner, Buchbinder,
Lackirer und Klempner.

Von H. Miehr, Lackirer und Vergolder.  Weimar, 1852. Verlag von
Rauschke und Schmidt"

The title of the reprint is somewhat shorter:

"Praktisches Handbuch der Lackir-/Vergoldungs-/Bronzir-/Beiz-/Faerbe-
und Polirkunst von H. Miehr, 1852"

Published 1995, Edition "libri rari", Th.Schaefer, Hannover, Germany
ISBN 3-88746-336-6

    Order - Nr. 5224
    Verlag Th.Schaefer
    Tivolistrasse 3
    30161 Hannover
    Telefon: 49-511-99099-77
    Telefax: 49-511- 99099-99

This book is a most valuable source of recipes and working techniques
for me when I do to restore historical music instruments and mechanical
music instruments in an adequate technique.  When using the recipes you
have to know something about ancient German measurements:

    1 Pfund (pound) = 32 Lot = 128 Quentchen
    1 Lot  = 15,6 g (gramm)
    4 Quentchen = 1 Lot
    1 Gran = ca. 0,063 g
    1 Unze = 2 Lot = 31,25 g

Also very helpful is a book published by the "Instiut fuer Kunsttechnik
und Konservierung im Germanischen Nationalmuseum Nuernberg" (Institute
of techniques in arts and conservation of the Germanische Nationalmuseum,
Nuernberg). This book gives a huge number of recipes from the 17th up to
the 19th century. (But again: you must  be able to read the German
language.)

Title: "Historische Lacke und Beizen auf Musikinstrumenten in
deutschsprachigen Quellen bis 1900"
Authord: Eszter Fontana, Friedemann Hellwig, Klaus Martius
Editor: Gerhard Bott

Published by Germanische Nationalmuseum, 1992
ISBN 3-926982-27-6

Even if you will not perform the work as described in these books it
will be most interesting to read them. It's unbelievable what
ingredients where used and what time was spent for wood finishing in
former times!

Enjoy it (and improve your German language knowledge)

Christian Greinacher

 [ Christian,  Thanks for your pointers.  I hope I haven't
 [ garbled the special characters too badly.  -- Jody