382 APPLIED SCIENCE 



upon the sign and the paint applied through the opening 

 cut in the stencil. The paint used is mixed with benzine 

 and is applied with a stiff bristle brush. After the letters 

 are dry they are second-coated. 



429. Gold-Leaf Work. In gold-leaf work the letters are coated 

 over with a good oil gold-size which is allowed to stand usually about 

 twenty-four hours until it has reached the degree of dryness called 

 "tacky." In this state the leaf will adhere to it strongly. The 

 gold-leaf which comes in booklet form, is then applied on a certain 

 part of the letter, and cut by running the finger nail across it. Then, 

 without removing the leaf from the book and keeping the rest of 

 the leaf covered, the portion cut is pressed firmly against the part 

 of the letter to be covered. The gold-leaf adheres to the size when 

 the book is withdrawn. When all of the letters have been covered 

 in this manner they are cut in with a size made of animal fat oil, 

 lampblack, and a little white lead. Generally, to complete the 

 work, the sign is laid in a horizontal position and smalt or ground 

 black glass is sifted on. When the size has dried enough to retain 

 the smalt, the sign is raised to a vertical position and the superfluous 

 smalt is brushed off with a soft brush. 



In gold lettering on glass the letters are first outlined with chalk 

 on the outside of the glass. They are then covered on the inside 

 with a size made by placing in cold water Russian gelatin, sometimes 

 called Russian isinglass, and boiling it for about three minutes. The 

 size becomes "tacky" in from fifteen minutes to three hours. The 

 gold-leaf is put on by handling it with what is called a tip. A tip 

 is a brush consisting of a thin layer of camel's hair glued between two 

 pieces of cardboard. The hair of the tip is slightly oiled, so that 

 the leaf will adhere to it until placed against the size on the letters. 

 After the leaf is placed on the letters, the chalk lines which show 

 through the gold are carefully outlined on the inside with black 

 paint. When this paint is dry, the gold-leaf which projects beyond 

 the lines is removed with a piece of cotton and water. The letters 

 are usually outlined with paint in such a manner as to give them the 

 appearance of thickness. After this work is dry, the whole surface 

 is given a coat of varnish. 



