Tinned iron goods are the most largely japanned, and for these brown
and black colours are principally employed. Both are obtained by the
use of brown japan, the metal having a preliminary coating of black
paint when black is required. Only one coating of brown japan is given
to cheap goods, but for better articles two or more are applied. For
these it is possible that a final dressing with pumice-stone, then
with rotten-stone, and rubbed with a piece of felt or cloth, or even
the palm of the hand, may be necessary, but as a rule not.

Large numbers of articles of the above description, such as tea-trays,
tea-canisters, cash-boxes, coal-boxes, and similar goods, are japanned
at Birmingham, and it is to such that the preceding instructions
apply.


ENAMELLING OLD WORK.

In all cases of re-enamelling old work, it is absolutely necessary to
remove all traces of the first enamelling, and if this has been well
done in the first instance, it will prove no mean job. The best way to
clean the work is to soak it in a strong "lye" of hot potash, when the
softened enamel can be wiped or brushed off--this latter method being
pursued in the more intricate and ungetatable portions of the work.
New work, which has not been enamelled, can be treated in the same way
for the removal of all grease, stains, finger-marks, etc., and too
much attention cannot be paid to the initial preparation of the
surface of the metal, to have it thoroughly even and smooth, as it
adds so much to the ultimate finish and appearance of the work. Plenty
of labour must be bestowed before the final coat, as any blemish will
show through this finishing, and so mar what would otherwise be a