too voluminous to be printed in a painter's journal, and interested parties should apply to the Government Printing Office at Washington, D. C., for copies of a set of the specifications.

Outline of Specifications.

For our readers specially interested in the subject we give the following outlines:

Paint for Locomotives.

(a) Red lead priming coat (for roof and inside of cab)-Two volumes of reinforced red lead semi-paste paint with one volume of standard thinning mixture.

(b) Dark red oxide finishing coat-One volume dark red oxide semi-paste paint, 11⁄2 volumes standard thinning mixture.

(c) Black finishing coat-One volume black semi-paste paint, 11⁄2 volumes standard thinning mixture.

General Specifications for Standard

Thinning Mixture.

The oil, drier and mineral spirits must conform to the standards adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials of the United States Bureau of Standards.

Specifications for reinforced red lead semi-paste paint are 82 per cent., by weight, of pigment, 18 per cent., by weight, of raw linseed oil. The pigment to consist of not less than 65 per cent., by weight, of red lead, the balance of not over 35 per cent., by weight, of silicious matter, such as alumina silicate (clay), magnesium silicate (asbestine), silica or silex, or any mixture of these. Weight per gallon to be not less than 22 pounds.

Specifications for dark, red oxide, semipaste paint are 70 per cent., by weight, of pigment, 30 per cent., by weight, of raw linseed oil. The pigment to consist of not less than 30 per cent. ferric oxide, balance to be silica or silex or silicious earth pigments. To weigh not less than 15 pounds per gallon.

Specifications for black, semi-paste paint are 50 per cent., by weight, of pigment and 50 per cent., by weight, of raw linseed oil. The pigment to consist of not less than 20 per cent. of lamp black, not less than 5 per cent. pure red lead, the balance to be shale black, alumina silicate, magnesium silicate or a mixture of these. The lampblack must not contain more than 2 per cent. of ash and be of proper depth to produce the standard

color. Weight per gallon to be not less than 10 pounds.

Specifications for white stencil paste paint are 90 per cent. pigment, 10 per cent. raw linseed oil. The pigment to be equal parts, by weight, of basic carbonate white lead and basic sulphate white lead and the paste must not weigh less than 35 pounds per gallon.

Specifications for stencil black paste paint are 80 per cent., by weight, of pigment and 20 per cent., by weight, of raw linseed oil. The pigment to consist of 20 per cent. carbon black, by weight, the product of natural gas, the remainder to be shale black, alumina silicate, magnesium silicate or a mixture of these. The paste shall not weigh less than 12 pounds per gallon.

Specifications for liquid surfacer are 60 per cent., by weight, of pigment and 40 per cent. of rubbing varnish that will make the surfacer dry in 10 hours, so that it may be rubbed with rubbing stone and water. The pigment to consist of 70 per cent., by weight, of Keystone filler and 30 per cent. basic carbonate white lead.

Specifications for knifing surfacer are 85 per cent., by weight, of pigment and 15 per cent liquid.

The pigment to consist of 70 per cent., by weight, of Keystone filler and 30 per cent. basic carbonate white lead. The liquid to be of such property that the surfacer will dry in 6 hours hard enough to sandpaper freely.

The specifications for black enamel for locomotives and cars are not more than 5 per cent. carbon gas black ground fine in 95 per cent. of spar varnish. Must cover solidly in one coat on bright tin with high luster to a tough, elastic film within 6 hours.

The specifications for gray cab enamel for locomotives are 35 per cent. pigment, by weight, and 65 per cent. liquid. The pigment to consist of 95 per cent. zinc oxide, tinted with not more than 2 per cent. lampblack. The liquid to consist of 60 per cent., by weight, of spar varnish, drier and spirits, 40 per cent. The spirits may be either turpentine or mineral spirits or a mixture of these. The color to be the standard neutral gray and the enamel must dry with a tough elastic film within 6 hours and show high luster.

The specifications for front end paint for locomotives are 25 per cent., by weight, of pigment and 75 per cent., by weight, of liquid. The pigment to consist of 95 per cent. of graphite and 5 per cent. of lampblack, the total per cent. of carbon to be not less than 75 per cent. The liquid to be composed of 10 per cent. raw linseed oil and

90 per cent. mineral spirits, having a flash point of not less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The specifications for drop black in japan for finishing locomotive and cars are as follows:-50 per cent. pure bone black and 50 per cent., by weight, of high grade coach grinding japan, free from rosin and volatile thinner or other than turpentine.

The specifications for semi-paste body color paint for refrigerator cars are as follows:-82 per cent. pigment, by weight, 18 per cent. raw linseed oil. The pigment to

consist of 30 per cent., by weight, of either basic carbonate or basic sulphate white lead, 20 per cent. zinc oxide, the balance to be silicious matter, such as aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, silica or silex, or any mixture of these, with sufficient lampblack to produce the tint of standard sample. To weigh not less than 19 pounds per gallon.

The foregoing comprise the composition of materials required for painting locomotives, steel cars, wooden cars, etc. The remainder of the specifications relate to instructions to paint shops.

When the United States entered the war all of our importations of products from Germany were naturally cut off. Large numbers of these products have been supplied to us for many years and we have become practically dependent upon Germany for many things which we are now forced to produce ourselves.

The

Among these products formerly imported from Germany is Bronze Powder. United States industries use practically 6,000,000 pounds of this product annually, and 35% of our total consumption was formerly imported from Germany. For many years German manufacturers have been practically controlling the Bronze Powder trade in this country, due to the fact that they have been offering prices which were less than those of the American producers. Bronze Powder is manufactured in over 200 grades, differing in color and texture. The finer qualities of powder of course cost much more than the lower grades but it is necessary to produce all grades in order to obtain the finer grades by a process of refining.

Germany had a steady market in Europe for all the higher grades of Bronze Powder that they manufactured. They did not, however, have a European demand for the lower grades and as a result exported large quantities of the lower grades to America. German firms made such a large profit on their finer grades that they could offer to sell the lower grades very cheaply. As a result of this condition our present enemies placed their products on our market at a price, which although it included import duty, was lower than the price at which corresponding grades could be produced by American manufacturers. Under such competitive conditions the development of the

industry on this side of the Atlantic naturally did not advance very rapidly and Germany carried off the cream of the trade for many years.

The declaration of war against the Teuton Nations, however, stopped our imports of Bronze Powder. The American manufacturers, seeing their opportunity to get this trade, instantly increased their manufacturing facilities to supply the demand. The opportunity to supply the trade without foreign competition gave our manufacturers a chance to study the requirements of the users of bronze powder and to change their methods of production so as to give a product that would suit these needs.

The success of their endeavors is attested to by a large user of bronze powder who has for many years bought German made powder in ican brands and American

product

preference to Amerwho now says "The has almost reached the standard of the German powder and we believe that at the end of the war the quality and price of the domestic product will be so attractive as to make any foreign competition impossible." This results in the addition to the list of American made products of another product which for many years Germany has been the chief producer and consequently further develop a centralization of manufacture of products which are used in this country.

Color varnish is at its best with four ounces of color to the pound or the full pint of varnish.

Japan black will surely crack on outside work. The best black, ground in pure linseed oil, is safe.

SAVE THE CONCRETE.

One of the chief causes of cracking in concrete surfaces is the presence of moisture in the surrounding atmosphere. In the warm months this moisture has no detrimental effect but in winter time it collects in the tiny pores of the concrete and freezes. The freezing action with its concurrent expansion exerts a pressure on the surrounding concrete and causes tiny cracks to appear. These cracks in turn fill with moisture and the chipping action continues until Spring comes with its higher temperature. This chipping and cracking of the surface of the concrete detracts both from the appearance and the strength of the concrete.

WHAT IS SILICA OR SILEX?

It is an oxide of the Metal Silicon, consisting of one atom of the latter to two atoms of oxygen.

Silver Bond Silica is Rock Silica, Water Ground and Water Floated-the most valuable "inert" for the reinforcing of Lead and Zinc for the prevention of chalking and checking. The highest authorities on Paint advise the use of Silica as a valuable asset. It is not an adulterant. It has great value.

Silica is just beginning to be appreciated by the painter and decorator. It has been used by the Paint Grinders for many years in the making of highest quality Paints for Exterior, Interior, Walls and Floors.

It is admitted, and no doubt true, that never was so fine, silky and velvety pure Silica offered to the painter and decorator, as the Paint Grinder's demand for so fine a grade was always larger than the supply. Characteristics of Silver Bond Silica Hardness, inertness and colorlessness. It is held by the largest Paint manufacturers superior to other inert pigments, because of its "tooth," meaning the firmness with which it takes hold on a wood surface and adheres to other coats of paint.

Its chief characteristic is extreme chemical stability. It neither reacts nor forms a chemical combination with any other mate

rial used in Paint making. It is not affected by the elements or by any gases found in the atmosphere. It is held by all competent paint authorities to increase the durability of lead and zinc paints.

Pure Chrome Green, Oxides, etc., will stand an addition of 50% Silver Bond Silica without decreasing their efficiency as a body paint.

All paint designed for painting over cement, brick or iron, should contain Silver Bond Silica.

Silver Bond Silica has a heat resisting point of 3000 degrees, and is, therefore, very valuable in Graphite Paints for hot surfaces -35% mixture recommended.

Any paint designed for use on green lumber, or to be applied on material containing moisture, should contain Silica. The peculiar property of Silica in allowing moisture to escape and pass through the pores of the paint film, and its imperviousness to external dampness, has given rise to the theory that Silica imparts a valvular porosity; at any rate it prevents scaling and blistering. Pure Lamp Black, mixed with boiled oil and the paint applied over wood containing moisture, will blister in a few hours on exposure to heat or warm sunshine, but mixed with an equal weight of Silica, the results are entirely different and the paint not only covers well, but stands more friction and wear and is fully as durable. For paint purposes Silica with a "tooth" is preferred. No matter how fine Silica may be ground, it will have a "gritty" feel, a characteristic feature of all pigments possessing "tooth."

It is now generally known throughout the world that for very highest grade of Wood Fillers, either paste or liquid, SILVER BOND SILICA has no competitor.

Silver Bond Silica is so finely ground it is as smooth as the finest White Lead. It has a valuable "tooth" that gives it tenacity and reinforcing qualities when mixed with Lead or Zinc. It mixes readily and does not settle hard.

Silver Bond Silica is 992% pure. Does not contain any trace of Lime or Iron.

Silver Bond Silica is sometimes sold as Silver White and White Primer, as it will answer for all purposes as well as for Wood Fillers.

A good blackboard paint may be made by dissolving one pound of shellac in one gallon of alcohol, then placing four ounces of best lampblack, four ounces of emery flour and four ounces of ultramarine blue in a cheesecloth strainer, pouring the shellac solution slowly over the powders until they have passed through the strainer.

PAINT FOR CLEANLINESS, ECONOMY

AND DECORATION.

The house will rent more readily if painted. The property will be protected against the ravages of the seasons-rains, snows and sleet.

The use of the modern washable wall paints is fast taking the place of wall papers. The beautiful soft tints possible in wall paints and the ease and economy with which the work may be renewed commend them to all who value healthful cleanliness.

The light-reflecting value of the various tints of paint is now understood by the skillful master painter. Many industrial establishments have reduced their lighting costs to a marked extent through the application of the proper types and tints of interior paints. The savings thus effected have annually amounted in some instances to 50 per cent of the former lighting cost. In one city one of the largest office buildings was not properly decorated and the rooms required an average of 2,000 watts for illumination. These rooms now require only 900 watts, as the result of the painting of the interior in tints advised by the master painter.

The walls of the 24 miles of corridors of the State, War and Navy Building were painted in tints which were determined to have the highest light-reflecting value, and the results have proven most satisfactory in lighting.

A man owes it to the members of his family to surround them with bright, tasty colors. It contributes to the happiness and welfare of the home.

PAINT PURITY AND COMPOSITION.

Paint is no longer made by "rule of thumb." The laboratory is now the first stage in the making of paints, the correct formula by which the paint is made coming from the laboratory. The purchaser of paints today is assured of full value for his money. The ingredients composing the contents of the can or package are plainly printed on the label. Very thorough practical tests throughout the country have further determined the value in different localities of different formulas prescribed.

The paint market now has its special paints for metals, cement, woodwork, vessels, floors, walls, roofs, etc. The artists employed to suggest color schemes are equal in technique to the chemist. All of this is at your command. The purity of paint is assured to you.

Pure white lead, pure linseed oil, pure spirits of turpentine, the properly made paint of more than one pigment, an in

finite variety of pure tinting colors-all are to be had of the reputable manufacturer, dealer and master painter.

Beautiful effects are to be attained in finishing the woodwork by the use of the stains now to be had, finished over as may be desired with a varnish of full luster or one of semi-gloss effect. The soft, delicate tints, with "mat" effect for wall paints, are of great variety.

The painting trade will contribute more toward the upkeep of a structure-be it a dwelling-the painting of metals or woodwork, and is in a position to give more expert advice emanating from the laboratory of the chemist and studio of the artist than any other industry.

CLEANING BRICK, STONE AND
CONCRETE.

J. O. H., Oregon, desires to hear of a solution for cleaning brick, stone and con crete surfaces before painting.

Answer: It depends very much upon the nature of the stains as to what is the best means to accomplish this. If the stains are caused by water, dissolve onehalf pound oxalic acid in an ordinary pail. ful of water and rub the surface with sand. stone of fine grain or lump pumice dipped into the solution. This done, take a large sponge and clean off the surface, then rinse with more clear water. If stained with soot and smoke, in addition to the water stains, clean down with soft soap and water before rubbing, using scrubbing brush and sponge. For cleaning marble or other fine stone fronts the best thing is to use pumice or rubbing stone and water, to which a little ammonia has been added. Soft soap is also best for cleaning cement surfaces, but they must be given a thorough rinsing with clear water and allowed to dry before painting. Το remove stains made by smoke on plastered walls use a solution of curd or laundry soap in lukewarm water; scrub spots until they disappear, then sponge with clean water.

Some good grays can be made from these formulae: 1. Raw umber, white lead and a little blue. 2. Ivory, black, a little chrome yellow and white lead. 3. Raw umber and white lead.

A good glue size: Two pounds fish glue soaked four hours in half gallon cold water. Dissolve eight ounces of pulverized alum in half gallon of water. Pour water off glue and dilute glue as desired. Then add alum solution. Melt one ounce of white soap in boiling water and add them to solution, for elasticity.