Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: SAWMA on February 16, 2011, 11:59:09 AM
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Was looking over an account of goods brought in Charlestown and Augusta in 1758-1760. In the list was Red Lead.
I assume this lead was for shooting?, Or are they talking something else?
35 ½ lb red lead at 2/6 4:07/06
a light deerskin to put the red lead in :07/06
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I don"t know if that red lead was uused for paint base back then ? But right up into the 1940s both red and white lead was used for paint. Used to come in 50 lb . blocks and it was shaved into turpitentine and linseed oil . The red was used mostly for barns sheds and such .
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That makes more sense, later today i came across this.
"A Pound Vermilion 16 Pounds red Lead, mixed."
Maybe used for the Indian trade?
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That's an odd ratio of vermilion to red lead, if one was trading to the Indians, might as well save the vermilion. Red lead is corrosion resistant with a boiled linseed oil base, so the vermilion was probably a color modifier, and it sounds like a pigment for paint. On wood it would help to shield the wood from water. On iron or tin it does a good job preventing rust.
LD