Your TMA Officers and Board of Directors
Support the TMA! ~ Traditional Muzzleloaders ~ The TMA is here for YOU!
*** JOIN in on the TMA 2024 POSTAL MATCH *** it's FREE for ALL !

For TMA related products, please check out the new TMA Store !

The Flintlock Paper

*** Folk Firearms Collective Videos ***



Author Topic: Red Lead!  (Read 736 times)

Offline SAWMA

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 275
Red Lead!
« on: February 16, 2011, 11:59:09 AM »
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
SAWMA

Every Animal Knows More Than You Do!
TMA #193
5/16/14

Offline Gordon H.Kemp

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1767
(No subject)
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2011, 12:28:06 PM »
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 .
Gordy
TMA Charter Member #144
Expires 3/14/2013

Offline SAWMA

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 275
(No subject)
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2011, 02:12:13 PM »
That makes more sense, later today i came across this.

"A Pound Vermilion 16 Pounds red Lead, mixed."

Maybe used for the Indian trade?
SAWMA

Every Animal Knows More Than You Do!
TMA #193
5/16/14

Offline Loyalist Dave

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 687
  • TMA Member: 800
  • Location: MD
(No subject)
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2011, 07:16:07 PM »
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
It's not what you think you know; it's what you can prove.