Been Reading about old Dye recipes

[hillbilly tim]

Howdy Y'all, I was killing some time tonight without shootin at it, Haha. So, i was looking at an old text on Google that was suppose to be a compendium for leatherworkers around 1900. In 1 chapter it discussed making yellow dyes. One recipe it said mix 5 oz of saffron and a pint of methylated spirits. Uh...Um... anyone priced saffron these days? I did a quick search on the web and found out to make this simple dye today would cost over $500. Yikes but, it would still be better than those recipes using real urine, yuk!!

I'm sure everyone has seen this book scan by now but its free and can be found on google http://ia600703.us.archive.org/3/items/CobblersLibraryIi.Boots.Shoes.Guild.Craft.Making.Repairing.Apprentice/14.LeatherWorkersManual.BeCompPracRecWorkForm.etc.StandageHC.Lond.ScGreenw.1900..pdf here.

Y'all come over and set a spell, Bro Tim

[Mogorilla]

It was equivalently priced, if not proportionally higher at that time.  It has made fortunes for a long time (Polo family of Italy was a saffron trader).   I can't imagine it ever being cost effective, unless they charged a whole lot for it.

[Grenadier]

Saffron has been used for dyestuff to thousands of years, but it has always been cost prohibitive. Another dye used to dye leather since ancient times is cinnabar, it can give leather a beautiful red shade from coral to deep red. However, it is high in mercury content and not exactly safe. I have a friend who reproduced a 3rd century Roman belt and insisted on using cinnabar, it is beautiful.

[hillbilly tim]

I would have liked to of seen the roman belt. I really like flashy red things!

Bro Tim
The Pistol Packin Preacher

[FriscoCounty]

Spanish saffron can be had for $35 - $50 for a one ounce box.  An ounce is a lot of saffron.  Check out any local middle-eastern or Indian grocery stores that might be in your area.  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know in most of the USA there isn't one every 10 blocks like there is out here in California. 

An alternative to using saffron is tumeric.  It is not exactly the same rich color, but it is close. 

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I tried to load the book and was really looking forward to reading it, but all that loads is the Google Page .... and I have tried it on several different  days ....

Has anyone else had this problem?

TTFN,

[Mogorilla]

Another alternative, but it may need a mordant is Achiote (annatto).   It can be found in most Bodegas or Hispanic markets.  It gives a red/yellow hue.    I have mixed it with black walnut hulls in an attempt to soften the brown, but did not have enough achiote.

[Grenadier]

I would have liked to of seen the roman belt. I really like flashy red things!

Bro Tim
The Pistol Packin Preacher

Message sent with link.

[FriscoCounty]

Hi,

I tried to load the book and was really looking forward to reading it, but all that loads is the Google Page .... and I have tried it on several different  days ....

Has anyone else had this problem?

TTFN,

Try 'right clicking' the link and doing a 'save link as'/'save target as' and save it to your hard disk.  Then you can open it with Adobe Reader.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I will check it out ...

TTFN,