Hi,
Over the years I've picked up lots of tools that had remnants of a Japanned finish. I'm not sure I've ever seen a good example of an original Japanned finish tool. So, my wife came home with a 100+ year old music teaching kit with various pieces and parts, all of which look like they may have little to no usage on them. These c-clamps were in the kit, likely for holding down a table top music staff. There is no uncovered spot, including the full length of the screws. So my question is, are these an example of an original Japanned finish?
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1793/43157333464_d9ce401d62.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28KEBEh)IMG_4823 (https://flic.kr/p/28KEBEh) by William Clark (https://www.flickr.com/photos/154565645@N06/), on Flickr
Thanks!
BuddyC
Seems to me there would be no reason to Japan the threads. That looks like a lacquer finish added by a user.
Those clamps could have been originally for use in quilting.
Japanning gets baked in an oven. Hard to imagine the threads would still want to turn if those clamps had been japanned.
Looks like some one prettied them up with a spray can.
I have some with japanning still on them.
I have no knowledge of Japaning but the clamps look cleared to me at first glance.
I also have several of these little guys and a few of them have traces of japanning on the body but not on the threads.
OK then, maybe I still haven't seen original finish Japanned tools.
Thanks!
Take a look at an older stanley plane and you will be looking at a jappaned finish
I used to find a lot of those, and I think most had the black finish all over.