Electrotyping Handwriting.
To produce electrotypes or stereotypes of letters, signatures, ordinary written matter, drawings or sketches, coat a smooth surface of glass or metal with a smooth, thin layer of gelatine, and let it dry. Then write or draw upon it with an ink containing chrome alum, allow it to dry exposed to light, and immerse the plate in water. Those parts of the surface which have not been written upon will swell up and form a relief plate, while those parts which have been written upon with the chrome ink have become insoluble in water, after exposure to light. The relief may be transferred to plaster of Paris, and from this may be made a plate in type metal.
Black Paint for Blackboards.
Take shellac varnish, one-half gallon; lampblack, five ounces; powdered iron ore or emery in fine powder, three ounces. If too thick, thin down with alcohol. Give the wood three coats of the composition, allowing each to dry before putting on the next. The first coat may be of shellac and lampblack alone.
To Clean Steel Pens.
Potato is used to clean steel pens, and generally act as a pen-wiper. It removes all ink crust, and gives a peculiarly smooth flow to the ink. Pass new pens two or three times through a gas flame, and then the ink will flow freely.
Stationers’ Windows.
It is important that strangers should get a good impression with a tasty window, or a polite reception when entering the store. Remember that first impressions go a great way, and when once formed, good or bad, are very hard to get rid of. Make it a special point to clean the window once a week, put in different stock every time, and do not be afraid to display goods because the dust will spoil them. If the article in question is delicate and easily ruined, leave it in the window only a few days; display samples of the latest goods, and, if necessary, buy some article that is showy, and which you think will attract people, especially for the window, even though the amount expended is “sunk.” It will certainly pay in the end. If your stock of a certain article or class of goods is large, devote the whole window to it for a week.
It is impossible to give rules for the arrangement, which, of course, depends on the goods to be shown and the taste of the person dressing the window. Stamped papers and visiting cards can be shown effectively in the following manner:—Have a number of wooden blocks made the size of a quarter of a ream of paper and a package of visiting cards; wrap these neatly with a sample sheet of paper or cards on the outside, tied with ribbon. Another way to show printed visiting cards is to make a small pyramid of them by taking three small square boxes of different sizes, which, when placed one on top of the other, will form a small pyramid. Cover these entirely with samples of visiting cards, and place in the center of the window.