As metal chains, etc., gilded without the aid of a "battery only take on the thinnest film of gold, they cannot be expected to stand any real wear, as the film of gold is easily rubbed off. The following solution may be used in gilding brass and copper chains. Dissolve 1/2oz. of gold chloride in lqt. of distilled water, add lib. of potassium carbonate dissolved in lqt. of distilled water, and boil the mixture for two hours. Swill the chains in the hot solution for a minute, rinse in hot water, and dry by shaking in sawdust. Silver and other metal chains may be gilded without a battery in an ordinary gold cyanide gilding solution by attaching a strip of zinc to the article. But in this case the gilding solution soon becomes contaminated with zinc.