This section is from the book "Cassell's Cyclopaedia Of Mechanics", by Paul N. Hasluck. Also available from Amazon: Cassell's Cyclopaedia Of Mechanics.
To obtain the yellow or amber tone seen on chairs and stools used in schools and clubs, dark-coloured shellac is generally used if the articles are finished by French polish or spirit varnish. A more prominent colour may be gained by rubbing over with linseed oil and yellow ochre. For deal goods, size with patent size strongly tinted with yellow ochre or lemon chrome. For best-class goods the varnish may be tinted with gamboge or madder.
 
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