Japlac

[GregDeK]

Back when I was a kid, the 5 & 10 stores sold a black enamel we used to call Japlac. I always assumed it was Japan black - like that used on old steel hardware and tools early in the century. Slapped on metal, it dried fast and left a shiny dark finish. I also assumed it was what Henry used on the Ts. Try and find the darn stuff today in this country is like looking for the proverbial needle. Google it and I get a bunch of ads from Indiamart. (seems a lot of my searches hit on Indiamart) Does anyone know of a source in this country that’s not targeted to artists and priced in $100s per gram(s)? Or did the Alphabet agencies ban this too…?

[Erik Johnson]

Japlac appears to be a British trade name for a particular brand/line of lacquer/paint and is still available today.

Jap-a-lac was a line of Glidden paint in the U.S.

Ford used asphaltum/gilsonite paint.

I believe gilsonite paint was used on a lot of mass-produced goods in the U.S. for many decades. For example, Singer sewing machine heads, Victor Victrola tone-arm brackets, etc.

Here is a brand of gilsonite paint. I believe it's basically the same stuff that you see on cast iron waste stacks, drainline connections, and wyes (like the ones in the basement in of my house).

https://www.jcwhitlam.com/Product/2/170/89#

Not an expert - just my two cents.

[Kaiser]

Who'd have known Gilsonite was still on the market !
You learn something new every day..