Fine Blacking for Shoes--Godey's Lady's Book, Philadelphia May, 1854

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Came across the following excerpt from the Receipt Section: Godey's Lady's Book, Philadelphia May, 1854

Fine Blacking for Shoes.--Take four ounces of ivory black, three ounces of the coarsest sugar, a tablespoon of sweet oil, and a pint of small beer; mix them gradually cold.

Disclaimer: It's important to note...this is just a blacking receipt...but will not preserve/condition like modern Kiwi/Carnuba Wax...this receipt will only blacken.

Enjoy,

Paul B.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Fine Blacking for Shoes--Godey's Lady's Book, Philadelphia May, 1854

I have experimented with some old shoe/leather blacking recipes from the 19th century. Like other blackings on a soap base the one mentioned is really only for giving leather a shine. In this case grain leather so not suitable for any rough out footwear. The sugar, syrup or molasses in those recipes gives the shine but be very carefull to use it very thinly only! Otherwise your shoes will be sticky like ..whatever.
If you want a blacking paste suitable to "feed" the leather a little more this recipe is pretty good taken from and 1893 shoemaker book but surely already around 50 years earlier.
1lb rosin, 1lb beeswax mixed in 1 lb olive oil( tree oil) and 1lb cod oil. Heat till all is dissolved then add as much lampblack as necessary and voilá, you have a real good black paste blacking that seals the fibres on flesh leather and gives the leather the oil it needs. Only use this on "fresh " leather, not antique!