Copper roofs can be aged by chemically patining them, you can even now buy
pre-patined copper.  The two chemicals which develop the typical greens of
copper corrosion are cupric nitrate and copper sulfate, the first is more
bluish green and the second more whitish green.  Both chemicals are
relatively easy to apply, adequately reactive even if used cold, and
relatively safe.  Neither tastes as good as mayonnaise.
    Horse hair was commonly used plaster and I recently came across a
reference to the potential continued existence of anthrax bacteria on the
horse hair in historic plaster.  There's a thought for all you dust eaters
out there!
-----Original Message-----
From: Met History <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, August 06, 1999 1:00 PM
Subject: Hey, mac, you want mayunase wit dat?


>Inspected a full bore 1905 townhouse renovation with an architect who is
out
>to lunch, historically speaking - he thinks its a restoration.  Many $$$.
>
>For the new copper roof, he says his contractor is going to age the new
>copper mansard by coating it with mayonnaise to patinate the copper.  Isn't
>there an easier way to do that (dare I say it: cat barf?) - or am I out to
>lunch, too.
>
>Oh, and also I noticed, from the back, some original plaster squished
through
>the wooden lath (one of the few walls in the house that had survived) with
>the customary "horsehair" binder.  Was it really horsehair?  Was horsehair
>better than some other animal hair?   (Oh no, cats again!!) How did they
>glean the horsehair?
>
>Sign me,
>Have it Your Whey