" Ref Collins tempering blades in lead - lead melts at 327.46 degrees Celsius - far too high a temperature for tempering steel (150 to 260 degrees) - it stays in a molten state long enough for steel to reach red heat, so could be used for heating steel prior to hardening (it boils at 1749 degrees). "
There you go then, eh ?
I got my information from an Industry trade magazine from the late 40's . There was a picture intensive article about the Collins company .
One photo showed a worker dipping the blades into some molten liquid .
The caption mentioned they were tempered in lead .
Carter Rila may now possess this issue; or it is in my library ..somewhere .
Right now the house is all ahoo with remodeling; should I stumble across the magazine ,(if still in my library) I will be more than glad to reference the publication .
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