This process is a real dyeing process, as well as a renovating process,
both, however, to a limited extent, inasmuch as it can be applied
only to white feathers or to such as are dyed with light and medium
shades of certain colors which are to be freshened up; but it does not
answer for dark colors. It is, however, extremely simple and easy to
execute; besides, almost instantaneous, and therefore of great utility
where rapid work is required, because it leaves the feathers perfectly
in shape, like the benzene washing process, and does not affect the
curling of the feather, if there is such. Old feathers which were
already dyed cream, rose, salmon, light blue, light gray, light green,
sea green, golden yellow, heliotrope or beige, can be redyed in the
same colors, but must previously be washed with benzene; new white
feathers do not require such washing.
For this method of dyeing, aniline dyestuffs soluble in alcohol are
used, viz.: for
Cream, Curcumine or Aniline Orange,
Rose, Eosine or Ponceau,
Salmon, Curcumine and Eosine,
Light Blue, Water Blue and Methylene Blue,
Gray, Nigrosine,
Sea-green, Malachite Green,
Golden Yellow, Orange and Fast Brown,
Heliotrope, Methyl violet 6 B.,
Beige, Methylene Blue, Curcumine and Fast Brown,
mixed according to tone and shade.
Operate as follows: Fill a white basin with a sufficient quantity
of alcohol to completely wet the feathers in it; add, according to
shade, a smaller or greater quantity of the clear alcoholic solution
of the required dyestuff, or mixture of dyestuffs, pass the feathers
singly, without previously wetting them, three or four times through
the alcohol bath; then press them out between clean muslin, put a few
handfuls of sifted potato starch upon a clean sheet of paper, and rub
the feathers with it until thoroughly dry; finally, shake out the
starch.