"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 11:55:24 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

I don't remember him using red lead in any form though,

Plumbers used plenty of red lead. Cast iron fittings would be primed
with a lead paint. Any joints between cast iron pipe should be made
(caulked) with hemp string and jointers putty with red lead worked
into it. You can skip the red lead for earthenware, but cast iron
needs it to stop rusting and bursting the collar.

Ah yes, it's coming back now ... I think ...

The guys in the book are painters though. Their hunkiness isn't
mentioned (although all the capitalists are portly, red-faced and
given to watering the worker's beer)

Ah. A real work of fiction then - still don't remember it!

Mary
--
Smert' spamionam