Plan No. 501. Simple Method of Silver Plating
A Dallas, Texas, man made a very good living by coating small metal articles with silver, without the use of a battery, as follows:
First, he dipped the article to be silver-plated in a solution of common salt, then rubbed it with a mixture composed of one part of precipitated chloride of silver, two parts potassa alum, eight parts common salt, and eight parts cream of tartar. The article was then washed and dried with a soft rag, when it had all the appearance of silver.
By calling at houses and explaining what this would do, as well as by a few ads. in the local newspapers, he was soon getting all the work he could do, and as people were willing to pay good prices for having their ordinary ware look like silver, he made good wages at this business.