Farmer and Mechanics

DYEING FOR FARMER AND MECHANICS

Peter Imschwiller’s The Family Dyer is a bilingual handbook for "the families of Farmers and Mechanics."  Published in York, PA in 1826, the mix of German and English reflects the ethnic mix of York and its surroundings. Imschwiller presumably intended this volume to help German speakers communicate in English, because it contains glossaries on materials and colors.  Most dye recipes are in English (37) with a few German translations (4).   

Both the English and German sections contain the author’s introduction and a list of practical tips for dyeing. Imschwiller emphasizes practical dye chemistry and how to correct errors in a dyebath (i.e. potash to speed the fermentation of indigo and wheat bran to slow it). He further describes what the dyer should see, feel and smell in the various steps of the process.  Mordants, compounds that help dyes bind to fibers, are crucial, he explains, "for if you fail in them, you fail in all, for it is impossible ever after, to make a good colour."

— Written by Heather McCune Bruhn (Art History) 

Peter Imschwiller 
The Family Dyer: Containing, A Number of Excellent Dies: Carefully Selected for the Use of Private Families: in the English and German language 
York, PA: Printed for the Publisher, 1826