"John Halpenny" wrote in message ups.com...
On Aug 20, 10:05 pm, (Drew Dalgleish)
wrote:

I'm going to guess as a packing. The only other use of white lead that
I've heard of is for filling the weave on the canvas of a canoe before
painting.

Many years ago I used white lead in the restoration of the roof of a
wooden railway car. We used the traditional method of stretching
canvas over the wooden roof, soaking it with a paste of white lead and
linseed oil,and nailing it before it shrank.With occasional painting,
it lasted outdoors for over 20 years.

John Halpenny



And for heaven's sake, please make sure no one eats it! ;-)