Use of Gasoline as a Solvent in Shops

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Bill told me that in the old days, before good solvents were available, railroad shops used gasoline as the solvent for soaking and cleaning air brake parts.  Holey Moley !   Around a shop???
 
 Anyone else heard this story?

Yes, what he said is true. A few years ago a friend loaned me A 1903 Mechanical Engineers Hand Book.
 A Solvent For Hard Grease, Wax and Lard Oil. 
1/2 Coal Oil / Lamp Oil and  !/2 Gasoline or Benzene.

The recipe said the solvent was good  for  cleaning other  items of which I do not remember, but I have made it and used as penetrating Oil, which was one of the items the recipe said it was good for.                           H. B. Lyon