I would appreciate any help in translating the following into everyday English. My interest was originally focused around the use of “Augenwischerei” which as near as I can tell refers to ‘window dressing’. Which in English usually means something cosmetic referring to appearance, versus something of actual substance.

"Eisenhauer-Damaststahl: diese Aufschrift auf Klingen ist häufig zu finden. Bei diesen Klingen wurde die Nagelprobe gemacht. Ein weicher Eisennagel wurde in einen Eichenbalken geschlagen und dann mit der Probeklinge abgehauen. Die Klinge durfte danach keine Scharte aufweisen. Die Eisenhauer-Klingen hatten einen balligen Anschliff. In Solingen wurde diese Klingenaufschrift als reine Augenwischerei angesehen.

Gußstahl: Tiegelgußstahl; moderne Stähle; im 19. Jhdt. erhielten viele Stahlprodukte diese Aufschrift. Man wollte sich bewußt von den alten Stählen wie Puddelstahl, Raffinierstahl, abgrenzen.”

Many Thanks for any help that can be provided, FP

Eisenhauer Damaststahl: this inscription are often found on blades
With this kind of blade's a "nail-test"were made.
A soft iron nail was struck into an oak bar and than knocked off with the sample blade.(or model-blade) The blade was allowed to exhibit thereafter no notch in it.

The (Eisenhauer-Klingen) blade's had a spherical grinded-edge.

Gußstahl, Tiegelgußstahl are modern steel's.

Many steel-product's received this label during the 19th Century.They wanted to separated it from the older-steel types,like......

Fred,hope this helps a little.
You are right,with your opinion about Augenwischerei.

Gerd

Thank You Gerd!!!

It does help. The test is similar to that for contemporary hand held metal cutting tools which are routinely tested (without damage) before being sold.

Gußstahl markings are seen on some German government property blades from the 19th century. Which makes a lot of sense from the perspective of the changing technologies of steel production. With the newer techniques eliminating or at least minimizing some of the problems with Puddelstahl, and especially Raffinierstahl which had plagued the iron/steel making industry. (It was not just the Germans - many others had the same or comparable problems.)

The insight on “Augenwischerei” was also very helpful to me. Having limited knowledge of the German language I can sometimes figure out the intent of what is written. Having even more problems trying to determine the intent especially when idioms (Idiome) are used.

Thanks Again, FP