Randy,
I am certain many manufacturers used leaded steel for cylinders, and I like it a lot. It lasts a long time with a cast piston.

I would be interested in buying a foot of that cast bar if possible (all I can source here in Canada is 1 1/2" diameter) which is a lot of waste for me. I understand if you dont want to though, no problem. If you do, I can grabb it in Toledo.

That cylinder sure looks pretty. I sometimes blue mine by heating to a dull red, quenching in oil and repeat. You get a nice deep black.blue and it really inhibits rust. But it has to be done before any honing, and you have to watch the surface afterwards since the finish is very thin and easy to nick. I never fooled with any of the commercial blues like you, since there isnt any place to get that stuff in my town.

Oh yes, I have a present for you, will bring it to Toledo.... you gonna' like this one my friend!! (its a casting and plans for a diesel of course, and only a few in the world have this one. I bet I have the only wooden patterns (my own) for this particular engine!)

AJC