I am now going through a German book from 1931 about the silvering of beads.....
Anyway, Bethany and I are swapping info.
For those who like to know: it most likely is indeed silver ammonium nitrate. They stopped using mercury (not so healthy) and started using this new stuff in the mid 1800's. Still not so healthy, because they sucked it up with their mouth. Started using mechanical ways of sucking, still being used today. For the bugle beads, the silver solution would get sucked in when it is still in long pieces, so before they are cut into smaller pieces.
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