It was (and still is) widely used in printing industries (transfer ink, lithographic ink), in arts (India ink is basically a black pigment suspended in borax so

It was (and still is) widely used in printing industries (transfer ink, lithographic ink), in arts (India ink is basically a black pigment suspended in borax solution of shellac), in paints (addition of shellac to acrylic water-based paint improves the performance), production of music records, in watch making (as a thermoplastic glue), in paper production as a calendering agent ...