The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-06-22
AMERICANS ARE PAINT USERS

subject il was figured that our yearly
consumption is over 10O.00O,0O0 gal
Ions OF paints OF all kinds Of which
over one-half is used in the paintings
OF houses.
The reason for this great consump-
ton is twofold: a large proportion
of our buildings, especially in small
towns and rural districts, are con-
structed OF wood, and we, as people, 4
are given to neatness and cleanliness. 4
For. take it all in all, there is moth 7
ing so cltanly or so sanitary as paint Z
Travel where we will throughout
the country. everywhere we find the
neat, cheerful painted dwelling, pro
claiming at once the prosperity and
the self-respect Of our population.
Fifty years ago this was not so:
painted dwellings. while common In
the larger cities and towns, were TIC
exception in the rural districts; be-
cause, on the one hand, large pro
portion of those buildings were tenn
porary makeshifts. and, on the other
hand, because paint was then lux
ury, expensive and difficult TO obtain
in the out-of-the-way places, and re-
quiring special knowledge and much
preparation to fit 1t for use.
The introduction OF ready mixed or
prepared paints. about 1860, changed
the entire aspect Of affairs. AS the
Jack-of-all-trades told the Walking
Delegate in one of Octave Thanet's
stories. Anyone can slather paint
The insurmountabe difficulty with
our predecessors was to get the paint
ready for "slathering." That the
country was ready for paint in con-
yenient, popular form is shown by
the immediate success Of the indus
try ana its phenomenal growth in
80 years from nothing 10 Co,e0O.OOO
eallons-the estimated output for
1900
Some pretty severe things have
been written about and said against
this class of paints, especially by
:, painters and manufacturers OF GER
tain kinds of paste paints. Doubtless
in many instances these structures
have been justified and some fearful
+, ~ and wonderfully constructed mix
/. lures have in the past been worked
of on the guileless consumer in the
r shape of prepared paint. But such
products have had their short day
and quickly disappeared, and the too
enterprising manufacturers that pro
duced them have come TO grief II
y the bankruptcy courts or have
-e learned by costly experience tha
70 honesty is the best policy and have
~ reformed their ways.
The chief exceptions TO this rul'
a. are some mail order houses who sci
direct to the country trade, at yer.
Is low price-frequently below Ii
wholesale price Of linseed Oil Tn
- buyer Of such goods, like the buye
OF a gold brick. has only himself I
blame if he finds his purchase WORT
"A less. With gold selling at any ban
~ or mint at a fixed price, owners
10 gold do not sell ii at discount; an
as. with linseed oil quoted everywhei
,s at so to 20 cents a gallon, manufa
turers do not sell pure linseed Q
"a paint at 80 OF 40 cents n gallon.
% The composition OF prepared pain
Ia differs because paint experts ha'
Ive not yet agreed as to the best pi
4, ments and because the daily resul
roo of tests on large scale are constaI
ly improving the formulas OF man
=, facturers; but all have come 10 q
-. conclusion that the essentials OF go
y, paint are pure linseed oil. fine grin
GO ing and thorough incorporation. al
:, in these particulars all the produo
tof reputable manufacturers corr
or. spond: all first-class prepared pain
&C., are thoroughly mixed and ground a.
ras the liquid base is almost exclusive
pure linseed oil, the necessary vo
n tile "thinners" and Japan dryers.
ant The painters opposition to su
10 products is based largely on self
,lv terest. lie wants to mix the pa
himself and TO be paid for doing
-, and to a certain class Of painters
,ah Is no recommendation for a paint
lies say that 1t will last five or ten yea
%. The longer a paint lasts the Ions
srs he will have to wait for the job
oct. repainting. The latter considerati
ted has no weight with the consum
ght and the former is 4 false idea
g. economy. Hand lacor can newer
mes as cheap or as efficient as mach
I. work. and every time the pain
.es- mixes paina. did he but know II,
his? is losing money, because he can
of better paint than he can mix
wit. less than il costs him TO mix It.
Les. Prepared paints have won, not
on their actual merits, but on Il
we convenience and economy. They
ter's comparatively cheap and they are
THAT comparably handy. But when al
$ CT said, the experienced painter Is
ext. proper person TO apply even a re
tory mixed paint. He knows better {
lden anyone else the when" and hi
esus and the difference between paint
ath? and "slathering" is much gre'
once than II appears to a novice. Ev
ath? one 10 his trade, and after all pa
With ing is the painters trade and not
sin. householder