Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-10-24
MEETING WAS
BIG SUCCESS
Large Number of Delegates
From MOntcalm County
Were Here.
X. Gel ALL CONVENTION
Addresses and Demonstrations Were
Given to Show Value of Alma
Made Paint

A meeting of dealers and prospect
i've paint users from Montcalm coun-
ty was held at the X-Cel-All plant
Saturday, and one Of the most en-
thuiastic meetings that the COM
pany has had, was held. l.. l.. Leslie.
county manager, was one of those
present. About seventy-five men
from Montcalm were present at the
meeting, and in addition there were
few men present from Saginaw
county, these being agents and deal
ers of the company in that county.
The men from Montcalm county,
included well known hardware men
from every section Of the county as
well as prominent farmers and
others. They arrived in Alma short
ly before noon, most of them coming
by automobile. The men were met at
the college hill by a delegation from
the plant and escorted to the factory
in the southeastern part of the city.
When the plant was reached the
visitors were taken entirely through
various steps in the manufacture of
the product This was followed by
TO show the superior
ity of the Alma made paint over
other brands. Some of the tests TO
which the paint was subjected, were
out of the ordinary and are well
worth mentioning. One of these was
to spread the paint on boards. and
then pour water over them, to show
that the paint would not run, as do
many brands under similar con-
ditions. Another test was to put the
paint brush in water, and then con
tinue to paint, and get results, in
dicating that with this paint one need
not stop for wet weather A third
test was what was called the fire test
by the company officials. This con
sisted of painting paper and wood
and endeavorating TO burn il, show
ing that this brand Of paint acts as
a fire check. The visitors were great
ly impressed by the tests and some of
them attempted the tests by them
selves before they were convinced
that the paint would make good the
claims for it. Finally every member
of the large party was satisfied that
the paint would do just what was
claimed for it in these respects.
When the tests were finally fin
ished the meeting was adjourned 10
the Republic cafeteria. where a fine
dinner was served to the guests. This
was followed by addresses by NJ. A.
Marlborough, various members of the
visiting delegation and Mr.. Kitch,
salesmanager.
The story of the X-Cel-All paint
was unfolded to the visitors, who
were greatly impressed by the way
that it was discovered and worked up.
1t was a story of thirty years
struggle by painter, who, after
years Of endeavor, finally interested
others in his product and it COM
menced TO be manufactured on a COM
mercial scale at Marion. Very soon
the plant there was found to be too
small for the needs of the rapidly
growing concern, and in casting
about for a location, the advantages
that Alma offered brought it to this
city, where it now has a splendid
plant, which however, is even now
too small for the needs of the COM
pany and must soon give way to a
larger and more imposing structure,
in which paint can be manufactured
in enormous quantities.
The favor with which the X-Cel-All
product is meeting throughout this
section Of the county is best illus
trated by the demand which is being
felt for the paint in Saginaw. It
was not until the Saginaw fair was
held this year that the product was
introduced into that county, but since
that time il has made a name for it's
self there and is now being used by
the largest institutions in that coun-
ty. Wicks Brothers have Just paint
ed the interior Of their large struct-
ures with inside white The vinegar
company there. which has not been
able to get a paint that would stand
in its acid room, has found that the
Alma product answers the demands,
and has now purchased this paint
for all Of its buildings The white
paint used in the acid room of that
company is the only paint apple /
there that has stayed white, it is
claimed. The Jackott Co. Of that city
has ordered paint for $4,000 square
yards, the X. VI. c. a. has used
it to waterproof its tank. the
Merrinthall block has been painted
with it, and the beautiful Ayers
home in that city, which has
given Saginaw painters great trouble,
because Of saltpeter, has been painted
with il and the paint has not been
attacked and ruined as were other
paints.
Mr.. +. Moffett, county manager
from Saginaw told the Record re-
porter that it was gaining a great
favor among the painters and con-
trsctors in that county.
Mr. Taylor, Illinois agent for the
company, was also at the meeting
Saturday lie told Of one interesting