Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Collectible of the Month - Auto Paint Memorabilia

The Collectible of the Month for August is auto paint memorabilia. I've been an auto body technician for 39 years, so this stuff is in my blood - probably literally. I love the old cans that have instructions about washing your car with benzine, sanding only if needed and applying one coat with a good brush.

The cans above are from the Steelcote Company of St. Louis, Missouri. They are still in business today, making industrial coatings.

I'll add more pictures as the month goes on. Please post photos of items you may have or have seen like cans, signs or brochures.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

[This message has been edited by Oldgas (edited 08-12-2007).]

Here are three more. I like the cans with pictures of old cars. Early auto paint companies often marketed to the car owner for owner applied paint jobs. I believe the car graphics helped to sell the product. Some brands that were marketed to body shops had plain labels with little or no graphics.



The Lus-Tro-Lac has pictures of a car, boat and furniture, demonstrating a multi-purpose product. Nu-Back was a St. Louis company. The Kote A Kar brand was made by Martin Senour.

Bought this porcelain flange sign earlier this year. Love the auto related stuff!

Here are a few that I have

Wow, that Egyptian flange sign is great. I wish I had one like that in my collection.

Thanks for sharing the cans, Frank. And one of your cans reminded me that related items are welcome too. The top dressing can is not technically a paint, but it was used like a paint to seal and finish those fabric roof areas on 1930s and older cars.

Jim , I have about 30 tins of cycle paint, at least 6 different types. Also some CIL paint thinner or reducer early soldered tins, and a 20s Imperial Oil furniture and Auto polish. I will try to get POGO or someone to take pics and post them on here.

Any got any JAPALAC tins???

Looking forward to your pictures, Dodo. I don't have any Japalac items only because I couldn't make their connection with automotive applications. Could be though.

Here are some cans from Effecto, a brand made by Pratt and Lambert. A red enamel, a clear topcoat, a brush on upholstery coating and a top dressing. I like the snappy name and the detailed car graphics.



[This message has been edited by Oldgas (edited 08-20-2007).]

Here are a couple of cans from Western Auto, Wizard Enamel & Primer. One with a car picture from the 1950s and one from the 40s. Western Auto also marketed auto paints under the Wescote brand with similar car graphics.

Some of my favorites are the "powder puff" paints. They were marketed to be applied using a pad similar to a woman's makeup application pad.

Here are Auto-Wipe from Australia, Wype from St. Louis and Wyro Auto-Lac from Cleveland.

Here are more powder puff auto paints.
A Sears Roebuck kit with everything you need for a wipe on paint job.



The next ones are Namel-it and Syn-Tex. The Namel-it can says on the back, "Recommended only for cheap used cars." Now that's a solid endorsement if I ever heard one!

Here is a sign for an auto paint, Plicote. Who needs a paint spray gun?



(Click on the thumbnail for a larger image)

Here is a display with the cans in it I found at a antique mall by me. The cans are Nu-Enamel & the rack still had the graphics on it.





Here is a Du-Pont sign also.

Hey Jim,
I've had this since April Dixie Gas.I thought you would be at Iowa. Vendor at Chip's let me take it with me. Email me if you are interested in it.

Pat

Shot with E775 at 2007-08-18
Not paint but keeps the paint looking good!

Thanks for the pictures, guys!
Brad, the Nu-enamel display is great. Nu-enamel made products specifically labeled as automotive as in the image below. The DuPont sign dates from 1958, the introduction of Lucite acrylic lacquer.
Pat, the DAB box is very cool. Sure, I would like to have it in my collection. Below is an image of a DAB can, another powder-puff paint.
Frank, that LacquerWax embossed sign is a nice one. I've got one like it too. Below are a couple of LacquerWax products, including the can in that sign.