Black Leaded One Shot Paint

[Robare M. Novou]

A few years back, I remember some of the members of this forum telling the rest of us to stock up on Leaded One Shot Paint. At the time I did not consider it urgent, as I thought I could always get some...somewhere.

Well, here it is, years later, and I finally need some of that precious Leaded One Shot Black.

I've been looking for about a month now...Calls to Sign Supply dealers, Art Stores, Hobby shops, Hardware Stores,etc. I even looked around on ebay...still nuthin'. Seems they sold it all to those folks in China, Lead Painted Toys are Big in China, Ya Know!

Anyway, I get this urge to check the paint room shelves at work....I checked the quart racks....nothing but a half quart of Ivory One Shot w/lead. Not what I needed, but I will commit that to memory for possible future use.

After about 10 minutes of perusing the dusty quarts, I gave up and decided to wash my hands of the grime I came across from the cans instead.

I washed off the grime...and turned around to look for a clean towel....when there it was...the HOLY GRAIL!

On the gallon rack, just below eye level....A GALLON of BLACK ONE SHOT...WITH LEAD!!!! A GALLON!!!
A One Shot Blue Label, with the words "Contains Lead" clearly visible.

With hands still wet, I reached for it, lifted it by it thin metal wire handle, and blew the accumulated 1/2" layer of moon dust off its lid.

Its about 3/4's full, and stll liquid. ( I think I'll take it to letterhead meets and let people touch it.)

After my eyes stopped glazing over...I notice on the gallon rack, another gallon of Leaded Chromatic Black. Oh yes! There is a God!!

It seems, that back in the day, before vinyl, they used paint for signs and sign structures, so when the shop made the transition to the computer and vinyl graphics...they left the paint on the racks to maybe someday be used again for whatever reason.

So heres how you might find some of that Leaded One Shot, call some electric sign shops in your area and see what they have hiding on the shelves...ya never know!

Now....what to do with those gallons of Leaded Black.....????

RMN....aka, Mr. Resourceful

[DAVE SMITH]

Hi Robare.
A few years back John T Keep and sons ltd paint manufacturers of London who were the leading paint company for signwriters over here closed its doors. They held an appointment to her majesty the Queen for quality, I think the company either closed its doors or were part of a insolvensy problem, along with the closer came a huge stock of glass lettering enamels and signwriting enamels ,brushes graining tools you name it . This was a leading company for over 100 years established in 1896 they sold traditional paints,intenso ready bound, flamboyant enamels all of which contained the lead. I managed to buy some of the stock from the guys clearing the place ,about 80 tins of glass lettering enamels in various colours. What a difference in the quality of this paint compared to the paints we get today for our trade.
I have all the tins upside down and use them often. On the top of the writing enamel lids it says ( This enamel has been formulated to adhere to most factory finishes, but we recommend that surfaces be lightly abraded and thoroughly degreased before writing) I was told the owners did not want there recipes to be handed down or re-made by another company. There out there somewhere or Gone forever!
Ashley Bishop would probably know more as he put me in contact with the men involved clearing the store.
See you
Dave