The Miracle Paint of 1876
Before modern synthetic coatings, a Seattle merchant promised a 'Rubber Paint' that would outlast the standard lead and oil of the frontier era.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
W. H. SHOUDY, dealer in Paints, Oils, Varnish, Glass, Putty, etc. I will guarantee the Rubber Paint, all other circumstances being equal, to cover more surface per gallon, two-coat work, than the Atlantic Lead and Linseed Oil, and twenty percent more than the best Old Dutch Lead, and that it will last twice as long as either, when properly applied, with oak. Painting, Kalsomining and Paper-Hanging done on short notice.
“I will guarantee the Rubber Paint, all other circumstances being equal, to cover more surface per gallon... than the Atlantic Lead and Linseed Oil.”
Long before Seattle became a tech hub, it was a frontier town defined by rapid construction and the constant need to protect buildings against the harsh Puget Sound climate. This ad highlights the early obsession with 'miracle' building products, a precursor to the modern industry of home maintenance and sustainable architecture.
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