Historic Paint
From its earliest days the railroad industry had in its roots carriage and wagon building industry. Railroading also borrowed from other areas such as shipbuilding and architecture; all had in common a body of paints and surface protection materials. The evolution of Paint and Color in the railroad industry began in the late 1820’s as an offshoot of the carriage and wagon industry. From the start, railroad equipment was part of the industrial revolution, a period where raw mechanical utility was fused with classical architectural forms and a celebration of form, function, and artistic pride. Early on there was and understanding and active body of theory that combined a utilitarian need for protecting the equipment and structures from the elements as well as an understanding of the power of advertising the services provided. The Narrow Gauge period began in the last decade of high artistic mechanical artistry when artistic form was combined with raw mechanical utility. Manufacturers chose color carefully, frequently borrowing and contributing to common industries. One of the most common questions asked among students of railroad history is simply, “What color was it?" A simple and potentially loaded question! When we look back on a world which is often represented through the lens of a camera, color seems straight forward: Black and White. Emulsion often plays a factor in misconception of period color; light colors depending on the pigment were often recorded via film to appear white. To further complicate matters, the type of negative often resulted in different emulsion processes. In cases when physical research cannot be done, period guidelines thankfully, do exist. In our modern day and age the average home owner might consult with a designer, or simply take suggestions from paint manufacturers. During the Gilded Age paint manufacturers often included suggestions in their catalogs; some offered books for sale with suggested painting guidelines and color samples.
Designers of the period would share advice through periodicals or pamphlets; suggestions for paint recipes could even be reprinted in the local paper. Railroads for example have long shared paint ideas with each other; an example would be the ambiguous "Boxcar Red" which varied from road to road. Prior to the turn of the century roads would develop their own recipes for freight car colors often employing general guidelines shared by other railroads. Most railroads would do this their own way, giving birth to a variety of freight car colors. In the narrow gauge world, car painters might mimic color from neighboring standard gauge roads or they might choose their own colors to contrast sharply.
Structures are also painted colorfully when the owner could afford it, often keeping in touch with the styles of the East Coast or Europe. Among the most basic guidelines for structures are often repeated "rules" for design. These basic rules would last from the 1840s to 1900 which style in building paint changes. Among these rules is a singular chant you will find outlined in the books below: "No" White. Granted, someone who could afford nothing more might use white if they painted a structure at all. For a fine house this would be considered poor taste. Keep in mind most home painters were not able to afford large quantities of pre-mixed paints of the period, leaving them to mix pigments to create paint. Base pigments like White Lead or Iron Oxide would be base pigments for many colors, the addition of Chrome Yellow to White Lead would create a pleasant inexpensive color often used for building exteriors.
Other basic guidelines for structures are similar to period locomotive paint styles, utilizing 2 or 3 color schemes. A common suggestion of the period was simply: Light Body, Dark Trim, and if you could afford it a third color for windows and doors.
The references below will help provide you, the reader, with an understanding of the tastes of each era. We've worked hard to cover most of the period between 1860 and 1920, as time allows this section will continue to grow. Color is a vast topic in itself, so here is where we will begin some exploration. Curators, restorers, artists, and modelers all will find information and hopefully answers in this section.
If this is your first visit to the color section we suggest calibrating your monitor. Color calibration will help ensure color samples are displayed on your monitor properly.
Monitor Calibration
Before continuing we strongly recommend you spend a few moments to monitor is color calibrated. Color Calibration will ensure historic color images appear semi-correctly on your monitor. epaperpress.com offers a quick and simple guide to calibrating your monitor. [1]
Color Tools
Pantone Color Search. Pantone's color search tool, by entering a Pantone number you get a swatch of the representative color. Many documents coming to the site will reference Pantone numbers, we suggest using this tool to display the color if you do not have a Pantone product already.
CYMK and RGB color charts. Quick reference displaying colors and associated CYMK, RGB and Hexadecimal color codes.
Wiki Science, Color Sorting. Search function for color, can provide background on colors. Please note; Being a Wiki related site is subject to contributions from the casual visitor. In many cases search results will return the "modern" version of the color.
The Natural Color System. A free alternative color system to Pantone. The NCS navigator is an excellent browser based tool for color.
Munsell
ICSS-NBC
General Theory and Practices
General Theory books provide us with valuable insight to the historical color wheel as well as guidelines for selecting color to use.
The Painter and Varnisher's Guide; Or, A treatise, both in theory and practice... P.F. Tingry. 1804. The oldest paint reference guide we've located online.
Field's Chromatography Chromotography; Or, A Treatise on Colours And Pigments, And Of Their Powers In Painting. by George Field. 1841. From Google Books.
A Pracitical Treatise Of The Manufacture Of Colors For Painting. By MM. Riffault, Vergnaud, and Toussait. 1874. From Google Books.
General and Useful Instructions on Practical Painting Drawing, Wall Papering, Tinting, Whitewashing, Stamps to Print for Braiding, &c.(?) 1879 (Archive?)
Something about painting and varnishing By John W. Masury. 1881. Primarily covering carriage paint, delves into railroad related subjects as well.
Painting and Painters' Materials. Copyright 1882 - The Railroad Gazette. Includes Color Plates.
The Painter's Encyclopedia. Gardner. 1887. Outlines "American System of Carriage Painting" and many other topics.
The House and Sign Painters' Recipe Book 1890 (Archive) Lists Buttercup specifically (Buttercup- White lead and lemon chrome yellow.) as well as Claret
739 Paint Questions Answered 1904. The Painter's Magazine
The Modern Painter. 1914 - 1915 - Several Issues Contains Official report of the Tenth Annual Convention of the Master House Painters and Decorators Association of Illinois.
Historical Samples
Paint Catalogs
Columbia Wagon Company no. 31. Samples Of Wagon And Coach Paints by name Including "Pullman Car Color". Circa 1900. From [autocolorlibrary.com Auto Color Library]
Historical Reference Books
Architectural
These books cover general structural paint suggestions, theories and practices. The architecture of railroad structures followed the conventions and styles period in which they were built.
1860's Every man his own house painter & paper hanger. Containing plain pracitical directions for house painting and paper hanging. By Thomas Smith. 1866.
The Painter's Manual
The Painter's Manual 1868
How Shall We Paint Our Houses! A popular treatise on the art of house painting John Masury 1868 (Archive)
1870s Every man his own painter! OR Paints--How To Select And Use Them A plain treatise on Homestead, Villa & Cottage Painting, Containing Information Valuable To The Household And Practical Painter. By Harry Carey Baird. 1872. Contains color samples of Harrison Bros. & Co. "Town and Country" Ready Prepared Paints with tips on color selection.
Masury's Liquid Paints 1877. 6.8MB From The Library of Congress.
Roof and Side-Wall Painting with Full Instruction. Maurice Langhorne. 1879. Primarily covers topics relating to roofs.
Rousseau's House and Decorative Painter. P. J. Rousseau. 1871. (Pg 27, Railroad Paints and Colors)
1880s Hints Hints for painters, decorators, and paper-hangers. Being a selection of useful rules, data, memoranda, methods, and suggestions for house, ship and furniture painting, paper-hanging, gilding, color mixing, and other matters useful and instructive to painters and decorators. Prepared with special reference to the wants of amateurs By Charles D. Bell. 1882. From Archive.Org
House Painting Sherwin Williams. 1883. From Archive.Org The Painters' Encyclopedia by Franklin B. Gardner. Published by M. T. Richardson, New York, 1887.
1890s "Elastic" Mineral Paints. B. F. Ruth & Co., 1890.
Picre mineral paint ready for use. Picre Paint and Color Works, circa 1890.
The House and Sign Painters' Recipe book. W. C. Warren, 1890.
Suggestions For Exterior Decoration Samples and Suggestions from the H.W. Johns M'F'G Co., supplier of liquid paints. 1893. Contains color samples illustrating three color styling for houses and structures, and excellent resource for modelers!
The rusting of iron and steel: how it may be prevented and how it is promoted. The Prince Manufacturing Company, 1895. Discusses the benefits of Prince Bros. Mineral Brown, also known as Princes' Metallic Paint.
Church's Improved Alabastine Alabastine Company, Grand Rapids Michigan.
1900s Everybody's paint book; a complete guide to the art of outdoor and indoor painting. Designed for the special use of those who wish to do their own work, and consisting of practical lessons in plain painting, varnishing, polishing, staining, paper-hanging, kalsomining, Seroro Paints manufactured Sears, Roebuck & Co. 1900. Includes color plates
Specifications for the painter; a practical handbook for architects and house painters. Harrison Bros. & Co., Inc. 1903. From Archive.org
The Sherwin-Williams Paint. Sherwin-Williams Company. 1901. From Archive.org
Painting and decorating By Walter Pearce. 1907. From Archive.Org
House Painting, Glazing... A book for the householder. 1908 Archive.org
The Owner's House Book. Devoted to the subject of Artistic Decoration and Color Harmony in House Painting. Poole. 1906 Includes guidelines for color use including White Trim use (White is suggested ONLY as trim in this book).
Painting and Decorating, Pearce, Walter. 1902. Painting and Decorating, Pearce, Walter. 1907. Includes color plates. Wonderful illustrations and stencil templates.
1910s Interior Painting A series of practical treatises on. 1910 (Google)(archive)
The Preservation of the Exterior of Wooden Buildings. The Institute of Industrial Research. 1911. (Archive)Period technical Info on Color and how it holds up to age
Estimates, Costs & Profits, exterior painting... F.N. Vanderwalker. Published by the Carter White Lead Co. Chicago, Ill. 1916.
House Painting..... 1918
1920s The Partnership Of Paint by John W Masury The partnership of paint (1920)
1940s Cementhide. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Flat Wall Paint. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Floor Paint. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Semi Gloss Paint. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Barn and Roof Paint. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Waterspar Enamel. Pittsburg Plate Glass Company. 1940.
Carriage, Wagons, Lettering, and Ornamental Work Treatise on Carriage, Sign, and Ornamental Painting Fritz Schriber. 1841 Google.Books
Haney's manual of sign, carriage, and decorative painting. S. Gibson. 1870 From Archive.Org
The Murphy A, B, C, system of carriage painting. By the Murphy Varnish Co. 1878, c1911. From Archive.Org
House-painting, Carriage-painting, and Graining: What to do, and how to do it? By John W. Masury. 1881 From Google.Books
Painting and painters' materials; a book of facts for painters and those who use or deal in paint materials. Publisher: New-York, Railroad Gazette. 1883 From Archive.Org
Practical Carriage and Wagon Painting : A treatise on the painting of carriages, wagons and sleighs, embracing full and explicit directions for executing all kinds of work : including painting factory work, lettering, scrolling, ornamenting, varnishing, etc. : with many tested recipes and formulas. Orson Campbell. 1903. From Archive.Org
Carriage Painting : A series of practical treatises on the painting of carriages and wagons. Frederick Maire. c1911. From Archive.Org
Signage and Lettering Specific Works
The Sign Painter. Pullman School of Lettering, Chicago. 1916. From Archive.Org
Bridge, Trestle, Docks, and Other Structures
Coatings Including: Creosote, Oils, Tars, and other wood treatments.
Preservative Coatings. Standard Paint Company, 1918.
Photography
A key reference in our attempts to study railroad color falls under the usage of period photography. One of the major pitfalls is that we have a reasonable visceral understanding of modern Black & White images. What the vast majority of us don’t have is and understanding of it’s predecessor, The Wet Plate process. During the 19th century, several photographic chemical processes came into being and replaced each other. Each interpreted light in different ways as they reacted to the various wavelengths of visible light.
A serious result is that we interpret period imagery without understanding the chemical process in period photography. What we see in the image may in fact, not be a dark color at all.
What follows will be a growing selection of articles that will help the student of period color understand and interpret the images.
The Mystery of Wet Plate Photographs and Color: Further Investigations By Virginia Mescher This article while focused on clothing provides an excellent reference to the challenges of deciphering period color through the emulsion of wet plate photography. Included are photographic comparisons of textiles in wet plate and modern photographic methods.
The Very Image of the Past: Old Photographs and the Restoration of Historic Railroad Equipment by Kyle Wyatt. 6MB JOURNAL of the WEST Vol. XXXIII, NO. 2 April, 1994. Department of History, Kansas State University.
Contemporary References
Articles
Specific Paints and Colors
Oxide and Metallic Paints General Information
Prince Bros. Mineral Brown / Prince's Metallic Paint|Prince Bros Mineral Brown
Rawlins Red Paint by Randy Hees - Coming Soon!
Color Cards
Color swatches using PMS color representing the paint layers found on historic objects.
Color Card: Carson & Colorado Freight Equipment 1881 - 1900 by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.0MB Paint samples taken from the remains of Carson & Colorado Boxcar/Reefer #344.
Color Card: Carson & Colorado / Southern Pacific Dayton Depot by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.0MB Paint samples taken from the remains of Carson & Colorado depot in Dayton, Nevada.
Color Card: Colorado & Southern caboose #1008 by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.0MB Paint samples taken from the remains of Colorado & Southern caboose #1008 (DSP&P 76, DL&G 1514, C&S 310).
Color Card: Railroad Red Paints by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Includes: Tuscan Red, SP/UP CS 11, Rawlins Red, Princes' Metallic, and West Side Lumber Co. Red (from short caboose #4).
Color Card: South Pacific Coast - Coach #39: Body by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.48 MB
Color Card: South Pacific Coast - Caboose #47: Body by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF 0.88 MB
Color Card: Southern Pacific / Union Pacific Depot Paint: 1900 - 1956 by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.48 MB
Color Card: Virginia & Truckee Railroad passenger equipment 1905 - 1950 by Randy Hees and Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.0MB Paint samples taken from V&T equipment at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
Illustrations. Central Pacific Railroad: Flat Car #95, circa 1866 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a 30ft Central Pacific shop built flat car.
Central Pacific Railroad: Flat Car #1181, circa 1878 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a 30ft Central Pacific shop built flat car.
Central Pacific Railroad: Caboose #124, circa 1868 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a Central Pacific Railroad caboose built from a converted 25ft box car.
Central Pacific Railroad: Caboose #608, circa 1869 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a Central Pacific Railroad caboose built from a converted 25ft box car.
Carson & Colorado Railroad - Flat Car #102, circa 1883 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.4MB Illustration of a Detroit Car Works built 22' flat car.
Carson & Colorado Railroad: Box Car #303, circa 1886 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a La Mothe patent tin-sided box car.
Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad - Way Car #76, circa 1883 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.9MB Paint information from prototype and period references.
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad - Stock Car #5500, circa 1904 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 2.4MB Paint samples taken from Denver & Rio Grande stock cars 5672, 5522, and others.
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad - Stock Car #5672, circa 1914 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 2.4MB Paint samples taken from Denver & Rio Grande stock cars 5672, 5522, and others.
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad - Coach #292, circa 1906 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 3.1MB Paint samples taken from Denver & Rio Grande Coach 292, Pay Car F, and others.
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad - Coach #292, circa 1916 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 3.1MB Paint samples taken from Denver & Rio Grande Coach 292, Pay Car F, and others.
Lake Tahoe Narrow Gauge Railroad - Flat Car #25, circa 1876 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 800KB Illustration of a Detroit Car Works built 22' flat car.
Lake Tahoe Narrow Gauge Railroad - Flat Car #40, circa 1877 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 800KB Illustration of a Detroit Car Works built 22' flat car.
Oregonian Railway: Box Car #228, circa 1880 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Illustration of a 28ft Carter Brothers built box car.
Oregonian Railway: Box Car #230, circa 1880 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 4.7MB Illustration of a 28ft Carter Brothers built box car. Includes information sheet on box car #230, which later became South Pacific Coast Railroad #472.
Nevada Central Railway - Combine #1, circa 1879 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 2.6MB Based on paint information from the restoration report for Monterey & Salinas Valley Combine #1 at the California State Railroad Museum.
Northwestern Pacific Railroad - Caboose #6101, circa 1910 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 2.2MB
Southern Pacific (Narrow Gauge) - Box Car #338, circa 1928 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 1.3MB Renumbered 130 in 1947.
Southern Pacific (Narrow Gauge) - Box Car #17, circa 1954 by Andrew Brandon. PDF icon 4.8MB Preserved and displayed at the Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California.
South Pacific Coast - Coach #42 circa 1904. by Andrew Brandon PDF 0.97 MB Lettering and striping drawn to Southern Pacific Common Standards, using paint samples taken from Coach #39 by Randy Hees, Dimensional Data from Mike Collins and Bruce MacGregor.