Masury Paint
25mm, br
About this token:
- Norman writes: I have collected protective coatings tokens - medals, etc
for almost forty years. I suspect that the masury store card was attached
to cans of Masury paint as a souvenir. My collection of protective coating
exonumia has the brass token you picture, it also has an aluminum token of
the same design and size. I bought this token on e-bay, and was willing to
pay a price far in excess of the going rate of the brass store cards. The
brass store card is by far the most abundant paint store card of all paint
store cards / tokens, etc. I kept a record of how many paint tokens / medals
appeared on e-bay for a period of time. I put a minimum price to the Masury
brass store card, and believe it is worth 50 cents or less, but one will probably
need to pay $1.00 for a copy, yet I have seen them sell for more. Quite a
few paint store cards have been holed and issued that way (holed as made).
I do not consider this store card to be a watch fob, rather it is something
that is to go on a key chain to help find the key chain in ones pocket.
I worked for the Glidden Company's Nubian division in Chicago. In about 1955
I thought I would find greener pastures elsewhere, so I cast about for a change
of position as a chemist, laboratory group leader - director. Among the companies
I visited were the H. B. Davis Paint Company in Baltimore, MD. I was given
an offer, but declined. While at the Company on a weekend I visited the plant
and met a number of the executives. I stayed at the home of one of the men
in top management. He told me that the H. B. Davis Company made paint for
a number of Paint companies including MASURY. As a result I have always felt
that the Masury Paint Company had its home in Baltimore, MD at least in the
mid 1950s. There have been a number of companies that made private brand paint,
the quality of the paint depended upon what quality someone wanted. As I mentioned
I have thought of Masury Paint Co being in Baltimore after my visit there.
I was told that the H. B. Davis company made paint for Masury, but that does
not tell where the home office of Masury was located. As I mentioned, many
companies make "private label paint", that may have been the case with H.
B. Davis and Masury. Companies that "farm": out their production could be
located in any location, all they need is office spaced and warehousing facilities.
I remember as a child there was a paint store around the corner from where
I lived, the name on their paint cans was the name of the store, no telling
where it was made. Private label is common for manufactures, I remember a
co-worker visiting a plant where washing machines were made, when he came
back he said that much of their production line was making KENMORE washers
for SEARS.
- Mike writes: The Masury "Carry Me - Lucky Be " token was affixed with ribbon
to the labels of Masury' s Emalj Sweedish White Enamel that was sold in a
Gloss, Semi Gloss, Eggshell. and Dull finishes. It was the most brilliant
white enamel on the market. The product was an oil based material and reigned
supreme until the water base materials came into play. The figure of a man
on the medal was described as a Sweedish painter who could bring luck to the
bearer. This product and it's medal enjoyed a very successful marketplace
from 1951 thru approx 1982. It was promoted as a Swedish formulated material
and included the Swedish flagg as part of the label copy.The President of
the Masury Co at the time this product was intrduced was Frank P. Connolly
who was the driving force in the marketing of same. The Masury Paint Co, was
purchased by The Valspar Paint Corp. in April of 1979 who continued to promote
the Emalj line of enamels.When Emalj was first introduced in 1951 I was a
distributor salesman and I can remember receiving a 25 cent spiff for each
gallon I sold. In 1978 I was fortunate to have been hired by Masury as a sales
rep covering the Connecticut and Mass. territories. In 1981 I was promoted
to Eastern Divison Sales Manager and relocated the Masury's headquarters in
Baltimore, Md. and enjoyed my work until retirement in 1991. Masury always
persented their company with the slogan that said "Masury Is Good Paint" And
good paint they made. No one made it better: perhaps as good but not better.,I
was thrilled to have seen your piece regarding the medal on the internet and
just had to respond.
- Dave Spriggs writes: "I am researching the Masury Family as it relates to
a large home built by Dr. John Miller-Masury in what is now Virginia Beach,
VA. I am conducting this research on behalf of the present owner who has performed
extensive restoration of the home, and who is very interested in the history
of the home and its builders. Please contact me by telephone (757-624-5739)
or by e-mail
spriggs@worldnet.att.net.
- John writes: Masury paint was my family's business in New York during the
late 1900's and through the 40's. They developed the original paints for Rockerfeller
when they got involved in the restoration of Williamsburg. My grandfather's
name was John W. Masury. It was bought out by Martin Seynor (sp?). I have
that token on my keychain-it's just a lucky piece and an advertising gift,
I guess.
- Tom writes: I have a piece identical to yours as well as another type that
is unholed and states "You/Make/More Money/With/Masury" instead of "Masury/Is/Good/Paint".
Conjecture: The holed piece was meant for customers while the unholed piece
is for salesmen.
- Page reports: I was told about 20+ years ago that this token is from Norfolk,
Va. The collector, B.R. Rogers (passed away about 10-12 years ago), said the
headquarters is/was in Norfolk.
Know anything about this token? Please send me a note: pineconeforge(at)gmail.com
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mystery tokens.