Paint used on 20-40'smetal phones

[trainman]

What typee of paint was used on early metal phones? Whas it laquer or shellac based, or regular enamel? Just wondering what people have used to repaint so it looks authentic.

With spray paints going water based.  I haven't found a water based spray paint that doesn't look dull.

[dencins]

What typee of paint was used on early metal phones? Whas it laquer or shellac based, or regular enamel? Just wondering what people have used to repaint so it looks authentic.

With spray paints going water based.  I haven't found a water based spray paint that doesn't look dull.

WECo used "japanning" until the late 1930's.  You can find information about "japan" under Uses for Asphalt in the 1927 "From the Far Corners of the Earth" on page 59.

In the 1939 version of the same publication on page 65:

"Until recently telephone mountings (handset and desk type stands) were japanned black.  Synthetic enamels are now rapidly replacing japan for these purposes."

Others will have to speak to modern paints.

Dennis

[Sargeguy]

Japanned finish uses a paint made of a combination of turpentine, linseed oil, asphaltum and rosin according to some sources.  it was bake on.