Painting And Decorating (1945)

Demonstrates the techniques of exterior and interior painting, paper hanging and plastering walls. Shows the tools used in the trade.
We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at [e-mail] if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.

[@lobsterbass6495]

I’m a painter with only 3 years behind the brush and my boss has given me assignments to look up, asked me to do homework on old school videos and look up products left and right, trained me so well and at 3 years I’m out working 10 year veterans and it’s thanks to traditional old school workers like this, and a good work ethic, I love this trade and proud to be called a brother of the brush

[@gabrielmaynard]

Im also a painter but the resources and information from the tradesman are either low, secret, or just outright ignored. Any way you could share a hint or two sir? It’d be most appreciated.

[@Solid_Jackson]

Have you tried painting your own legs?

[@staffh3815]

​@gabrielmaynard I've a painter with over 40 years experience, best advice I could give you is learn how to spray mate , wish I had years ago😂

[@Rick-br7qn]

I remember watching this video as part of my apprenticeship classroom work around 1989. My instructor was old school. I feel this history is important though for one to feel a little pride in their career.

[@davidthomas4670]

was a painter and decorator finished with bad health but loved it 44 years

[@sredson]

Probably because of all the lead in the paint back then. Hope you’re alright.

[@stephenburdess2914]

Blows my mind you guys used to brush everything.

[@CedrickTudge]

Thank you for your service 🪖

[@ScratchyBaws]

Don't hold back on the prep work and you'll make an excellent painter & decorator and always always listen to an older wiser decorator in the trade.

[@tommylundy2495]

Am a 23 year old painter and decorator by trade. 3rd generation. I work as a scenic artist in film now, but would be absolutely lost without the basics. This makes me proud to be a brother of the brush !

[@carpathia1221]

This was nice to watch... 'I'm a painter with over 100 years of experience' and really enjoy it.

[@ScratchyBaws]

Wow you must well over 116yrs old then if you started when you left school.

[@staffh3815]

@@ScratchyBaws he was on double time mate

[@bartoncessna1]

Painting ceilings and walls with a brush. Total respect to these guys!

[@jackwardley3626]

if they had rollers they would have used them though i still like getting the 7inch brush out sometimes.

[@mrfunatparties6763]

Let alone a bridge

[@ParsleyPunch]

No rollers, no caulk

[@fordtruxdad5155]

I'm an old dog, painted for a long time then worked in paint stores. Still had a few customers who wouldn't touch a paint roller. We had to stay stocked up on 5 and 6 inch flatting brushes for them. Man, the stuff I've seen and done over the years...painting interiors with all oil-based paints. Woodwork primed with enamel undercoater and sanded four or five times. Then painted, sanded some more and repainted. Slick as glass and beautiful when you're through. I've seen stars many a time from working all closed up in steam heat buildings with no fresh air! Haha! And then having to clean brushes every day in varsol and leave hanging in linseed oil. And you had to save that varsol to let the paint settle out of it so you could use it some more!

[@greatomega9999]

I’m a Painter & Decorator of 35 years I totally Love the trade I’m in and I think people underestimate Decorators generally

[@Gomu_1]

Hello! I am currently 16 year olds, in a few years I’ll start painting and Decorating. Is there any advice you would give me about this? Thank you. 😊

[@greatomega9999]

@@Gomu_1 just be prepared to listen and learn. All about preparation And of course enjoying it, difficult to put it in a nutshell. Good luck with that I put 3 female Decorators through apprenticeships. 👍👍

[@jordanaustinowen3108]

@@Gomu_1 yeah don’t bother mate 😂😂😂

[@sniperreddragon2782]

@@jordanaustinowen3108 why don't bother? With the right attitude once established you can make over 100k plus a year quite easily

[@theturkishprince]

@@sniperreddragon2782 How so? I’m not running my own jobs yet, so I don’t understand fully, but 100k seems very lucrative. I am guessing that you are talking about large exterior work, with little preparation. Slap and dash jobs on the outside of hotels, etc. please elaborate

[@labrantpikalek6557]

This video made me wanna cry . My grandfather thought me all this stuff 47 years ago. And how far we’ve come in this trade. I’m so fortunate to have been able to stay in this trade for 47 years.

[@leighwiley3333]

Been a painter and decorator for 34 years. Trade ruined by cowboys and clients not checking trade qualifications, and also accepting sub-standard quality of finish. Great video through.

[@Mr71paul71]

Your reputation is your qualification bits of paper mean nothing. It's the college boys that are being the trade down !!!!

[@leighwiley3333]

@@Mr71paul71 I agree reputation is everything. I also think shortcuts and no pedigree take more worthy tradespeople lose honest cash. I am college qualified and won't apologise for that.

[@justabout6144]

Great video. Noticed some of these indoor clips look like they are only apprentices in a college situation, the way they hold the brush, the way burn off of paint, hang wallpaper, lumpy filler etc. Used to use those ladder brackets back in the day...... and the swing / cradle like all our yesterday's. Great to see

[@jeffreylarson8533]

as a Painting Contractor of 30 years, it's refreshing to see how it was done back then and recognize the improvements in the industry. Still want to see a video of how they painted those Victorian style house spires w/ out scaffolding.

[@xxnonstopdancingxx]

I think it was a child on a stick

[@AC-qw1jy]

I love these videos... They shed light on the great men that worked on many buildings and structures that still stand to this day! Thank you all!

[@jackgannnon5000]

I've been painting for 8 years now . Finally I feel like a tradesman painter and working with a tight crew of great painters and loving it !

[@michaelulery4407]

Epic video this guy understands the importance of the trade

[@Gasdetection]

This guys were quick af!

[@wontonmin6481]

I'm a proud painter all the highrise building in Honolulu inside and out i just look at them and like wow!!! I did that lol

[@jake-ei3ow]

Commercial painting does not make a real painter

[@karstencollins6966]

@@jake-ei3ow bruh what?

[@Mr71paul71]

30+ years as a painter and I'm still learning !!! Who ever says you can learn to paint in a college is talking nonsense !!!!! Experience is everything

[@fijiarc2090]

I've been doing it for 1 year now In east Sussex. I am 22 years old. Never went to college to learn the trade but all been through experience and trial and error.

[@justabout6144]

You are partly right like any trade it's all about skill which you can only get through experience...... But generally you need the theory knowledge behind you as well and that is normally through apprenticeship. And those who say you don't don't have the full set of trade skills to understand that IMO Cheers

[@kent7525]

Thanks for posting this video freaking awesome I'm a professional painter for over 30 years and I love to see this old stuff of our trade good job brother. Ken

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

1986 for me . Custom homes .

[@cfjackson123]

Those old boys working like three stories up on just a thin plank jeez

[@geoffdecorator7150]

40 years this May 2020 ,not sure if i like this painting and decorating lark yet !

[@lexandersantana8089]

The roller wasn’t invented until sherwin Williams employee made it in the 50s...and a full exterior repaint was $250 back in 1945, crazy. And we hardly use a blow torch now a day. But watching them cut in a door by hand was awe inspiring...like I walk in the shoes on the men of history. Also lol at the guys spraying techno. This vid is great

[@jackwardley3626]

$250 in 1945 would be around $3700 now

[@randyramon8437]

I show this video to all my apprentices to understand and appreciate the trade

[@wiserbud23]

Great video and it just shows what a true craftsman was like back in the day. You definitely have to have a passion for the trade if you are going to push yourself to be great at it. I’ve been an artist all my life but only a painter/ refinisher for about 26 years and I definitely did my share of moving around in the industry ( house painting, commercial, furniture finishing,industrial, historical and film set scenic work) I’ve worked with many good painters but unfortunately not many passionate painters. I was astounded to find so many that have been in the trade for years and have been totally color blind and had no clue about the chemistry of the products they were using ! My biggest pet peeve is when people say, “ I can do it all!” And then fail at the simplest task🤦🏽‍♂️ I’m always learning and pushing myself with every job I take on and I enjoy passing some of that experience to those that wish to take part😁

[@cirobernardone5721]

Reminds me of my old boss and mentor. Definitely from this era. Fantastic paper hanger and old school craftsman.

[@Ilovebrownbreadtoast]

03:38 “Painting, like almost any other trade, contains certain occupational hazards. But these can be greatly minimised, if not entirely eliminated, through the exercise of common sense” Why did this approach to work and life need to be replaced?

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Starting out with good intentions, once 'the committee' gets involved (a committee of people who talk about it, but don't do it) it all goes wrong.

[@nigelmagill4237]

Great video, over 32 years in trade, trained alongside the old hands , was taught all the old skills, half these so called painters cud hardly hold a stock brush let alone paint with one,

[@johnwright6706]

Maybe this series should get an update and be played in high schools

[@cesarramirez9167]

👍👏thanks for the video

[@jackwardley3626]

£233 for the 6 rooms in 1945 would be £12,607 today

[@daltondenun858]

the brush hands on show here is crazy!

[@olivernavarro6237]

Now the painters trade is full of bums. Only a few of us can actually paint

[@tommylundy2495]

Precisely. I think lads see it as an easy trade. Always got slagged for going into it. 3rd gen. now I’m working as a scenic artist on the films because of decorating

[@Mr71paul71]

Be thankful for the bums, it means that if your any good you can charge far more than the bums

[@StephenDaws]

Great old footage APCT should consider doing a new version to celebrate 100 year of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers

[@leftyakal.h.o.t.d6105]

Imagine the lead poisoning these poor guys suffered. 😕 So glad we use mostly water based acrylics nowadays (even enamel) in the building industry.

[@johnwoods5995]

2nd Gen Decorator. I still have my dads old petrol blowtorch and 8oz whitewashers.

[@Paint4Tech]

Good video

[@thevintagekitty]

Painting is absolutely a SKILL! I see this was made for vocational schools, emphasizing manual labour or trades. Schools need to encourage these types of occupations again as they are valuable skills and honest hard work which gives confidence to people. Where I live, there is such a shortage of trades people.

[@Mr71paul71]

You can't learn the trade of painting in any school, the trade is to varied and only years of experience can teach it

[@jackwardley3626]

the problem is the pay is just utter shite trainee estate agents get paid more than fully qualified tradesmen for example. how many people are going to want a hard job with a lot responsibility for the bread line.

[@ihavenoname6724]

This is before the invention of rollers, everything was done with brushes!

[@ryanpreston2617]

Them old boys can cut in without looking

[@tommylundy2495]

Rollers were banned in Ireland as they were said to be taking a mans job. Contractors use to pay painters who used them under the table to use them as it was much more efficient and saved the boss money. Probably worldwide too. Funny. I’ve had to brush in pebbledash houses and it ain’t fun after a few hours haha!

[@ihavenoname6724]

@@tommylundy2495 I didn't know that, thank you for sharing this story.

[@staffh3815]

Crows nesting

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

Rollers were not used until the 50s . Unions did not want them at all. Too fast . Lol

[@williamdavies6241]

Painting a sash window with a 4" brush , and they didn't load the brush as we do either!😁

[@jackwardley3626]

that was a very worn in brush though

[@Mr71paul71]

You don't need to load the brush very often if you use a big brush

[@badlefthook624]

Leaded paint. One dip would go for miles and miles.

[@fordtruxdad5155]

I'm sorry to admit that I've cussed many a young'un out when I found him with paint gobbed all the way up to and ON the ferrule and handle!

[@jamsandwich6142]

See how he dropped a bit of black in the white at 2:30 for opacity of the white

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

B-2 we call it

[@mandyg.3004]

In them days most homes had wallpaper. Even old films in that era would mostly have that on set. How many rollers do you see? Them 4 inch brushes must have weighed a bit , esp when painting above head.

[@tommylundy2495]

Rollers were banned for a time. At least by the unions in Ireland. Supposedly for taking a mans job. Everything was brushed with a stocker

[@gromit0299]

Just watching him torch and scrape off what is most likely lead based paint, without proper precautions. Ugh. I'm glad we have better science today.

[@simonright1507]

And What proper precautions are thoes ? You probably breath in more toxins today then they ever did !

[@johnwright6706]

So, you were fine with them using turpentine for cleaning the paint off their hands, but torching off was where you drew the line? Look at some of the things that you do in your career, and then imagine if society looks back, 40, 60, or 80 years, what are you doing today that someone will then make that exact same comment about?

[@greatomega9999]

Great replies. As a Decorator of 35 years experience. I have found through research the only reason lead was banned, was because frequencies will not work through lead, your wifi will not work in your house. This is so evil Do not trust anything your government tells you because it will be a lie

[@gromit0299]

@@greatomega9999 I think its more: you shouldn’t just blindly just anyone to do research for you. It’s not really a lie, so much as they’re “burying the truth.” So much easier to bury the truth in the digital age. 🙃

[@chrislambden2689]

3rd gen.,.. thanks for coming.

[@tommylundy2495]

Same here 🤟🏼

[@shanealbertson8]

Too bad these videos aren’t in use today. Of course needs some revising but you know what I mean lol !

[@tytexter794]

I feel like if I take adderall and binge your life work I’ll be there in no time 😂😂😂 all jokes

[@simonright1507]

Aw, Real tradesman not the cowboys of today 🤠

[@jericonavas6369]

Awesome video but those big ass brushes haha!! I'm so glad i get to work with my 3 inch purdy

[@thedriza297]

You and everybody and their mom. Non skilled trade

[@TheSmithyt]

the Driza knoblet

[@simonright1507]

Thats because there proper tradesman,

[@landofthefree1804]

Wow You must be able to endure turpentine fumes and stay alert

[@sniperreddragon2782]

And none of them knew they would suffer from lead and asbestos poisoning 😔

[@gamer_vision6152]

Back when the paint yeeted u cuz of the led

[@fortunatoofamontillado1059]

S pick ingrish

[@jonathanaldana4941]

Any old glazing videos

[@peakyparttimers9362]

So I've got average intelligence?

[@thedriza297]

No youre a moron

[@fortunatoofamontillado1059]

If you're lucky

[@OUigot]

Love the snowflake's comments here.

[@bobbynomates958]

Gone are the days where you used to mix your filler on the palm of your hand.. god damn

[@hawkwind769]

I bought died when ol boy loaded up his shit hook with spackle🤣

[@gabrielmaynard]

Painting wasn’t all that hard back in the day. As you can clearly see there were only two paint choices, black or white.

[@paulmurphy9663]

There's no common sense these day's !

[@staffh3815]

I've worked with lots of painter that didnt have average intelligence

[@mcqcjc8409]

4:04 Opening top part of the sash windows - lol what a cretin

[@johnwright6706]

Why is that 🤔

[@mcqcjc8409]

@@johnwright6706 figure it out

[@johnwright6706]

@@mcqcjc8409 since I've only ever heard about double hung windows and never seen them, I have no idea why opening the top would make a person a cretin.

[@sellsjeeps]

I'm a house painter and I'm genuinely curious is to why you say that. If you open the top of the sash windows to ventilate you can still paint the the bottom half of the window, wait for it to dry and then paint the areas that were obscured during opening. Then repeat the same process for the top half. In fact it's damn near impossible to paint any two part window properly without painting it in sections, which requires opening the windows enough to cover all areas adequately.

[@mcqcjc8409]

@@sellsjeeps Use your brain - u can do it

[@thedriza297]

Painting sucks. Everybody and thier mother is a painter. Go to gome depot and spend 50 bucks and youre in the painting buisness. Modern people ruined this trade.

[@EMan-cf8lv]

the Driza whenever I go to give estimates and I know I’m not the only one that is looking at the job, I just simply point to the corners and next to the casings. The client quickly notices the difference between the brush strokes for cutting and the roller stippling. I tell them now that’s an ugly paint job, and then I show them a few pictures of my previous jobs and then they ask how’d I get the stippling to match everywhere, that’s when I show them the back roll system and then they usually get to send the quote sent right away and when can I start. Like you said, today everyone and their uncles are painting but you’ve got to show clients that you are the professional and you have a fail proof system and you always leave the job site cleaner then you found it. Another tip I use is to always let the client know that I wipe every surface that gets painted because nothing sticks to dust. Usually I’m told that I am the first painter they’ve met that back rolls his cutting and dusts off the walls. Remember that you’re the pro and those other guys aren’t.

[@wontonmin6481]

Lol anybody can just shoot a basketball same has everybody can just grab a brush but can the play as good like Michael jordan .... you get my point

[@EMan-cf8lv]

won ton min that’s right.

[@kent7525]

@Mr.Angry Hey Mr Angry I'm a professional painter here in Maryland I am my own company it's basically me and two guys I've been doing it for 30 years just curious you make 120k how many guys do you have working for you to knock that kind of money out that's a Good Year bro thanks for the reply Ken

[@kent7525]

@Mr.Angry Hey Mr Angry

[@starofdavid9919]

The Whitewashers.