When it comes to claims to fame, Toronto has many different kinds of things to consider for being world-renowned. The CN Tower may no longer be the tallest building in the world, but it's still a defining part of the city's skyline. Musical acts have travelled the world after getting their start in Ontario's capital. But few people who use a simple yet ingenious invention ever know that it was created in Toronto. One of the most ubiquitous painting supplies, the paint roller, and it's probably become Toronto's most secret and widely-used claim to fame.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Cohwa.
The paint roller was invented by Norman Breakey, a Torontonian who wanted to apply paint quicker without sacrificing a smooth finish. Up until his invention, which he developed in the s, the only painting was done with paint brushes. Sure, they came in a variety of sizes and shapes, but painting was still painstaking work that took a long time.
The invention made perfect sense at the time as well. Canada and the rest of the world were moving to the city and, with their migration, they were moving sensibilities. Bare walls not only made sense in the country, they were part of a certain aesthetic for the time. But as people moved to urban areas, they started thinking about walls differently. Interior design was becoming more and more popular and, with it, a demand for paint that was unprecedented. And with more paint going on the walls, people were looking for easier, and less expensive, ways of getting it there.
Enter Norman Breakey's invention, which took the world by storm. It didn't, however, completely change Breakey's life, as his tale is one of how a trip to the patent office could mean the difference between millions and millions of imitators. Breakey went to a colleague of his with the idea, wanting some input on the fabric for the paint roller. His idea, while game-changing, also needed money, something he personally had in short supply, and he had an impossible time finding willing investors. The result, that Breakey was unable to make a significant number of rollers, meant that when his own supply ran out, people flocked to the imitators who realized that Breakey never went for a patent.
After that, Breakey more or less faded into obscurity. Minor improvements on his original design soon made it to the patent office, much like he should have done in the first place, and it wasn't long before his invention was out of date and underperforming. South of the border, a Mr. Richard Croxton Adams invented a similar device while working for paint giant Sherwin Williams. His was patented in the States and Breakey was out of options. He apparently died penniless in Toronto, never able to make money off of an invention that revolutionized painting.
Most of us understand in a general way how using a paint roller revolutionized home decorating, but we may not have really thought about the time, dexterity and skill required to create a smooth finish with brushes. In fact, there was a time when house painting was a chore best left to professionals. Early do-it-yourselfers may have enjoyed a painting experience like the one outlined in The Canadian Inventions Book:
'Dip the brush into a can of paint and raise it above your head, being careful not to let the paint roll down your arm. Dab it on the ceiling, repeat the process hundreds of times. Then'take a bath.' So, who can we thank for this handy implement which saves time, effort and laundry costs? Well that's a bit of a sad story. The person we should be thanking, Norman James Breakey, never got the credit he deserved.
Norman was born February. 25, , in Pierson and spent his younger years in that region, but after World War I he ended up in Toronto.
It was there that Tom Hamilton met Norman Breakey in about . He recalled the encounter in an edition of the Globe and Mail :
Contact us to discuss your requirements of paint rollers manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
'He (Breakey) was a white haired gent who was full of purpose. He wanted my opinion on the best kind of fabric that offered a stiff bristly nap. I asked for what purpose, and he said 'For rolling paint.' I scratched my head at that but he resolutely went on and described to me something with a handle shaped like a '7' that would hold a cardboard, fabric-covered cylinder. 'If my theory is right this thing will revolutionize painting in Canada,' he said.'
Hamilton suggested a mohair velour used to cover railway touring coaches, told him how to cut it on the bias, and suggested some glues. Later Norman came by to thank him and left him with one of his original rollers and a tray that had been hammered out by a local tinsmith.
Mr. Breakey started selling his inventions locally, but he either didn't patent his invention or wasn't able to produce and sell enough to protect his patent. One account suggests that Breakey lacked the money to produce a significant supply of rollers on his own and attempts to persuade investors to back him failed. Meanwhile, other manufacturers seized on the idea and produced their own versions of the product. An American, Richard Croxton Adams who worked for Sherwin-William claimed to have developed a design while working on his own and got the U.S. Patent.
The invention was quite a hit, but it appears that both fame and fortune eluded Breakey who died in a relatively poor man. He was somewhat vindicated in when he was listed in both the inventors volume of McClelland & Stewart's Canadian Centennial Library and a Maclean's feature called 'Who's Who of Canadian What's His Names.'
Breakey may have been under-heralded in life, but his work has aided generations of painters.
Author: Ken Storie
Sources:
Edward History Book Committee. Harvests of Time. Altona. Friesen Printers,
Bradburn,Jamie..The Paint Roller, A cautionary tale about protecting your invention. J.J. The Inventors: Great Ideas in Canadian Enterprise . Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, . Photo: Town of Hartney Photo Archives
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Prep Tool Manufacturer.