Polka-dot paint

Polka dot paint is a paint of "polka dot color", i.e., a paint which paints an object with a polka dot pattern.

Red on yellow polka dots

The paint is traditionally the subject of a fool's errand prank played upon apprentices in the decoration or construction trade, who are sent to fetch a bucket of polka-dot paint.[1][2][3] A polka-dot paint effect has been produced in stage magic, and in the 1950s a polychromatic paint was invented which produced a dotted effect when dry.

Magic tricks
A barber's pole; a subject of a similar trick

In the United States several magicians invented a trick in which they demonstrated painting with polka-dot paint. It was even a subject of litigation between two stage magicians, Harry Albacker and Paul Stadelman in 1950s. The defendant's defense was that the magic act is "old as hills", and hence in public domain.[4][5] Stadelman, in his turn was challenged by other magicians who claimed that he pinched the idea from the "Barber's pole paint" trick. However Stadelman claimed it was actually he who invented the barber's pole paint in the first place.[6] The idea of both tricks is simple: the object is pre-painted in the desired pattern with oil-based paint and then covered with white watercolor or whitewash. During the trick the top watercolor is removed with a wet brush (and much magic, of course). Stadelman said that often after he performed this trick at paint dealers' conventions, he was getting letters from people who wanted to market this paint.[6] Another version involves colorless chemicals on the object which become colored after a reaction with another chemical on the brush.

Real paint

In 1950 a product called "Plextone" by Maas & Walsdtein Co. was advertised, a finishing which is a single application produced "a network of interlaced but separate colors - a 'Polka Dot' paint".[7] In 1952 a John C. Zola patented (US 3811904 [8]) polychromatic paint, technically described as "a multicolor paint from lacquer-based colorants suspended in water". The inventor was inspired by French painter Georges Seurat, who created his impressionist effects using small dots of paint.[9] Sapolin Paints, Inc. of New York City sold "polka-dot paint" in a spray can, which sprayed droplets of paint; the farther the can was from the surface the smaller were the dots. [10]

References
  1. The Painter and Decorator, Volume 73, 1959, p. 4
  2. Peter J. H. Petter-Bowyer, "Winds of Destruction: The Autobiography of a Rhodesian Combat Pilot", p. 72
  3. Richard Gordon Charman, The Learning Curve: My Story, 2011, ISBN 0987060007, p. 78
    • Quote: "Like all tradesmen, in all companies, the new apprentices were sent by them to the local hardware store <...> to get 'a left-handed hammer', 'a right-handed scredwriver', 'a box of r/h threaded holes', 'a tin of blue and yellow striped paint', 'a tin of black and white polka dot paint' <...> "
  4. "Another Claims Spotted Pigment Invention As Local Magician Says In's 2 Other Tricks", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 1, 1949, page 3.
  5. "General News: Magic", by Bill Sachs, The Billboard, January 14, 1950 p. 47
  6. "Magician Finds Public Ready For New Paint", The Bulletin, March 3, 1950, p. 9
  7. Product Finishing, vol 15, 1950, p. 110 (google snippet)
  8. "Novel coating compositions and their preparation - US 3811904 A".
    • Quote: "multi-color coating compositions of two or more phases consisting of at least one dispersed phase consisting of discrete globules or droplets of film-former and organic solvent, which dispersed phase is dispersed in a liquid organic dispersing medium. At least some of the dispersed globules are different in color from the dispersin'g medium"
  9. "Dotting the Eyes", The Rotarian, July 1975, p. 50
  10. "On the Market for Do-It-Yourselfers", Popular Mechanics, March 1958, p. 207
  11. "Walt Goes to War: Part Two", Jim Korkis, January 25, 2017, Mouse Planet
  12. "Maybelline Color Show “Polka Dots” Glitter Nail Polish Swatches & Review"
  13. "Polka dot brushes for Photoshop, PSP, GIMP, Painter ..."
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