History of the Detroit Society
for Coatings Technology

When the Detroit Society was officially founded on April 27, 1923 it was named the "Detroit Paint and Varnish Production Men's Club." Founder W. R. Carnegie, general manager of Berry Brothers Varnish Works had called together paint and varnish production men to fill the need for representation of the forty Detroit area paint and varnish manufacturers. Nineteen men representing eleven companies participated in that first meeting, with W. J. Boston of Detroit Graphite Company being elected its first president.

• Candidates for membership were paint and varnish superintendents, chemists, production managers, foremen and department heads actively connected with paint or varnish production.

• Annual dues were $18 per year, payable semi-annually in advance, with dinners costing $1.00 to $1.50.

Some things have not changed since the 1923 founding of the Detroit Paint and Varnish Production Men's Club. We are still meeting on the second Tuesday of each month, except for June, July, and August; and Robert's Rules of Order still govern all meetings.

• The Entertainment Committee was first appointed at the group's third meeting, and the Club held its first Keno party-"sprung as a surprise"-after the December meeting in 1925. This became an annual event except for a year or two during World War II, and is now the DSCT's "Bingo Night".

The Research Committee was first appointed on January 9, 1924 and gave its first report on tests for lithopone, accelerated tests and other test standardization.

• Scientific speakers in the early years included very famous names of the period: Harry Gardner, Paul Abbe, George B. Heckel and Harry Mongey. Topics included China wood oil, color measuring and testing instruments, pebble mills and automotive finishing. By 1934, Messrs. Borushko and McCloud from the Ford Motor Company spoke about the use of soybean oil paints; and others were talking more and more about synthetic resins-Amberol and Paraplex.

• The first course in paint technology sponsored by the Club was taught through Wayne State University in September 1947. It ran 16 weeks, with classes held at the Masonic Temple. It wasn't until 1970 that classes were moved to the University of Detroit.