Devoe and Raynolds Co., Inc. - Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by American Bank Note Company. Available in Brown or Blue. Please specify color.

Devoe & Raynolds Co., Inc. holds a significant place in American industrial history as the nation’s first and oldest paint manufacturer. Founded in New York City in 1754 by William Post, the company initially operated as a small shop selling painter’s supplies long before the American Revolution. Over the next century, Devoe & Raynolds underwent various partnerships and expansions, ultimately solidifying its identity in 1892 when F.W. Devoe and J. Seaver Page merged their interests with C.T. Raynolds.

The company revolutionized the paint industry by transitioning from a tedious, manual trade where painters mixed raw pigments by hand to a scaled, scientifically formulated manufacturing process. This innovation transformed the industry and set Devoe & Raynolds apart.

Throughout the 20th century, Devoe & Raynolds established itself as an innovative powerhouse with a substantial commercial presence. The company expanded its operations across the United States, operating major manufacturing plants in cities like Louisville, Kentucky, and Newark, New Jersey. Devoe’s research laboratories contributed significantly to coating technology, pioneering work on synthetic resins and epoxy coatings.

Despite the historic brand being acquired by the Celanese Corporation in 1954 and later absorbed into other corporate entities, Devoe & Raynolds’ two-century legacy remains a cornerstone of the modern American paint and chemical industries.