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The concept of an aerosol originated as early as 1790, when self-pressurized carbonated beverages were introduced in France. In 1837, a man called Perpigna invented a soda siphon incorporating a valve. In 1899, inventors Helbling and Pertsch patented aerosols pressurized using methyl and ethyl chloride as propellants. On November 23, 1927, Norwegian engineer Erik Rotheim (also spelled Eric Rotheim) patented the first aerosol can and valve that could hold and dispense products and propellant systems. This was the forerunner of the modern aerosol can and valve (in 1998, the Norwegian post office issued a stamp celebrating the Norwegian invention of the spraycan.) During World War II, the U.S. government funded research into a portable way for service men to spray malaria-carrying bugs. Department of Agriculture researchers, Lyle Goodhue and William Sullivan, developed a small aerosol can pressurized by a liquefied gas (a fluorocarbon) in 1943. It was their design that made products like hair spray possible, along with the work of another inventor. |
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In 1953, Robert Abplanal invented a crimp-on valve "for dispensing gases under pressure." This put the manufacture of aerosol spray can products into high gear. Abplanal had created the first clog-free valve for spray cans. Abplanal also invented the "Aquasol" or pump spray, which uses water-soluble hydrocarbons as the propellant source. He realized that the fluorocarbons in the older aerosol cans damaged the ozone layer. |
Spray paint was invented by Edward Seymour in 1949 (the first colour was aluminum). Edward Seymour's wife Bonnie suggested the use of an aerosol can filled with paint. Edward Seymour founded Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. of Chicago, USA, to manufacture his spray paints. |
RUST-OLEUM
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There's a high-seas adventure story behind the creation of Rust-Oleum - the old skool legendary graff spray paint. A Scottish-born sea captain, Robert Fergusson, noticed that when raw fish oil spilled on rusty metal decks, corrosion stopped spreading. This observation inspired the Captain to create the world's first rust-preventive paint. But it wasn't easy. After settling in New Orleans, Captain Fergusson spent years of painstaking research in an attempt to formulate a -oil-based paint. |
Finally, in 1921, the Captain got a whiff of the sweet smell of success. He perfected a paint that stopped rust, dried overnight and left no lingering aroma. Rust-Oleum spray paint was born. After 75 years, Captain Fergusson's Scottish spirit of innovation, determination and commitment to quality lives on at Rust-Oleum. |