The Story of Two Peter’s

January 9, 2023 | |
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It was with sadness that we learned late last year of the death of two retirees - Peter Smith (General Manager at Lowestoft) and Peter Waldron (R&D manager at Wealdstone).  Both Peters had at least 40 years’ service with the company with Peter Smith starting in 1960 (leaving in 2001) and Peter Waldron starting in 1970 (leaving in 2011).

Of course, we realise that the majority of people with Colart today will not remember either Peter but their legacy in shaping brush and paint production as we know it today should not be forgotten.

A core process that we use today in making brushes is Blankschien whereby brush heads or tufts are made using a bespoke moulded tool. Peter Smith led the Blankschein innovation enabling a far more efficient and consistent operation for quality brush making.  Through this tool, multiple batches depending on brush size could be made.  This replaced the more time-consuming process of hand making each individual brush head: a process reserved for our quality brushes such as Series 7.

 

The majority of Peter Waldron’s years at Wealdstone were spent in R&D having come to the company from an art college with a good grounding in artists techniques and the use of materials.  Peter was renowned for being the most reliable of all the chemists working on every project with thoroughness ensuring successful product launches.  The creation of the Griffin Alkyd colour range; many new colours in AWC, AOC and the Designers ranges plus the creation of the addition of the Water Colour additives range to name a few, were ranges he worked on.

The legacy of our brands is built on many such stories – the valuable contribution that people like Peter Smith and Peter Waldron have made has not been forgotten.

Comments

  1. When I came to Colart in January 2000 Peter Waldron was the person who was there to help an guide me in the ways of Colart. I had been brought in to facilitate the transfer of Liquitex to the UK from Binney and Smith USA and Peter was always around to lend an ear, was a pleasure to work with him.