The Expert Estimator and Business Book for Painters : Prepared For the Use of House and Sign Painters, Paper Hangers, Grainers, Wood Finishers, Glaziers, and Interior Decorators

Kelly, A. Ashmun

Published by The Master Painter Publishing Company, Malvern, PA, 1912

About this Item

Spine ends bumped, light rubs to all corners, wrinkling and tiny flecks of black paint to front cover. Fore edge of one page has tiny tear with no loss. Priced marked on front endpaper.; A multi-purpose text for job cost estimating by (as it says in the subtitle) House and Sign Painters, Paper Hangers, Grainers, Wood Finishers, Glaziers, and Interior Decorators. This is an early example of a skilled trade establishing flat rate pricing for cost estimating: Priming general woodwork was $0.10 per yard; varnishing a prepared parquetry floor was $0.40 per square yard, $0.60 if it required 2 coats; 8" house numbers on a glass transom window were $2.50 if done on site and $2.00 if done in the shop; painting a grained pattern on a front door was $1.00; simple paper hanging was $0.20 per roll; and miscellaneous work like bill posting was $0.03-0.09 per sheet. The text also focuses on the operations of the painting, papering, and finishing trades. Bookkeeping, sales, discounting, billing, time reporting, business correspondence, and shop management. Orderly management would facilitate profit. Author Albanis Ashmun Kelly was the publisher and editor of the early 20th century The Master Painter Magazine, a large format periodical for "painters and decorators." Kelly also wrote The Expert Paint Mixer, The Expert Sign Painter, The Expert Wood Finisher, The Household Painter, The Standard Grainer, Stainer, and Marbler, The Expert Calciminer :A Handy Manual for Interior Decorators, The Expert Painters Estimator, and The Expert Paper Hanger. When not publishing, he was writing poetry, issued as Cottage Idyls. The painting, papering, publishing, and poetry pursuits no doubt consumed his waking hours. In brown cloth over boards, this Small 8vo book is 7 3/4" x 5 1/2". 116 pages. Not a painting how-to, but a close look at the estimating and operations of a typical, small, early 20th century painting business. Not a modern reprint, and scarce in the trade. Conservatively Good+, but sound, firmly bound, and with clean, unmarked pages.; Small 8vo 7½" - 8" tall; 116 pages.

Seller Inventory # 1128

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Expert Estimator and Business Book for Painters : Prepared For the Use of House and Sign Painters, Paper Hangers, Grainers, Wood Finishers, Glaziers, and Interior Decorators
• Publisher: The Master Painter Publishing Company, Malvern, PA
• Publication Date: 1912
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: Second Edition.
• Condition: Good+