Originally Posted by: Utility8 
quote:I do not think Dulux were around then I think they went by the name Balm back then.
Talked with my father today about his work with GM-H. He was an industrial chemist working on paint back then.
He originally worked for BALM, (British Australian Lead Manufacturing), from 1946 until 1955. BALM was a paint manufacturer in that era. He then went to GM-H in 1955.
GM-H had the licence from Dupont for technology, manufacture & sales of Duco & Dulux products from about 1936 when the licence was established. Later, approximately 1955, is when Dulon (acrylic) came about.
Asking him about the D on the ID plate, he had no recollection, but did not think it was any reference to paint. Then he went on about paint.
As far as the paint codes on the ID Tag goes.
The first 3 digits, i.e. 585-####, refers to the paint product.
The 500 series, as with HR, is Dulon (acrylic).
The 200 series, possibly earlier Holdens?, is Duco.
The 300 series, is Dulux, possibly a house paint product?
The last 4 digits, i.e. ###-8566, refers to the paint colour.
585-8566, as mentioned by hq-ss earlier in the thread, is Dulon Finisterre Green.
Back in the day, apparently the paint code used on the ID Tags was to reference the bulk paint used at the factory. To get an amount for repairs etc., the actual code was different. Obviously able to cross reference. Costing, bulk versus small lots, was believed to be the reasoning behind it.
Not a lick to do with D issue, but info is info.
.................
Dulux (DuPont paints) bought BALM in 1971
and before that, the prior history of BALM is as follows
1906 - 1918 Australasian United Paint Company (AUP)
1918 - 1955 British Australian Lead Manufacturers Pty Ltd **
1955 - 1964 BALM Paints Pty Ltd
1964 - 1971 BALM Paints Limited
1971 - Dulux Australia Ltd
interesting the product catalogs...
and
FWIW, when I was being trained at GMH in their secret mens business of 'codes'
D XXX.. meant Dulux paint line
and xxxxx after meant the actual colour code
it stayed that way after the colour codes were changed to 'modernise' these
D still featured
my 2c
**
.. the company name changed as lead based paints were outlawed in Australia, notably due to the
deaths of a number of young children (from lead paint dust, flakes, even rubbing hands on painted surfaces)
the then 2yo brother of my first wife being amongst those who died :(
Edited by user Wednesday, 29 July 2020 1:17:08 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
