One of the neatest references for everyday-material culture of the past is a Sears, Roebuck and Company Catalog. Sears in its catalog days was to many folks what Amazon is today. You perused pages and pages of everything from workwear to Sunday suits to firearms to tools to camping gear to auto parts, then you placed your order and the post office brought it to your home. If you want to know how something was done in the past, the Sears catalog from your era of choice probably has clues.

One of the things I was curious about was paint application for my 1923 Ford project, Tilly. Period photos indicate that after only a year or two on the streets, the factory Japan Black finish on most Tin Lizzies had decayed into something resembling a chalkboard. Duco-finished products from General Motors fared somewhat better, but worn-out paint was a problem that all auto owners eventually faced.

To see what the average do-it-yourselfer might have done back in the time period I’m emulating, I pulled my trusty Sears, Roebuck and Co. Catalog No. 149 (Fall and Winter 1924-1925) off the shelf and turned to the index, seeing “Automotive Enamel” listed on page 965. That revealed Sears carrying a whole line of Seroco Auto Paints to “Make your car look like new.” It also revealed two complete kits for refinishing an aged car: A “Special Painting Outfit for Ford Cars” and a “Complete Automobile Refinishing Outfit.”

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