The Evolution of Krylon

Krylon, a well-known spray paint brand, was founded in 1947 by Howard E. Kester. He revolutionized the paint industry by using aerosol cans, which had been used for other products like deodorizers and insecticides. Krylon’s first product was a clear acrylic resin aerosol for protecting artwork and advertisements, followed by colored spray paints. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the history of Krylon and spray paint in general:

Early Development of Aerosol Technology:
  • Erik Rotheim: In 1926, Norwegian engineer Erik Rotheim patented the first aerosol can, which used propellants to dispense products.
  • Military Applications: Aerosol technology was initially developed for military use, particularly in dispensing insecticides.
  • Paint Industry Adoption: The paint industry quickly adopted aerosol technology, adapting it to spray paint applications. 
    Krylon’s Founding and Early Products:
  • 1947: Howard E. Kester founded Krylon, Inc., in Philadelphia.
  • 1948: Krylon introduced its first product, a clear acrylic resin aerosol for protecting artwork.
  • Expanding Product Line: Krylon quickly added colored spray paints to its product line. 
Krylon’s Impact on Street Art and Graffiti:
  • Early Graffiti Use: Spray paint became popular with graffiti artists for its ease of use and ability to cover large areas quickly. 
  • Krylon’s Role: Krylon spray paint’s quick-drying nature and diverse color palette made it a favorite among graffiti artists. 
  • Cultural Significance: Krylon’s association with street art has solidified its iconic status, making it a symbol of the movement. 

Vintage Krylon Cans:

As the years have passed, so had the can designs for the Krylon cans. I have tried my best to research the designs per years per a collector view point. I may miss a thing, but will happily correct it. 

The Changes in Krylon

As we look at the evolution of can design, logo and label design. We can see that Krylon did not go through design changes as much as Rustoleum.

In the 1950s, the Krylon logo had a bit of shadowing in the text and there was a solid color background. In the late 50s, early 60s, the logo had a shiny background and the shadowing to the text has been removed. In the late 60s the logo changed to a solid background and the 5 color balls design were implimented into the label. The can also read, “Spray Paint” under the logo.  In the early 70s, Interior / Exterior Enamel under the logo replaced the words Spray Paint and the same design carried into the 1991.  In the 90s, the balls recieved a 3d shadowing to  them.

I did not get into the 2000s and present cans, as I have no interest in them.  I prefer older cans in my collection over the newer ones. Never the less, I wanted to document this info in hope that it would assist others to identify these vintage cans.

Early 1950s Can

Late 1950s Can

Early 1960s Can #1303

Early 1960s Can #1303

1968 Can #2101

Early 1970s Can

Notch Top

1980s Can

1991 Can #2403

3D Balls