Paint-by-Number Kits

Paint-by-number kits were introduced in 1951. They were made by the Palmer Paint Company of Detroit for Craft-Master brand. The company had trouble getting the first sales and convinced Macy’s in New York City to sell and promote the kits. It is said that the company paid a group of people to go to the store and buy kits on the opening day. The publicity describing the crowd and excitement about the kits encouraged other sales, and soon paint-by-number kits were the top selling toy. Kits continued to sell, and in 2001, the Smithsonian had an exhibition featuring the paintings. Today there are collectors of the old paintings who proudly display them. New kits are still popular. Prices, designs, clubs, and other information is available online. It is a recently popular and still inexpensive collectible. I have one Ralph painted in the 1950s. Maybe I’ll take it out of the closet and hang it in the hall.