Brushstrokes - October 2011 - Surface Coatings Association of New ...

FRANK JOSEPH AITKEN-SMITH
One of the hardest tasks in life is to write an obituary for a
friend whom one has known for a great many years. Frank was a
workmate and friend whose principles and integrity were of the
highest order and he will be missed by friends and colleagues alike.
Franks career in the Paint Industry started in 1947 when,
using his own words, “I had no idea as to what I should do for
a living other than it had to be in a laboratory”. He obtained
a job with Fleetwood Paints in Deptford, South London and
was introduced to the industry by an elderly chemist who was
making paint in an equally elderly edge-runner. Varnishes were
cooked in large mobile pots over sunken gas rings in an open
lean-to attached to the office building. In Winter the varnish
makers dressed in overcoats and scarves were carefully watching
the “string” from the paddle.
From here he moved on to Sherwood Paints in Barking, Essex
when a tram, ferry and bus ride eventually got him to work
each morning. Work was a large barn with a concrete floor and
long wooden benches with nowhere to sit. Frank remarked “ in
winter, with snow on the ground, we stood at our bench wearing
overcoats and scarves under our lab coats” They did not make
their own mill-bases as a man made them all on triple and single
roll mills. Sherwood made a range of good decorative paints and
Frank admitted he learned a good deal of his knowledge there.
In about 1950 he joined Pinchin Johnson & Associates
in Silvertown, a large modern paint factory with various
sections dealing with Development, Raw Material Testing and
Government Specification Training. He eventually obtained his
A.R.I.C. with PJA. Frank always said that, at that time, they
were expected to call their superiors “Sir” and to wear a suit and
tie under their lab coats. Frank was very happy working for PJA
but in 1953, for various reasons, he transferred to Taubmans
Paints in Miramar, Wellington.
His move to Wellington was significant as it was here in 1954
he met and married Valerie, his wife, a partnership which was
to last 57 years. Frank’s workmates were Jock Mandeno ( Willie
Mandeno’s Father) and Keith Furneaux who was Frank’s Best
Man at the wedding.
Frank joined the O.C.C.A. N.Z. Section in 1953 a couple of
weeks after he joined the Taubmans lab.
Two years later Frank was transferred to the Taubmans plant
in Auckland and worked there until it closed down in 1959. He
then joined Hill & Plumber on Federal and Hobson Streets
when, although they were only a paint distributor, they purpose
built a laboratory for Frank on its premises. Noel Frykberg was
the Representative and identified customer needs while Frank
formulated the necessary paints and sent it to Wellington where
the paint was manufactured.
Frank was also a Founder member of the Auckland Branch
of the O.C.C.A N.Z. Section., and has maintained his
20TH February 1930 - 21st August 2011
membership throughout his career, being a regular attendee at
Technical evenings, Past Chairman’s Dinners and Conferences
etc. (Frank was Chairman of the Auckland Section between
1963 and 1965)
Noel then bought a company in Penrose Auckland with a
nominee shareholder in David Levene and changed its name to
Oregon Paints. The writer was the company chemist and the
company eventually became Levene Paint Manufacturing Ltd.
In 1962 Frank moved to B.I.P and, in 1970, to Goldex Paints,
subsequently bought out by Samson Paints. When James
Hardie bought Samson Paints, Frank retired - for the first time.
In 1983 Frank joined the D.S.I.R. and worked at the Naval
Dockyards Laboratory for the Dept. of Defence.
Frank then joined Levene Paint Manufacturing in 1985 in a
part-time position, which is where the Writer got to know and
respect more of Frank, who became a very valued member of the
L.P.M. Lab. Staff.
In 1994 Frank retired for the second time, devoting his time to
his own company.
Way back in 1974 Frank and Valerie had started a company
of their own called Fine Arts Supplies Ltd and expanded it to
a very successful supplier of art paints when Bruce Clegg and
Peter Ellis became involved. Frank subsequently sold his share
in F.A.S. and formed Multicraft Manufacturing where, right
up until his death, he and his associates were supplying photosensitive
and screen blocking lacquers for screen printing as well
as fabric dyes and chemicals.
Frank was a humble man and it was very easy to underestimate
his capabilities, which were enormous. Certainly of strong will,
stubborn and forthright, he did not display his knowledge in an
arrogant manner, rather he would quietly go on learning and not
making the same mistakes twice. Frank is survived by his wife
Valerie, his children and there families and a large number of
friends and colleagues.
Tom Hackney
SURFACE COATINGS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND 17