Quality Products for Finishing and Refinishing
Star Bronze Company was founded by L. H. Lytle in Youngstown, Ohio in 1932. Our initial products were the first ready-mixed gold and aluminum paints. Prior to these, a lack of stability in the formula made it necessary to package the metallic paints in a two-package system, one containing the dry coloring pigment and one the liquid vehical into which the pigment would be mixed. Our one-can system was tested and proven stable and first sold to Woolworth's Five and Dime Stores.
In 1934 it was necessary to expand our operation and we moved to Alliance, Ohio. During this expansion Star Bronze added different types of resin-based products such as shellac and varnish to its line.
During World War II raw material shortages were a constant concern, but a bonus of the Allied victory was a new type of paint remover. This new remover was made from methylene chloride, which in addition to being more effective was also non-flammable. The major flaw of the German formula was that it was only stable when packaged in glass. Through the efforts of L. H. Lytle and R. S. Taylor, and the cooperation of Dow Chemical Company, a more stable formulation was developed. The introduction of Zip-Strip revolutionized the industry.
In the early 1960s, with the evolution of polymer technology, a new type of wood finish was created using urethanes. Star Bronze introduced Zip-Guard Urethane Wood Finish in 1964. Urethane wood finishes proved to be much more durable than conventional varnish and shellac, outlasting them by two to three times. They were also resistant to water and alcohol.
Due to governmental regulations and concern for a cleaner environment, emphasis has been on the development of products less dependent on solvents. This newer technology has led to the continued expansion of the Star Bronze product line to include Zip-Strip 2 Methylene Chloride Free Paint Remover, Zip-Guard Environmental Water-based Urethane Wood Finish, Zip-Guard water-based Wood Stains, Bare-Z-All Paint Remover and Zip-Strip Restoration Remover and Neutralizer.
Star Bronze Company is built on a foundation of quality, dependability and service. This tradition demands that we continue to be available to you, our customers, in order to know your desires and concerns. If you should encounter a problem or discover a better way to accomplish a particular task, please write to us at PO Box 2206, Alliance Ohio 44601-0206; email our Customer Service Department; or phone us at 1-800-321-9870. If you call Star Bronze during regular business hours (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST) for customer assistance, technical support, or help in locating a retail outlet for our products, you will be talking to a real person, not lost in a maze of voice mail loops. If you can't locate our products through a local store, please contact us for assistance or to order direct.
