Purdy History

From one brush to the #1 Brand Preferred by Pros.*

Purdy History

From one brush to the #1 Brand Preferred by Pros.*

Purdy continues to thrive and grow by making brushes as premium as possible. Founder S. Desmond Purdy believed handcrafting was the only way to “build in” superior performance and to build a business.

The great pig bristle and consequently paintbrush shortage of World War ll leads to the invention of the paint roller by Richard Adams. He developed it in his basement workshop when he was working as an employee of the Sherwin-Williams Paint Company.

Premium prep-and-finish tools become a natural extension of the Purdy lineup. Today’s Pros trust Purdy innovative surface prep tools to get any surface ready to paint or stain.

Painting tight spaces and doing touch-ups are no big deal after Purdy adds mini rollers to its lineup. Having the perfect tools saves time no matter what size the job.

In 2012, Purdy won the City of Portland Best Practices of Sustainability Award. Purdy Portland employees set a goal to reduce overall energy use in their facility, and they not only exceeded that goal that year, but they continue to embrace and increase sustainability practices throughout their complex today.

Purdy adds the XL® High Capacity to its popular and versatile XL brush series. The unique stadium-shaped ferrule allows the brush to pick up and hold more paint, so Pros can cover more surfaces and get their work done faster.

The Chinex® Elite™ is created. Pros are super fans of this brush and its DuPont® Chinex pre-flagged synthetic filaments. They provide premium coverage, faster application and superior cleanability so Pros can work more efficiently. Synthetic filaments are designed to excel when used with modern latex paints, so this successful product update was inevitable.

Purdy added two innovative products to make today’s painting professional’s workday easier. The Purdy Backpack is the first painter’s backpack designed by Pros for Pros. It features multiple storage spaces for a variety of painting tools. The Purdy Pail was also introduced in 2020. It features multiple grip options, including a flexible bail and coffee-cup-style side grip which can help reduce hand fatigue.

In 2021, the Purdy Cub brush lineup was expanded with three new short handle brushes to deliver precision and control. Purdy also added to jobsite productivity in 2021 with the introduction of the Revolution 18” Fixed Roller Frame. These fixed roller frames are easy to load, use and clean, making it quick for Pros to set up, get the job done and move on to the next job.

New Products

See our new products, designed by Pros for Pros.

Signed with Pride

Every Purdy brush is signed by the person who made it. It’s a symbol of our commitment to creating the best painting experience.

Our Trade Partners

How we support and connect with current and future Pros.

*2024 inPAINT Magazine Brand Preference Survey, Brush and Roller Categories. May/June Issue.

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Purdy History

Purdy History

The First Brush

Growing Strong

Paint Roller Invention

A National Presence

Adding Prep-and- Finish Tools

Filling a Need

Prioritizing Sustainability

Productivity Win One

Productivity Win Two

Innovation Leader

Pro Problems. Fresh Solutions.

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