I think this summary folds several things together, possibly confusing the issue. The first ready-mixed paint, in a newly-invented resealable metal can, debuted in 1880. By 1910 many railroads were changing from mix-on-the-spot to ready-mix paint. This is evident in a series of articles in the 1905-1914 period in Railway Age and associated journals, in which there was an active disputation about the best way to paint the new-fangled steel cars and get the paint to stick, including evaluation of ready-mix paints. Certainly it is the case that several railroad paint chip sets from the 1920s refer to paint brands, not to mixing formulas.

          Spraying was not common before World War II, as I understand it, but became commonplace after the war. I have that impression from, again, Railway Age, but if anyone can put more specific dates to this, I would be interested to see them.

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