bif
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:18 PM
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Why are most barns painted red? |
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I heard an explanation a few years back but forgot it. Anyone know?
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HopeHoops
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:20 PM
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1. So cows won't see them and walk smack into the side of them. |
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There isn't that much in the way of entertainment on most farms. Cows smashing into the barn is considered humor.
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Heidi
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:21 PM
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2. To attract bulls to the barnyard. |
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There isn't that much in the way of entertainment on most farms, as the previous poster has noted.
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Kali
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:23 PM
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3. I alway heard it was iron oxide - rust |
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cheap and works as a wood preservative.
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bif
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:25 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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That's the explanation I remember.
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MajorChode
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Thu Jul-23-09 01:02 PM
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8. That's probably the best explanation |
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Prior to 100 years ago, paint was very expensive. Many people could not afford to paint their homes and linseed oil was the best preservative they had. Filed rust would have been reasonably available from blacksmith shops and could be added to linseed oil to increase the preservative effect. After pigmented paints became widely available, it was probably just the fashionable thing to stay with red.
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WolverineDG
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Thu Jul-23-09 01:12 PM
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9. same reason schoolhouses were red nt |
Haole Girl
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:28 PM
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5. Found this using google: |
northernlights
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:31 PM
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every speck stands out on white...
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Silver Swan
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Thu Jul-23-09 12:51 PM
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And our barn was red.
My mother told me that white barns and gray barns were for rich people.
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One_Life_To_Give
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Thu Jul-23-09 02:05 PM
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Tobacco barns in north central connecticut had the look of unfinished weathered wood. Now this might of had something to do with the annual firing of the shed to cure the tobacco I suppose. But whatever the reason I don't remember ever working in a red shed.
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baldguy
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Thu Jul-23-09 03:35 PM
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11. I seem to remember being told that iron oxide paint lasted the longest. |
madinmaryland
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Thu Jul-23-09 03:57 PM
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12. So that you can see the Mail Pouch Tobacco ads |
petronius
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Thu Jul-23-09 07:16 PM
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13. Because America's agriculturalists are just a bunch of ranting commies |
femmocrat
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Thu Jul-23-09 07:35 PM
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14. To ward off evil spirits. |
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Oh, wait.. that's hex signs, I think.
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bluedigger
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Thu Jul-23-09 07:39 PM
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15. I remember being told (years ago) |
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that ox-blood and milk were mixed to create a cheap paint. Seems reasonable.
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Stardust
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Thu Jul-23-09 11:13 PM
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18. That's what I heard, too. Blood and skim milk, to be exact |
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Skim milk used to be considered expendable. Bet those old barns smelled ripe in the sun.
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Dyedinthewoolliberal
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Thu Jul-23-09 08:05 PM
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most farmers weren't/aren't exactly rolling in dough
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sarge43
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Thu Jul-23-09 08:08 PM
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17. I heard that the red paint sold a hundred plus years ago was the cheapest. n/t |
realisticphish
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Thu Jul-23-09 11:54 PM
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well, where I grew up. Black and brown, mostly. A lot of white as well. Honestly only a few red ones :shrug:
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DU
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Thu May 09th 2024, 05:40 AM
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