Frank Chemaly|Published
The old picture this week features a trusted South African name in South Africa’s paint and home decorating industries, Shave’s, and their first store situated at 412 West street (today Dr Pixley kaSeme). The picture is from a Pinterest board of old Durban pictures.
George Codner Shave opened the paint, wallpaper, glass and China shop on April 1 1910, trading as GC Shave. His two sons Jack and Arthur joined him after World War I, having served in the South African Infantry.
Shave soon grew the business from a simple importing operation. With a second shop in Prince Edward Street, he established paint factories in Bellair and later at Jacobs. The grandsons, two from each son, expanded into the manufacturing of decorative, industrial, refinish and automotive paints. There were soon branches in most leading cities and towns around the country.
In 1969, motivated by the desire to be part of a JSE-listed company, the business was sold to Protea Holdings. Soon thereafter, Protea merged its paint interests with Dulux and so Prolux was born in 1971.
In the early 1980s Richard Shave bought the Dulux Paint and Paper store in Pinetown from AECI and restored the Shave name. Pinetown provided a sound base for growth. In the 1990s the Plascon brand and its products were added to give our customers even wider choice. Under the leadership of Nick Shave further branches were established at Springfield Park, Umhlanga, Hillcrest, Ballito, Bluff and Boksburg and Amanzimtoti. The Family business is still trading today.
Today a three-story building stands on the site. It is the surgery of Dr ME Mdluli which is above a pharmacy.