Bristles Are Scarce, Brushes Are Precious (Ministry of Supply No. 114)
A green sheet carries seven circular photographs of brushes with red paint-stroke captions on drying, cleaning and storing paint, glue, shaving and toothbrushes. The household tone (toothbrush, broom, gluepot) is the plain-folks tell; the scarcity claim in the headline is the stated reason for the ask.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ministry of Supply, poster No. 114, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Multi Machine Plates Ltd, London
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
Ministry of Supply, poster No. 114, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Multi Machine Plates Ltd, London. US National Archives, NAID 44266302.
Text on the object
BRISTLES Are Scarce BRUSHES Are Precious DRY IT: Never put a brush away damp. Keep it in a dry place where air circulates freely. Hang it or stand it on end - never leave it resting on the bristles. CLEAN IT - DON'T LEAVE IT, IF YOU HAVE USED: PAINT. Remove paint with paraffin, wash thoroughly in cold water. OIL-BOUND DISTEMPER. Rinse in paraffin, wash in slightly soapy water. DISTEMPER. Wash in clean water. EVEN FOR MEALTIMES: Don't leave a brush in colour overnight or even at mealtimes. Cleanse it in water ready for use when you come back. GO CAREFULLY WITH RENOVATORS: Sometimes spoiled brushes can be saved by renovators. Use solution cold and be careful. This brush has been ruined by too strong a renovator solution. MORE & BETTER SWEEPING: If you hang your broom to dry. If you stand it brush upwards when it's dry. HEAT OR BOILING WATER DESTROYS PITCH SET BROOMS. MIND THAT GLUEPOT: Don't leave your glue brush in the pot. When your job is done, wash all glue out in water, and let it dry. AND AT HOME: Dry your toothbrush when you've used it. A good brush will give you 30,000 rubs if you look after it. Press the soap & water out of your shaving brush, rinse it in cold water & dry the bristles. When you wash your hairbrush, don't wet the stock more than you can help, let it dry naturally - never dry it in front of the fire. MINISTRY OF SUPPLY No 114. PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY MULTI MACHINE PLATES LTD. LONDON E.C.4. S1-4394
