In the early 1930's Walter J. Daly arrived in Seattle from Texas. He worked as a designer, painter and wood finisher.
In the mid 30's he was asked to make a wood bleaching system to use in the restoration of Seattle's historic Olympic Hotel. Soon, contractors in the area were pressing Walter to make the Bleaching System for their own work. The product line expanded, and a store was opened on Stone Way in Seattle.
It was about that time that their nephew Herb Paulson started working at Daly's. Today, Herb is one of our co-owners and can often be found in the lab cooking up new concoctions.
Walter kept his sons, Jim and Bill busy collecting the empty juice bottles that he filled with wood finishing potions. The store and the factory flourished but it became evident that the contracting business would have to go. Sadly, Walter died on his final scheduled contract job - painting the Sand Point Naval Base.
His young wife Ethel was faced with raising her sons and running Daly's. She handled both with creativity and style. By the mid 50's Daly's incorporated, added wallpaper and Ethel started teaching classes in the back room. This was the beginning of Daly's reputation as being THE place to come for expert information.
With the help of her sons and nephew Herb, Daly's expanded the retail operations into Bellevue in the 60's.
Today, Daly's Wood Finishing Products are still manufactured locally and can be found in 13 states across the US. Daly's is now in its third generation of ownership with Jim's daughter Robin Daly following in the family footsteps along with partner Herb. Daly's continues to evolve but the goal remains the same - provide only the highest quality products, increase customer satisfaction and share our expertise and knowledge.
Daly's Cares
Daly's is proud to have made donations to the following groups and organizations in the last year:
Alki Elementary
American Heart Association
American Parkinson Disease Association
Assumption - St. Bridget School
Ballard High School
Bellevue Christian School
Broadview Thomson School
Bryant Elementary
Center for Wooden Boats
Christ the King Catholic School
Cleveland High School
Eastside Academy
Experimental Education Unit UW
Fauntleroy Children's Center
Foss Home & Village
Friends of the Children
Hilltop Children's Center
Holy Names Academy
HomeStep
Interlake Childcare & Learning Center
King Street Cooperative Preschool
King's School
Low Income Housing Institute
Loyal Heights Elementary
Morningside Academy
North Seattle Families of Multiples
O'Dea High School
Our Lady of the Lake School
Pacific Crest School
Patrons of Cystic Fibrosis
Phinney Neighborhood Association
Queen Anne Helpline
Renton Christian School
Roosevelt Jazz Boosters
Sacajawea Elementary School
Salmon Bay School
Schmitz Park Elementary
Seattle Aquarium Society
Seattle Hebrew Academy
Senior Services
Sloop Tavern Yacht Club
St. Alphonsus Parish School
St. Anne School
St. Benedict Catholic School
St. Bridget School
St. Catherine School
St. John School
St. Matthew School
Swedish Cultural Center
Swedish Medical Center
The Bear Creek School
The Center School
The Compass Center
The Hope Heart Institute
The Jewish Day School
Thornton Creek School
University Cooperative School
University Lions Foundation
WA Wilderness Coalition
Woodland Park Zoo