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#686131 Fri May 05 2017 11:08 AM
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Here is a challenge for forum members. I am in need of information concerning a Mobil grease container made sometime in the 1930's. I participate in research on Amelia Earhart, and we need help determining the dimensions of what appears to be a grease pail she is loading onto her Electra aircraft. Here is a link to our discussion;

https://tighar.org/smf/index.php/topic,1937.0.html

As you can see we have been having problems, and any help in resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated. Why is the can she holds minus the Pegasus or Gargoyle symbol?

Last edited by Jerry Germann; Fri May 05 2017 11:19 AM.
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this is what I believe too be can of subject w/gargoyle,
can is 5" X 5" & 6 1/2" high .. ... cool

IMG_2685[1].JPG IMG_2684[1].JPG

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Thank you for that can image Randy, ..However ; I believe the can we need has no trademark emblems upon it. The picture isn't really good, but it appears that Mobilubricant is the label upon that Eathart can. It may well be that Mobilgrease NO 2 and similar Mobil labeled cans are the same size. But we want to be absolutely sure the can she holds are those same dimensions. I am just learning and haven't been able to put up an image, but will keep trying. Maybe someone here can help and put an image up for me? Thanks in advance.

Tighar forum ....research needed ..Mobilubricant

Last edited by Jerry Germann; Fri May 05 2017 02:06 PM.
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pail - Tighar

Here is a link to the image in the meantime, until, I learn image posting.
Note that only one visible side carries the Mobilubricant name.

Last edited by Jerry Germann; Fri May 05 2017 05:49 PM.
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Here is the fuzzy image ...I don't believe there is a pegasus or a Gargoyle on the can. Is this an early knock off product , or foreign copy of the Mobil product?

Last edited by Jerry Germann; Fri May 05 2017 09:01 PM.
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Here is the image from which the can was captured. I tried all the enhancement tools I had available, but couldn't read the smaller print, which may help in determining the can's country of origin.The label on the can is a bit clearer in this image, and we are reasonably certain it says Mobilubricant.
Does anyone here collect foreign made cans or know of a good source of information concerning them? Anyone that can enhance the image so that the small print on the can is legible?
Thank you for looking.

Jerry
http://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/earhart/id/904/rec/26


Last edited by Jerry Germann; Sat May 06 2017 09:54 PM.
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It's not a French or German can. The issue with the French grease/lubricant square cans from this period is they tend to have three lines of text at the bottom signifying the distributor and location. This can appears to only have two lines.

Other French Mobil cans may read Mobilburette, Mobilradia, Mobilfuel, Mobiloil, MobilMixTT, Mobilcompound, Mobilmix, Mobilgel, Mobilgrease. I notice the last letter appears to be a taller letter compared to the "o" so that would cross out quite a few variations.

Though some of these phrases would not apply to usage within an aircraft, it never hurts to have extra info.

I notice it says picture was take in 1937, Australia. Australian cans would keep the same two lines for distributor/location.

Great question, something a bit different than the usual. You've got me intrigued.

Last edited by RedHat; Sat May 06 2017 10:50 PM.

Looking for Michelin items + NJ oil company related items (Mohawk, Guardian, Whiz, etc) + animal-related petroliana + Gargoyle/Shell/Sinclair items
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Additionally, something else may compound the issue of indentification. Amelia was not necessarily your everyday hobby pilot. I doubt she was grabbing cans off the shelves of your local station. On top of this, airfields would generally have bulk/industrial products as opposed to your off the shelf products. This could be why there is a lack of Pegasus or Gargoyle on the can as they were not advertising to anyone.

Yet, there is a problem with this theory depending on the circumstances surrounding the photo. If it was a photo-op (staged) Socony-Vacuum would have taken every opportunity for the can(s) to be easily viewable with the Gargoyle or Pegasus in plain view able to be seen in any size photo. Lindbergh comes to mind, as well as many other famous vehicle-related operators, as someone subject to staged photo-ops to promote a company's product. I am pretty sure Amelia did something of this sort earlier in her career.

If this was a random photo taken, not staged, then my first theory would apply.

Just some thoughts.

Last edited by RedHat; Sat May 06 2017 11:46 PM.

Looking for Michelin items + NJ oil company related items (Mohawk, Guardian, Whiz, etc) + animal-related petroliana + Gargoyle/Shell/Sinclair items
RedHat #686217 Sun May 07 2017 07:20 AM
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Thank you for your reply Red Hat.
The photo was taken in Darwin, Australia, and she was either offloading items so that the plane could be fumigated as it was in numerous stops, or she was just beginning to reload those items. She did leave a few things in Darwin to be shipped back to the U.S. ( no longer deemed necessary to finish the flight and save weight). Amelia was none too shy to pose with various manufacturers products, but I believe this shot was taken by a reporter/ photographer doing his duty for his newspaper. It is interesting that other cans in the image bear images, such as the one on the ground behind Fred Noonan ( one can see a Gargoyle on that).
Out of curiosity, what would that can contain, and what does it's label read?
Back to the object in question though, it may well be she procured the can at an airport along the way (as you mentioned).
My thinking is that this photo was taken not long after arrival in Darwin, due to the fellow that is there, looking at the pair of world travelers, so that can wouldn't have been picked up in Australia, but rather in some previously visited port.
Thank you for your input.

Jerry

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Now that is interesting - I had not considered that she was unloading as opposed to stocking up. I thoroughly enjoy collecting cans from outside the U.S...combine that with Amelia and you have me sold, haha. There are some truly amazing collectors on this site, and some even more amazing collections. For oil can identification, you picked a perfect place.

I pose this question then:

On this specific trip, were her previous stops documented? That may help aid identification or, at the very least, narrow it down to a handful of countries. France seemed to be a popular stop for the renowned aviation enthusiasts of the time, hence my citing of some known French brand names, but other than that, I would be at the very best making a guess. Did the trip begin in the U.S.?

I must ask, too, what will identification of these cans help aid in? Are the dimensions needed to compare to and therefore obtain other measurements of items within the photo? Or is this simply a pursuit of documenting every possible aspect of the photo? Regardless of the objective, it's darn impressive what y'all are doing over there.

Last edited by RedHat; Sun May 07 2017 08:46 AM. Reason: Spelling

Looking for Michelin items + NJ oil company related items (Mohawk, Guardian, Whiz, etc) + animal-related petroliana + Gargoyle/Shell/Sinclair items
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Additionally, I share these two photos to give you an idea of the scope of the task. Collections involving strictly Euro cans, in themselves, show the incredibly wide-ranging variation of different products put out by this company in the span of 40 or so years, abroad.

IMG_3873.jpg IMG_3874.jpg
Last edited by RedHat; Sun May 07 2017 10:33 AM.

Looking for Michelin items + NJ oil company related items (Mohawk, Guardian, Whiz, etc) + animal-related petroliana + Gargoyle/Shell/Sinclair items
RedHat #686229 Sun May 07 2017 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted By RedHat
Additionally, these two photos


awesome collection .. ... cool


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Very nice collection RedHat......That is exactly the reason though I stuck to US cans/items only, as my collection would take over the other half of the apartment if I collected foreign as well, lol!
Darin


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Impressive collection, well displayed. Outstanding.


Regards, Jim

I collect gas pump salt and pepper shakers
and the plastic coin banks made by AVSCO.
RedHat #686274 Sun May 07 2017 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted By RedHat
Now that is interesting - I had not considered that she was unloading as opposed to stocking up. I thoroughly enjoy collecting cans from outside the U.S...combine that with Amelia and you have me sold, haha. There are some truly amazing collectors on this site, and some even more amazing collections. For oil can identification, you picked a perfect place.

I pose this question then:

On this specific trip, were her previous stops documented? That may help aid identification or, at the very least, narrow it down to a handful of countries. France seemed to be a popular stop for the renowned aviation enthusiasts of the time, hence my citing of some known French brand names, but other than that, I would be at the very best making a guess. Did the trip begin in the U.S.?

I must ask, too, what will identification of these cans help aid in? Are the dimensions needed to compare to and therefore obtain other measurements of items within the photo? Or is this simply a pursuit of documenting every possible aspect of the photo? Regardless of the objective, it's darn impressive what y'all are doing over there.


Thank you for all your help RedHat,...Here is a link to the entire planned trip;

tripline.net


Tons and Ton of excellent research over the past several decades, has indeed produced an impressive library, over at Tighar.
The Grease pail , may aid in determining the length of Amelia's radius arm bone. A partial skeleton was found on Gardner island by British personnel, who examined and determined the skeleton as being a Polynesian (male at that), however; modern science has made great strides and sometimes old methods, pale in comparison to the tools forensic specialists employ today. The doctor who examined the bones found in 1940 left some good measurements, and finding objects such as the grease pail for use as a tool, ( especially located right next to her arm) might be used to determine how her radius length compares to the unknown person found on Gardner ( now Nikamaroro). It may well be all of those cans were the same size..6 1/2 high, 5 1/4 wide, but in the interest of exact science, and not wanting to guess that the can she holds is a commonly used size, our search continues.
We wonder about the use of the name Mobilubricant,..was this some foreign company copying a well known product term, ..knowing they were out of reach of the copyright laws of the parent company?

Thanks again, Jerry

Impressive collection!


Last edited by Jerry Germann; Sun May 07 2017 08:37 PM.
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