Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Online Auctions, eBay Craigslist Petroliana Mobil Gargoyle ??

Did they sell Gargoyle in cardboard cans?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221224486769

Metal can/paper label - I think this was European issue during the '30s...the color/name on the band indicated the viscosity (S.A.E.)

he has 2 listed both say gold band one has a red band 1 has a gold band???

Never seen one that is paper/composite in gargoyle or pegasus. All my aero cans have been metal

I am not bidding on those for that reason.

Maybe Richard or the Hops can comment as they have had some of these cans.

I know just enough about Socony-Vacuum, to realize I know very little... So, I did a little research and came up with this:

SOCONY-Vacuum did use composite cans during WWII... 3 examples are shown on page 94 of "Collecting Oil Cans".... The examples all show a Pegasus, not a Gargoyle logo.... Not sure if that means anything?....

According to the "Mobil Collector's & Price Guide" page 77:

"Gargoyle Aero Mobiloil Gold Band" 1931-1939 - - 1 Qt

"Solid white can with GOLD BAND around upper center. Red and Black Gargoyle logo on upper center of can with small black "SOCONY-VACUUM OIL COMPANY, INC / MADE IN USA" across lower edge of can face. White grade identification "GOLD/BAND" on upper color band"...

Thanx, Bob, for confirming the 30's timeframe that I had noted earlier. I believe the gold band is the rarest of these cans (red is supposed to be the most common).
Seems there were also Gray, Blue & Green Bands.

Like Bob mentions, S-V DID make a composite/cardboard can during WW2, but nothing like the ones in question. They come up for sale occasionally on Ebay. I've seen Mobiloil and Mobiloil Arctic, Bob can probably tell us what the 3rd one in the photo he's referencing is. They are taller than a standard metal quart, have the Pegasus design in the center with the rings around the bottom, just like the metal cans of the same era. Also made during the war are the glass jars, and they did make these with the color "bands" as well. They are very rare. Richard had some of these in his collection, as well as the METAL Gargoyle band cans. If you look at the previous COTM for Mobil, you will see these in the photos of Richard's collection.
Something stinks with these cans in question, and I don't think it's old oil! I don't like how you can't make the photos bigger, nor do they have the magnifier option on these two listings.
Darin

The cans in question are clearly composite cans, not metal cans with a paper label. You can see the "swirls" like any composite can in the photos. In my mind, a paper label would have only one seam, like the quart jars made during WW2. When this style of composite can came out, I'm certain the Gargoyle was way out of the picture, especially on a U.S. can.
I'm not too familiar with foreign cans as I only collect U.S. items mainly. Are you able to post a photo of the European cans you are referencing by chance?
Thanks,
Darin

Don't forget the "White Band"....

hey, Darin -
Not a can collector/expert by any means...after seeing the OP on this subject & doing some nosing around (instead of working ;-)) I came across this old ad touting Gargoyle Aero and thought it might be applicable
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1930s-Gargoyle-Aero-Mobiloil-Magazine-Ad-Dutch-/350127163347#ht_3436wt_1192
Given yours & Bob's replies, I defer to you wiser gents!

Without having these cans in hand, in Photos it is impossible to tell if in fact they are CB cans or a printed label/decal added to NEW CB cans that are sold as Bank/Donation cans.
Anyone remember EARYMAN [Petaluma, Calif] that was making UN-marked Vinyl Wrap Repop/Fantasy qts? He was adding Patina [soiling, scratching, etc] to his cans.
There have been a few other sellers from the Petaluma, Santa Rosa area that have also been selling UN-marked REPOP/FANTASY qt cans. For that reason I stay away from those sellers in that area.

Darin, the photo in the Guide shows 2 different versions of the "Mobiloil AF" can and as you noted the "Arctic" can....

You; Mobiloil Collectors know much more than I, of course. The Aero cans I am most familiar with are the "post-war" cans... But, I don't member seeing a Red band Aero can that had Gold Band written on the "red band"....

(for those who have the guide "Collecting Cans"... Post War Mobiloil Aero cans are on page 103)...

That's clearly the biggest faux-pas with that can is having the "Gold Band" designation on a red band, which others have pointed out as well!

Sorry Jeremy to get off the topic of your original post, which was questioning if there were ever cardboard Gargoyle cans. In my humble opinion, no, there were not. I am not aware of any, nor have I ever laid eyes on one during my time in the hobby.
There are metal quarts "similar" in design to the one in question, but the differences are obvious when you see a known original metal can.
I apologize it became more of a debate of the legitimacy of the ones on Ebay than answering the original question at hand. (Thanks Bob for pointing that out! )
Darin

Thanks everyone. The cans certainly look authentic. But I just could not understand a 30's logo being on a composite can. I will be staying away from them for that reason.