Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion W. H. Pugh Oil Co. Racine, Wis.

Among other things I collect the road maps of the gasoline companies. Friday 12/13/02 I found a Pugh map of Michigan. It was printed by Rand McNally and had a 1962 est. population data.

The logo was round, red, with black letters and an outline of an attendent saluting. Below that it said, "Stop at the High Sign of Satisfaction". There were nice drawings of people in various sports attire on the front & back.

This is the first time I have ever found a company or logo not listed in Henderson & Benjamin Guide to Gasoline Logos.

Any information on the company?

Sorry I am unable to post a photo, but will send a copy to the moderator if there is any interest.

Thanks, John H.

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I work in Racine. I'll se what I can find. I guy at work has an old 100 year anniversary book, there may be something in there.

GAM

Most likely a regional "cut rate" chain, which bought and marketed open-market (i.e., unbranded) gasoline. There were a lot of these companies around the country, many of which became big enough to have fairly extensive advertising - including maps with their names on them.

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Jim Hinds
Columbus, Indiana

The globe book by Benjamin and Henderson says W.H. Pugh and Co. was in business as early as the early 1930's as a coal yard. It goes on to say that they started marketing gasoline after WW2 and still have a few stations today.

If anyone runs across a Pugh globe thats for sale please let me know.
Bob

I grew up in the Racine, Wisconsin area in the 60's through 70's. I remember the old Pugh coal depot on the mouth of the Root River just at the shore of Lake Michigan. Freighters and rail would converge and transfer coal. They branched out into retail gas and diesel under the Pugh name. I never saw more than a half dozen stores, and they always seemed to be doing battle (gas wars) with the CLARK and SPUR stations in town. I've not been back since the early 80's when I dont recall seeing any of their stations. The harbor has completely changed to Condos and Marina and warehouse lofts, so I suspect Pugh had gone the way of many family owned, regional businesses.

hi john.ilive in racine wi. where w.h.pugh co. is located, i remember when the outlet from root river into lake michigan was just about all w.h.pugh coal yards.the big coal ships would unload there all the time.as stated in above reply that is all marina and condos now .however w.h.pugh oil co. still exists and delivers home heating oil to homes in the racine area.there are aiso two pugh gas stations in town that are still operating i hope this has answered your question some what.if you would like i could go and take some pictures of them and send them to you although not real exciting to look at. jerry

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There was a full page add for Pugh Oil in a 1957 book published for Racine's 100 year anniversary. The book is huge (16" x 24")
but I made a copy of what I belive a globe would look like. I will get the moderator to post........

GAM

Here is the image provided by gam.

gam,
Thats pretty much what their globes looked like except they were oval.There were a couple versions.
If anyone finds any of these globes let me know.
Bob

John Hoefer sent me an image to post of a Pugh Oil map of Michigan:



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Oldgas
Your host and moderator

Yup, that what I remember from living in Racine. In fact, I modeled for the cover illustration... that me, third from the right