Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Litening gasoline history

I know that the John Hancock Oil Co out of Minneapolis "created" Litening gasoline, as well as Hancock motor oil. It later became part of the Yale Oil Corp out of Billings, Montana.

Does anyone know the year (or approximate) when John Hancock sold out? Or any of the history of the transfer/sale? I have a 1935 Litening map from the Billings company, so it had to have been prior to that.

Alan

"John Hancock Oil Co out of Minneapolis "created" Litening gasoline"

wondering how you know this for sure Alan as i think it was Yale Oil Co. out of Billings that created and sold Litening gas????? mm

I could be getting the order of things mixed up, but there definitely was a connection between the two companies. The station photo is of a station here in Minneapolis in 1925. The 1935 Litening map promotes Hancock oil. I assumed Yale/Litening purchased John Hancock Oil, but haven't been able to find any solid information. I believe there are similar grease cans between the two companies as well.

The story, as I was told is that there were three brothers that got involved in the oil/gas business, one started the company in Minneapolis, one was in Billings, MT., and the other was involved in the Hancock Oil Co. in California. Like I said, this is what I was told, right or wrong I don't now!

This kind of history is great, not only information, but pictures to back it up. Let's see more of it. I hope someone is recording all this and adding to it as more information becomes available.
This will make this website the place to come when you need information on even the smallest oil company, etc.

Jack Sim

I do not know any history of Litening gas or grease but it looks like they also had handy oilers. I heard this was a very hard to find handy oiler. Does anyone else have pictures of Litening cans?

For what it's worth, I found this map at my dad's house (amoungst his map collection). Interesting that the John Hancock of Minneapolis is listed. Not sure now if they were just a distributor?

Looking at the second map, I'd put my money on John Hancock Oil as a subsidiary and/or distributor. Guess there would be a parallel in Havoline/Indian Refining and Texaco. Cool paper!

[This message has been edited by Maps for the memories (edited 08-24-2008).]

I don't know any of the history of litening gasoline but did find this matchbook cover.

I have "Old Black Joe" grease cans that have Miles City/Billings on them and also have yhe same cans that have St.Paul on them. Sure would like to know the history or link between the 2 companies The Velvet one qt. has Miles City, Billings, and Worland Wyo. on it. Anybody have any different cans?

http://img251.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00845nd6.jpg

The two Pennsylvania Oil permit #'s for the two companies are different. John Hancock of Minneapolis was permit #269, and Yale was #251. Is there any significance in that?

I got some more pictures from a fellow Old Gasser. First, More Litening cans;

Next some Hancock cans;

Last few Hancock/ Yale company cans. Looks like some very interesting globes in the background too;

Ive never heard of yale oil until i read this post but from what I've been told so far is that the yale refinery closed in billings some time in the 50s , there was a John Hancock from Minnesota that used to spend a lot of time in billings with the Fortins of the Fortin center at rocky montain colage here. they were all rich. john Hancock had a insurance company also ? could this be the same Hancock ? sorry for rammbling on Marty