Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Archives of the best of past topics Best of Shop Talk COTM: MARATHON OIL COMPANY

MARATHON OIL CORPORATION

The Ohio Oil Company was founded in 1887 when several northern Ohio oil production firms joined together to market their crude oil, primarily to Standard Oil. In 1889, Standard purchased Ohio Oil and operated the company asa production subsidiary until the breakup of Standard in 1911. After the Standard breakup, Ohio Oil continued as before with oil exploration and production, satisfied to sell their products as crude oil and leave the refining and marketing to others.

Ohio Oil saw the increasing need for marketing their own products with the ever increasing supply of automobiles appearing on the primitive roads. They finally ventured into marketing in June 1924 with the purchase of Lincoln Oil Refining Company of Robinson, Illinois. Lincoln Oil operated a refinery and about 20 retail gasoline stations in the Robinson-Terre Haute area at the time of the purchase. With an assured supply of crude oil for the small refinery, the Linco brand began to expand. By 1930 Ohio Oil and expanded the Linco brand throughout most of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky.

With huge successes in oil exploration and production ventures, Ohio Oil realized they needed even more retail outlets for their products. In 1930 Ohio Oil purchased Transcontinental Oil, a refiner/marketer that had marketed gasoline under the trademark “MARATHON” since 1920. They had aquired the brand from a Pittsburgh operation, Riverside Oil Company, that is believed to be a forerunner of Republic Oil Company. Transcontinental sold gasoline under the Marathon name across the Midwest and South, from North Carolina to New Mexico. Transcontinental can best be remembered for a significant “first” when in 1929 they opened several Marathon stations in Dallas, Texas in conjunction with Southland Ice Company’s “Tote’m” stores (later 7-Eleven) creating the first gasoline/convenience store tie in.

The Marathon brand proved so popular that by World War 2 the name had replaced Linco at stations in the original five state territory. During the war, the widespread Marathon territory couldn’t be properly supplied and marketing operations outside the Great Lakes area were sold, primarily to Tydol. Concentrating their marketing within a smaller territory allowed Marathon to expand within that area and the 1950's brought the first of many acquisitions, the Tower Oil Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ohio Oil continued to purchase other companies and expand throughout the 1950's and ‘60's. The company was renamed “MARATHON OIL” in 1962.

The many marketing companies of Marathon were brought together by the 1980's under a subsidiary, Emro Marketing. In 1981 U.S. Steel (USX) purchased the company and continues to market through retail dealer and jobbers under the Marathon name in North Central states and through Emro Marketing under several brand names, primarily Speedway and Starvin Marvin, throughout the South and East.

MARATHON OIL SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Lincoln Oil Refining Co. Purchased by Ohio Oil in 1924 and served as the primary brand until about 1939,

Red Fox Oil Co. Purchased by Linco in 1928 and rebranded Linco at that time

Transcontinental Oil Co. Purchased by Ohio Oil in 1930 and kept separate from Linco until 1936. Marathon had replace Linco by WW2.

Tower Oil Co. Purchased and rebranded Marathon in 1958.

Aurora Gasoline Co. A Detroit refiner and marketer that introduced the “Speedway” brand in the early 1930's. The company’s premium product, “Speedway 79 Stratofuel” was introduced before WW2. From the war’s end until 1962 “Speedway 79" was the primary brand name. In 1959 Marathon purchased Aurora Gasoline Co. And the Speedway 79 logo was redesigned and gas pump globes were eliminated at this time. The Speedway brand was replaced by Marathon in 1962 only to reemerge in 1975 with Emro marketing Speedway and Starvin Marvin C-stores.

Old Dutch refining Co. Founded in 1930, Old Dutch was purchased by Aurora Gasoline Co. In the late 1950's.

Republic Oil Co. Dating from early 1923, Republic was a successor of Riverside Oil Co...originator of the “Marathon” trademark. By the 1950's the corporate name was Plymouth Oil Co. And Marathon purchased the operation in 1962.

Hi-Way Republic secondary brand.

Bonded An affiliate of Gaseteria-Bonded, Bonded of Ohio remained independent after Gaseteria-Bonded sold out to Esso’s Oklahoma division in 1957. Marathon purchased Bonded in 1975 and the name has remained in use at many locations today.

Consolidated. Purchased by Marathon in 1972 and rebranded Speedway in 1982.

Gastown of Delaware. Cleveland marketer purchased by Marathon in 1971.

Checker Oil Co. A collection of Chicago area brands, the Checker name replaced “Chief” and Road Chief” in 1968. Checker purchased the SunGlo operation in 1970 and converted those stations to the Checker brand. In 1976, Checker, then 50% owned by Exxon, purchased the Imperial refineries operations. Imperial remained a separate brand until 1983 merger with Marathon/Emro. Emro replaced most of the Imperial brand eith Ecol after 1984.

Imperial Refineries. Founded in 1915 as a refininer/marketer throughout the Midwest and South.

Johnson Oil Co. Not to be confused with the highly collectiable Johnson Oil of Chicago, this company from Lakeview, Michigan was founded in 1926. It is thought to be an Imperial jobber during Imperial’s had refineries and marketing networks. They continue to market under the Imperial name in Michigan and Indiana and is not associated with Marathon marketing.

Port Oil Co. Marketer in North and South Carolina, purchased by Marathon/Emro in 1984.

Value-Webster Service Stations. North/South Carolina marketer purchsed by Marathon/Emro in 1984.

Ecol. Southeast regional marketer purchased by Marathon/Emro in 1984.

Globe Oil Company. Regional independent that marketed in Georgia and North/South Carolina. Globe was the originator of the “Starvin Marvin” convenience store operation. The name was adopted by Marathon/Emro after the 1985 purchase.

Rock Island Refining. Founded in the 1920's, Rock Island was a mid-continent marketer until WW2. Having shifted to war time refining, the company had abandoned all retail gasoline until the 1046 purchase by the Koch family. Now based out of Indianapolis, it became a major source of unbranded gasoline for independent marketers. Over the years, the company acquired several Indian and Michigan marketers including Colonial/Progressive, Tulsa, United, Naph-Sol and Golden Imperial. By mid 1980's “United” had become the primary brand replacing the others. In 1989 Marathon/Emro purchase Rock Island and many United locations were converted to the Speedway brand.

Golden Imperial. Purchased by Rock Island in the 1970's.

Colonial/Progressive. Independent marketer, founded in the 1930's, with Colonial stations in Indiana and Progressive stations in Michigan. Sold to Rock Island in 1960's.

Tulsa Oil Co. Old Detroit independent that was sold to Crystal Refining in the early 1970's, then purchased by Rock Island in 1978. The United brand name replaced Tulsa in 1985.

United. An Indianapolis based marketer, United was purchased by Rock Island in 1985 and became the brand name used to consolidate all of Rock Island’s marketing. Most of the United stations were rebranded Speedway in 1990 but some remain United.

Naph-Sol Refining Co. In 1932, Naph-Sol entered gasoline marketing with the intrduction of Zephyr gasoline. Continued marketing until the 1989 purchase by Rock Island Refining. Several Michigan jobbers continue to use the Zephyr brand today.

Osceola refining Co. Refiner/marketer purchased by United Refining in 1973. Then purchased by Naph-Sol after the oil embargo of the mid 1970's.

J.A. Hogshire Oil Company. Founded in 1926 as an original member of the Independent Oil Men of America, Hogshire operated under the Criteria brand. In 1937 the Wake Up brand was introduced. Marathon/Emro purchased Wake Up in the early 1990's and continues to brand stations with the wake Up name today.

Kwik Sak. Nashville, Tn. Based convenience store chain purchased by Marathon/Emro in mid 1990's.

Martin Oil Service. A division that expanded coast to coast in the late 1950's. Sold to Marathon/Emro in 1993 and operating stations continue in Illinois and Indiana.

Much of the information for this article was supplied by Scott Benjamin and Wayne Henderson’s “Guide to Gasoline Logos”. The information is from 1997 and may well be out dated. If anyone has any current info or facts, please feel free to contribute to this article. Thank you and enjoy.

THESE PINS WERE USED FOR THE SUPPORT OF MARATHON WHEN IN 1981 MOBIL WAS ATTEMPING A HOSTILE TAKEOVER. USX CAME TO THE RESCUE.

AS YOU MIGHT GUESS THIS IS MY FAVORITE BRAND!!!

[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-02-2006).]

Marathon 3 piece glass on glass with screw base. Also modern clock & radio / pump

CONTAINERS, OIL FILTERS, BANKS, MAP RACK

[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-03-2006).]

a few Marathon 5 qt cans- anyone got any diff ones?? thanks don

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Wanted 5 quart cans

Some other changes within Marathon Oil.

After the USS (now USX) buy out, Marathon Oil devided itself into several subsidiaries in 1982.

Marathon Oil Company was kept as the name for upstream (Crude) operations and the "Parent" company.

Marathon Petroleum Company was used for Downstream, Refining, Sales and Distribution.

Marathon Pipeline Company was the name for Pipeline operations.

Here is a Caracter "Maxi" that was used for promo purposes during that time.




In 1989 The company made changes again and put Marathon Petroleum Company back under the Marathon Oil name. Marathon Pipeline Company kept it's name.
My understanding is this was all due to changes in Tax Laws.

In 1999 a Joint Venture with Ashland formed Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC. This included just downstream operations and Pipeline.

In 2002 Marathon Oil Company bought themselves from USX and renamed the "Parent" Company Marathon Oil Corporation.

In 2005 Marathon Oil Corporation bought out the Ashland portion of the Joint Venture and renamed MAP the Downstream company, Marathon Petroleum Company LLC.

Here is a photo from my colletion of a Marathon Transport in about 1930 when Transcontinental used the Marathon name.

I am always looking for more Marathon truck photos to add to my collection. I'll post a few more later.
Chuck

Thanks Gary!!
Here is some stuff.

AURORA GASOLINE CO. STARTED IN 1932 ON THE OLD KEYSTONE OIL RECLAMATION SITE. SPEEDWAY PETROLEUM CORP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1919 ACCORDING TO THIS BUSINESS CARD.
AURORA WAS A PART OWNER IN SPEEDWAY UNTIL AURORA BOUGHT OUT SPEEDWAY IN 1947.
THE OHIO OIL CO (MARATHON) HAD A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH AURORA AS A SUPPLIER OF CRUDE.
THERE WERE 680 SPEEDWAY 79 STATIONS WHEN IN 1959 MARATHON BOUGHT THEM.

SPEEDWAY PATCHES

TOP LEFT PATCH IS FROM THE MARATHON REBIRTH OF THE SPEEDWAY BRAND.

AURORA AD SHOWING REFINERIES AND TERMINALS
DETROIT
MUSKEGON
ELSIE

Nice Marathon Ethyl submitted by Minuteman.

Marathon affiliate globes ROCK ISLAND

Affiliate IMPERIAL REFINERIES








[This message has been edited by Gary Drye (edited 07-07-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Gary Drye (edited 07-07-2006).]

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MARATHON MILE-MAKER GLOBE AND SMILE-MAKER KITE
MY 2ND BULK PLANT RESCUE

Affiliates COLONIAL PROGRESSIVE and OLD DUTCH

IMPERIAL / JOHNSON OIL CO MAP

JOHNSON OIL CO HAS HAD A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH MARATHON AS THEIR WHOLESALE SUPPLIER AND LATER AS A MARATHON JOBBER.

CHEKER
DECAL,CARDS,PATCH & LIGHTER


THANKS FOR THE LIGHTER GASPEDLER

Early Signs

Early Globes

The images I have posted this morning were submitted by Lonnie Hop, Lastgas, and Aumann Auctions. After downloading, moving files, uploading, yadda, yadda, I lost track of what belonged to whom. Please feel free to chime in amd take credit for your item if needed.

Thanks to all that have contributed info so far. Some really great stuff has been posted. Thank you.

MARATHON BOUGHT OUT PLYMOUTH OIL CO IN 1962.
REPUBLIC HAD CHANGED THEIR NAME TO PLYMOUTH OIL CO IN THE 1950's. IN THIS DEAL CAME THE TEXAS CITY, TEXAS REFINERY

IF ONE IS ENOUGH,HOW MANY IS TO MANY ?

THIS STYLE OF BIG "M" WAS USED FROM 1959 TO 1962. I HAVE 41 STATES PLUS THE 2 TRAVEL BUREAU,TOLL ROAD, AND THE USA /MEXICO MAPS WITH THIS COVER. THE MARKETING AREA STATES USED MORE COLOR ON THE COVER.

THESE 1955 TRAILMOBILE DOUBLE TRAILERS WERE AQUIRED FROM MARATHON SHORTLY AFTER THE AURORA / SPEEDWAY BUYOUT AND WERE MOST LIKELY USED BY AURORA. MARATHON AS MANY OIL COMPANIES WOULD PAY FOR A PAINT JOB EVERY 5 YEARS IF YOU DISPLAYED THERE LOGO. NOTE THAT THE MARATHON RED DOESN'T MATCH THE NEW 1970 IHC TRACTOR RED. I ALSO HAD THE MARATHON DECAL ON THE TRACTOR SHUTTERS.

I WOULD TITLE THIS PICTURE "OUT TO PASTURE".
THIS IS MATE TO THE SET OF DOULBLES IN THE PREVIOUS POST THAT ANOTHER JOBBER BOUGHT FROM MARATHON. I FOUND IT SETTING IN FIELD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
BRINGS BACK MEMORIES AS I REMEMBER THE DRIVER WHO PULLED THEM.

CHANGING FROM THE RUNNER TO THE BIG "M"
NOTE THE SHORT LIVED STYLE "M" USED ON THE PUMPS.

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" THE BEACON " WAS THE EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE AND HAD SOME GREAT COVERS, SOME DONE BY THE WESTERN ARTIST CHARLES RUSSELL.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE COVER !

This is a complete 15" globe in the original painted body, with the Cinn. Adv. decal intact,& 5qt can.


db

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**PUT A LID ON IT**
1 qt Re-lidding

Marathon Super M globe and a well sign.
Globe used 1954 -62


(edited 07-08-2006).]

[This message has been edited by wfort39663 (edited 07-08-2006).]

BONDED
HANDY OIL, PATCHES, ASHTRAY, AND TREASURE CHIPS. (USED LIKE STAMPS)

SPEEDWAY 79 STAMP BOOK SHOWING THERE "SPEED-O " STAMPS

[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-09-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-09-2006).]

This was for sale at Oil City Gas.

Spectacular station pics, Dave! The signage change reminds me of the famous Chicago picture of the "End of 66" sign coming down when Route 66 was decommissioned.
Obviously, this was first!

Aurora gas co. few of my globes.

couple pump signs

Booklet dated '35

A COUPLE OF MAPS FROM OTHER COMPANIES ON THE LIST.
CONSOLIDATED WAS A DISCOUNT CHAIN WITH ABOUT 75 STATIONS IN WISCONSIN AND 3 IN THE "UP" OF MICHIGAN WHEN THIS MAP WAS PRINTED IN 1969.
OSCEOLA HAD REFINERIES AT REED CITY AND WEST BRANCH, MICHIGAN AT ONE TIME. OSCEOLA HAD STATIONS ONLY IN MICHIGAN AND WAS IN THE UNITED DEAL.

ZEPHYR WAS ANOTHER BRAND THAT WAS IN THE UNITED DEAL.ZEPHYR MAPS WITH NAPH-SOL REFINING ON THE COVER ARE RARE. THIS 1941 DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THE LOGO ON THE COVER.

NAPH-SOL REFINING MARKETED THE ZEPHYR BRAND ONLY IN MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN. NAPH-SOL HAD A REFINERY AT MUSKEGON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAD AT GREEN BAY, MY GUESS A LAKE TERMINAL.
AN OLD TIMER WORKING AT THE MUSKEGON REFINERY (OLDER THAN ME) TOLD ME THAT WHEN MARATHON BOUGHT AURORA OUT AND CLOSED THE AURORA (OLD DUTCH) REFINERY AT MUSKEGON, THEY CHANGED THE CRUDE PIPELINE TO REFINED PRODUCTS THAT SUPPLIED BOTH REFINERIES. WITHOUT ADEQUATE LOCAL SUPPLIES OF CRUDE NAPH-SOL STOPPED REFINING.

Here are a few Marathon Truck photos from my collection.
Chuck

"Ready To Run" logo from 2002 Celebration.
NOTE: This is the last time Marathon will allow the runner to be used in a logo.



Speedway / Starvin Marvin from the late 1980's - 1990's.





Note the race car.



From the Transcontinental Oil days.

Gary:

You're doing a great job! Nice article and great photos.

Later . . .

Jim




Always buying Ethyl Globes, Ethyl Single Lenses & Misc Ethyl Items.



[This message has been edited by T-way (edited 07-13-2006).]

Thanks Jim, but the guys participating are the ones that deserve the "thank you". I just posted a topic and these guys really stepped up to the plate with good additional info and great pics. Thank you guys.

THIS PICTURE WAS WITH THE SIGN CHANGING PICTURES. RUNNER / BIG "M"
CHECK THE PENCIL UNDER THE PICTURE.

Posting these for Dave Christen.
Couple of prototype globes one is shown in May 19 1962 issue of Business week, they were considering these when they changed over from Ohio Oil.
Thanks for the info Dave!
Will post more from Dave also.

More from Dave Christen.

Last from Dave Christen.





[This message has been edited by russj (edited 07-13-2006).]

[This message has been edited by russj (edited 07-13-2006).]

Three different Republic pump signs.

1963 MARATHON MAP WITH GENERIC COVER.
IN 1963 MARATHON'S IN THE MARKETING AREA COVER WAS BLUE AND OUT OF THE AREA & CITIES WAS PINK.
I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL DISCOUNT CHAINS USE THIS COVER.

Here are a few Lubricant and Steel oil cans.
The "green" can is Marathon Oil - Tulsa Oklahoma.
The Red steel is Ohio Oil.
Blue is 1980's Marathon Petoleum.




Some Related oil and Antifreeze cans.

Lone Star Oil - Golden Imperial
Champion - packaged for Bonded / Surety Oil

Marathon puts many of their employees thru a Fire Extinquisher use training school.
They also extend this to area Fire Departments in a more advanced form, to offer training in petroleum realated fires.

In the 1940's and 50's many terminals maintained their own fire truck because they were so far from the nearest Fire Dept.

A station photo from the late 50's or very early 60's.



A very early Bulk Plant. Can you see the runner on the radiator of one of the cars?

OK... Upclose for you Tailfin lovers.

Gary and everyone else who has contributed to this showcase, Thank you! I have enjoyed it greatly, the info and photos are excellent. Every COTM has been and is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.
Bob

1940's MOTOR OIL CURB SIGN.

1950's FARM MOTOR OIL AD FUTURE METER

Took me 3 days of trying to get this photo to upload, but here it is a salesman's sample Republic license attachment.

RUMOR & TRIVIA : THAT THIS STYLE OF "M' WASN'T USED LONG BECAUSE MONSANTO OBJECTED .



[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-21-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Dave Rowlison (edited 07-21-2006).]