Posted by Bob Whiting on May 28, 1998 at 18:58:52:
In Reply to: Re: Pure Quill Question posted by Bob Whiting on May 28, 1998 at 18:31:24:
I can answer some of your questions concerning PURE QUILL but unfortunately not all of them. Maybe some one else can
fill in what's missing. PURE QUILL GASOLINE CORP. was established in Rochester, NY in 1925 with nine stations serving
the greater metropolitan Rochester Area. There were three owner/partners, Ray Coats who was the general manter, the one
who oversaw the station operations, Joe Gore, who was the accountant or financial manager and Johnny Sullivan, the money
man or the one who bankrolled the business. The station locations were as follows:
1. Culver Section - Culver Road at Humboldt
2. East Main-Goodman Section - East Main at R.R. Bridge
3. Northeast section - Conkey AVenue near Avenue D
4. Lower 10th Ward and Greece - Stone Road near Lake Avenue
5. Bulls Head Section - Hague Street near West Avenue
6. Camera Works Area - State at Brown
7. Southeast Section - Mt. Hope near Alexander
8. Southwest Section - Exchange near Troup
9. West Side - West Main Near B & O
The stations sold gasoline under the PURE QUILL brand name, both PURE QUILL Regular and the new PURE QUILL Ethyl as advertised on a matchbook cover I have in my collection. I also have a PURE QUILL GASOLINE ROAD MAP which is actually a Midwest Map Company map which they made for the smaller companies with a blank space on the cover where the company name could be stamped in. This one says Compliments of the PURE QUILL GASOLINE CORP and is about 1935 vintage. Also, on the cover of Scott Benjamine's Globe book is a nice color photo of a PURE QUILL GASOLINE GLOBE with the feather logo that you recalled. As far as oil cans with that logo, I've yet to see one but that certainly doesn't mean they don't exist. I have a personal friend who worked at the Mt. Hope station in 1944 and 45
and he doesn't remember any oil cans, but remembers pumping oil out of a row of high boys into one or two quart dispensers. However, this was during the war years when cans were not used, many companies using glass jars and one at least (MacMillian) using cardboard. I suspect that before WWII they may have marketed their oil in cans and there are some out there somewhere. As to what became of the company, my friend wasn't sure whether someone bought them out or they just went out of business, but he thinks they disappeared from the scene in the mid to late 50's. Maybe someone else can fill us in on this. Hope this helps answer some of your questions. is a nice color photo of a PURE QUILL GASOLINE GLOBE with the feather logo that you recalled. As far as oil cans with
that logo, I've yet to see one but that certainly doesn't mean they don't exist. I have a personal friend who worked at the Mt. Hope station in 1944 and 45 and he doesn't remember any oil cans, but remembers pumping oil out of a row of hhigh boys into one or two quart dispensers. However, this was during the war years when cans were not used, many companies using glass jars and one at least (MacMillian) using cardboard. I suspect that before WWII they may have marketed their oil in cans and there are some out there somewhere. As to what became of the company, my friend wasn't sure whether someone bought them out or they just went out of business, but he thinks they disappeared from the scene in the mid to late 50's. Maybe someone else can fill us in on this. Hope this helps answer some of your questions.
: : My brother and I are in our 60's and have been using the term Pure Quill to describe, among other things, fresh caught trout and salmon that we have caught and have been properly filleted and de-boned ready for the grill or poaching pan. In other words, the best, at least concerning fish.
: : I believe we picked up that term growing up as kids in a small western NY town relating to motor oil or gasoline that was available at that time, late 30', early 40's.
: : I even think I remember visualizing an upright feather on the can/globe of the product.
: : Are we correct in believing such a product existed?
: : Some people have asked us what we mean by Pure Quill and that of course leads to a lengthy discussion as to what we think it means and what we remember.
: : Someone else directly me to this board for a better source of info but that he thought it was aproduct out of Warren, Pa.
: : If it did exist, are there any oil Pure Quill oil cans on the market? How much?
: : Thanks for any info anyone might have.
: : If this does