Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Archives of the best of past topics Best of Shop Talk Company of the month for March, Tidewater Oil Co

Great info and pictures so far. Keep those pictures coming in!
Bob

Heres a few 5 quart cans -all diff-Cycol says associated oil co-Hope this pic shows up



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Wanted 5 quart cans

[This message has been edited by 5 quart (edited 03-11-2004).]

[This message has been edited by 5 quart (edited 03-11-2004).]

I'm ready for more history and pictures of cool stuff!

And now the rest of the story.


Associated Oil Company

The Associated Oil Company started in the early 1900’s.The company was founded by a group of well operators, as a means to transport oil out of their fields. Therefore, the name Associated oil. Like Tidewater Oil Company they too built a pipeline to transport the oil. The pipeline ended in Martinez, California, where they built a refinery. Now even the big Standard Oil feared what this powerhouse could do. Associated Oil Company began to market their products and branched out all over the west coast, including Hawaii. Strangely enough the products resembled the Tidewater line because of the hiring of a defector employee. Their oil and greases became Cycol and Tycol as compared to Veedol and Tydol.
Some of the history of this company is vague and I can only speculate as to how it came about, but here is my shot at it. Associated Oil Company and Tidewater were by 1926 both owned and controlled by holding companies that were put together by some Wall Street wizards. The practice of holding companies became illegal by 1936 and the two were married into an operating company at this time. The company became Tidewater Associated Oil Company. The company was now a nation wide company with substantial operations in 4 divisions. (The Eastern division, the Mid-Continent Division, the Southern Division and the Western Division). Associated oil with its flying wings attached to the “A” became the new marketing emblem for the new Tidewater Associated Oil Company. From “Lets Get Associated” to Flying “A” Gasoline the company was fast becoming one of the most popular oil companies in the country. One of the smaller oil companies that were under the Associated Oil umbrella which operated for several years independently of the Tidewater Associated Oil company was Seaside Oil.
Now remember J. Paul Getty, he had been buying up stock in the holding companies since the early 1930’s for as low as $1.00 per share during the depression . By 1948 he had enough stock in the company to influence most decisions and by 1951 he took control. The rest is history. I don’t want to bore you with too much detail, so I will speed up the next 20 years. During the late 60’s the government got involved and determined that Getty had a monopoly and broke-up some of the operation. Phillips 66 bought out the West coast stations and the east coast became Getty Oil stations. So by 1970 the last Flying A branded station was closed down.

Now let’s post some pictures from the Associated era to the end. (1948 – 1970)

I'll check in later this month when I get home from Spring Training in sunny Peoria, AZ



This is a station I built in my family room. 1930's era



This is out of an Associated station in downtown SF, CA

Craig, how far along is the truck??? show pictures if you will of the truck before and durring then after. I can't wait to see if the spider-Lady lets you put the truck in your room. Good story on Associated. Thats about what I have too.

Heres something you guys might want to check out. from 1935. Associateds involvment in the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.
http://www.sfmuseum.net/assoc/bridge01.html




[This message has been edited by Dwaine Buck (edited 03-14-2004).]

Here is a Flying A ethyl porcelain pump plate

craig: many thanks for the primer on tydol-flying a. nice job.know i will have questions for you in the near future. gary

These are the only 3 things i have that are Tydol. The Tydol Ethyl was almost my first globe i ever bought... it came about second or third.






[This message has been edited by Jarvis (edited 03-17-2004).]

Here are a few more

Great job on Company of the month. There has to be some more stuff out there and one day to post it. Ted

I've got a few Associated items , most of you have already seen. but I don't mind showing off agin, Thanks to Craig for a great job on this small giant company. you did good.

Heres a few Associated 1 lb grease cans, along with a few quart cans.

Here the end of a 1/4 barrel.


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www.vintage-logos.com



[This message has been edited by Dwaine Buck (edited 03-30-2004).]

Thanks Dwaine

Here are a few pictures from Ed the Rust Collector






Thanks Ed




[This message has been edited by Flyingaman (edited 03-30-2004).]

Here are a few more to end out the month.

Great job Craig and all that poster their items!

THANKS, CRAIG FOR A WONDERFUL REPORT ON QUITE POSSIBLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE (ONCE LOCAL) GAS/OIL COMPANIES. I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE AND I'LL TELL YOU AGAIN....YOUR COLLECTION IS PURE 110% EYE CANDY AND I HAVE A WHOLE LOTTA RESPECT THAT KIND OF COLLECTING AND DISPLAY WORK. I HOPE FIRE NEVER FINDS YOUR HOUSE AS A WHOLE LOTTA HISTORY WOULD BE GONE FOREVER. KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR INTENSELY UNIQUE OVERLOADED EXTRAORDINARY INVENTORY THAT JUST BLOWS THE MIND AND SOUL!!!!
POST MORE....I STILL POST KENDALL FROM JANUARY ONCE IN A WHILE!

DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGES