Welcome to the November installment of the Company of the Month featuring the Frontier Refining Company. When I got started in the hobby collecting cans I was hooked on Frontier from the moment I saw the first item. The logo appealed to me and the fact that they were based in Colorado where I live just made the company more interesting to me.
The Frontier Refining company was formed on June 1, 1940. The company came about because of a split between the partners in the Bay Petroleum Company. Maurice H. “Bud” Robineau was president of the company that he formed with financier C. U. Bay. Although they were successful they just didn’t see eye to eye on how the company should be run and they decided to end their business relationship. As a result of the split Robineau took possession of a small refinery in Cheyenne, WY and several marketing properties mostly in western Nebraska in exchange for his share of the company. Frontier was born.
During WWII the government was looking for an inland source of 100 octane aviation fuel for the war. After much lobbying, by Robineau and Wyoming politicians, it was decided that two refineries would be built in Wyoming. One at Parco (Sinclair), Wyoming and the other adjacent to the Frontier Refinery in Cheyenne. Frontier oversaw construction and would operate the refinery for the government. At the end of the war Frontier purchased the refinery and converted it to produce automotive fuel.
Frontier was very successful and stations could be found in CO, WY, MT, NM, SD, ND, ID, UT, NV, NE, KS, and Iowa. Along the line they purchased Beeline and shortly after Robineau’s death in 1967 the company was up for sale and the Husky Oil Company of Cody, WY quickly stepped up and purchased Frontier.
I hope you enjoy this COTM. I will be adding new items every day or two. I will be starting with signs and then adding globes, cans, and then the rest. I will be including history on items and old photos and advertising as we go along. If you have items you would like to share please feel free to do so at any time. I would love for someone to surprise me with something rare that I have never seen.
Enjoy!
Chris
[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 11-01-2006).]
[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 11-01-2006).]