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Hello All,
I'm curious if anyone else has one of these cans or has seen one over the years? I bought this off Ebay probably 4 or so years ago at a price that was cheap even then. I usually do not buy earlier Gargoyle items but boy was this a nice looking Vacuum Oil can! smile I noticed 5 Quart Don has listed many different 5 gallon Gargoyle cans lately so I asked him if he'd ever seen this one and he said no. I've asked a couple other people over the years and they hadn't either. I'm sure it's a US can, it has no markings that would lead me to believe otherwise. Markings on the top are in gallons. I believe it's from the teens or early 20's.
Thanks for any comments,
Darin

Mobiloil Zeta.jpg Mobiloil Zeta Top.jpg

Darin Sheffer
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That's a neat one. I haven't seen one either.


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First for me

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That is a great looking can. Never seen it before.

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Great can Darin. I’ve never seen one either. And for scoring a can that a lot of people have never seen, you sure did good condition-wise. Nice one.


-Steve B. (WTB: 48" Flying A button, 48" black/org Phillips 66, White Star, and Chevrolet Signs. Also looking for a Wayne 866. Send a PM. Thanks.)
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Peter beat me to same line. Can't personally help but I did find this..
http://www.petroliana.co.uk/View.asp?ID=4153

Different look but still a great looking can.
British?
I guess so.. it does say London on the can.

Last edited by Gasman84470; Fri May 22 2020 06:47 PM.
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I know they used a Zeta grade in England but in a different type of can. I also thought I remembered something about this size being Swiss. I’ll do some digging and see if I have any luck, would be cool if it was a strictly US-issue, fingers crossed


Looking for Michelin items + NJ oil company related items (Mohawk, Guardian, Whiz, etc) + animal-related petroliana + Gargoyle/Shell/Sinclair items
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Thanks for the comments so far, I appreciate them. The can has Rochester, U.S.A. under the Vacuum Oil Company line and no mention of any foreign country anywhere on it. I will look back in my files and see if I still have a copy of the original Ebay listing to see the location it was shipped to me from. I have a habit of printing them out for record keeping purposes. The overall red color scheme was so attractive it really appealed to me so I hit the BIN, I figured it wouldn't last long. I'm glad I did!
Thanks RedHat, I appreciate the digging! Usually the older foreign Vacuum cans are pretty well marked for the respective foreign market so I sure hope mine is American.
Darin


Darin Sheffer
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Two sides of the can are the design I first posted, the other two sides are as below.

Mobiloil Zeta.jpg

Darin Sheffer
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I was surprised to see this 1 gallon version show up on Ebay.....and in relatively nice condition. It will be interesting to see what it goes for, as it's already over $400 and has a decent group of watchers.
Darin

https://www.ebay.com/itm/353599165200

Zeta.jpg

Darin Sheffer
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The gallon closed at $1600.....I guess it was a wise decision when I hit the "Buy It Now" for $65 for my 5 gallon can 5 years ago.......


Darin Sheffer
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Darin will 90 buy it today?! LOL
I remember the discussion on your buy. Very unique and rare can. Great buy then and now.

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Nah Gasman....I really wanted to double my investment! grin


Darin Sheffer
Always looking for Mobil and Marathon items I don't already have!

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