Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Company of the Month SOHIO

I apologize for starting late. I had planned to begin after the holiday but things kept comming up. This month we will be featuring Standard Oil of Ohio commonly known as SOHIO. I will begin with some company history followed by postings of globes, signs and other items from the company. Feel free to post your items as the month progresses. I am originally from Ohio hence my interest in SOHIO.

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Company History. The original Standard Oil Company was found in vilolation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and forced to breakup into 34 separate companies in 1911. Standard of Ohio was assigned refining and marketing for the State of Ohio. Standard, Polarine and Red Crown brand names were used by the company. Ohio was ripe for competition and many retailers entered the market. Standard met the challenge with an agressive marketing campaign a new refinery in Toledo and the adoption of the marketing name SOHIO in 1928. Although SOHIO was limited to using it's name in Ohio only, other companies were aquired to provide out of state access. Among these companies were Spears and Riddle of Wheeling, WV, Refiners Oil of Dayton, OH, and The Canfield Oil Company, Canfield, OH.
Fleet-Wing was used to market the Spears and Riddle products in PA, WV, MI and some parts of Ohio. The Refiners Oil Company was known as being the original distributor of Ethyl gasoline in a test marketing plan with General Motors. The diamond shape SOHIO logo was used through 1962 when the new SOHIO oval was introduced. This new signage could be found with SOHIO or BORON wording. The BORON brand came into use in the late 1950's and was used for marketing in KY, WV, PA and even into MI in the late 1960s. In 1968 the Fleet-Wing operations were sold to Pennzoil and the Fleet-Wing name was gone by 1980. Growing competition in the 1960s forced SOHIO to look for a partner and in the 1970s they formed an association with British Petroleum
(BP). In 1987 BP exercised an option from the earlier merge and purchased the remaining assets of the company. The SOHIO name lasted for a few years more but in 1991 SOHIO stations were rebranded as BP stations.
Affliated brands include, Caldwell& Taylor, Cincinnati, OH, Spears& Riddle, Wheeling, WV (Fleet-Wing), Refiners Oil Company, Dayton, OH, Canfield Oil Company, Canfield, OH (Canfield and William Penn Products), and with BP the Candadian Companies Supertest an Reliance Oil Company. References for this history are Standard Oil the First 125 Years and Gas Globes Pennzoil to Union. Both books by Scott Benjamin and Wayne Henderson.



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Following the breakup of Standard Oil, Standard of Ohio used one pieced etched globes with Red Crown arched at the top and Gasoline at the bottom with a detailed Red Crown in the center. In 1920 the pictured metal bodied Red Crown globe was introduced and used until 1926.

This globe with a more detailed crown and a blue band was used from 1928 thru 1930. The same globe with a green band was used from 1926 thru 1928.





This is an example of the green band globe with the ethly logo. Used 1926 thru 1928.



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As previously mentioned, 1928 saw the adoption of the name SOHIO for marketing. This globe was the first to bear that name and was in use from 1928 thru 1934. It was available in both 15" metal body and 13.5" glass body versions as shown.

Bill,
You need a better picture of that last one.



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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

Porcelain with cookie cutter edge. Should date late 1920's.

Only one I know to exist.

Sohio sign with transistional image, measuring about 31x43" and found at an old bulk plant.
Made of wood with totally different colors - the brown actually looks like a stained/varnished veneered wood with gold paint overlay.
I suspect a jobber or someone in Sohio corporate may have had this sign specially made for their facility.





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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

Ron, the lighting wasn't good on that picture. Thanks for posting a better one and I'm sure you'll have more signs to post when I get into them. In 1930 SOHIO introduced the X-70 grade of gasoline. This globe was used as a metal body version from 1930 thru 1934 and a glass version as pictured from 1930 thru 1950. Of note SOHIO used 15" metal bodies with a larger 7" base.

In 1934 the red background ethyl globe was replaced by this newer version. This version was used thru 1939.

Renown Green and Renown I suspect were used for a lower grade of fuel or independent stations. A Renown Green globe was sold in Rex Benson's auction and was used from 1930 thru 1934. The pictured Renown globe was used from 1934 thru 1946.



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Some more globes. Xtane used 1940 thru 1958.



Supreme used 1939 thru 1954.



Two variations of Sohio Aviation. Used 1946 thru 1970. The believe the one on the left without the red dot is the earlier version as the SOHIO lettering in much rounder like the globes from the 30s and 40s.



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I'm just curious, but are the similarities to DX Sunray merely coincidences? I speak of the red diamond with the white stripe for the writing, and the use of the Boron name.

Thanks,
Wes

No relationship between Standard of Ohio and Mid Continent (DX/Sunray). Boron was a chemical compound added to gasoline with better performance and less knocking or pinging as the claimed result. DX, SOHIO and Richfield were among the companies that used Boron. As mentioned earlier SOHIO went as far as to market gasoline under the brand name BORON.

Some more globes. SOHIO Heat, used 1946 thru 1970.



SOHIO Kerosene used 1940 thru 1970.



Two Diesel globes. The one on left used 1950 thru 1970 and on the right used in the 1950's.



Will have some marine globes tomorrow.

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Three SOHIO Marine globes.



Used 1946 thru 1954



Used 1954 thru 1962




Used 1958 thru 1962




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These are the last three Sohio globes I have to post.



Used 1954 thru 1962

Used 1958 thru 1962



This was the last globe used by SOHIO. Used from the 1960s to the early 80s. This globe is unusual in that it has no lenses. The lettering consists of stick on letters applied directly to a wide body globe.

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Here are three globes from an affiliated company Fleet Wing.



Used 1933 thru 1935

Used 1938 thru 1946

On a Hull body, used 1946 thru 1955. That's all the globes I have to post. If anyone has any SOHIO, Fleet Wing, Refiners, Caldwell-Taylor or other affiliates to post please add them or you can send photo to me for posting. Will be getting into some signs next.

Some signs.



Used 1928 thru 1930. Also came without High Test wording. That version used 1930 thru 1940.


Used 1930 thru 1940. Both this sign and the SOHIO Ethyl sign are two sided and were used as curb signs.

Standard Oil used the brand name Atlas for it's line of automotive accessories. This sign says guaranteed by Standard Oil of Ohio. I have seen it guaranteed by other Standard Oil divisions.


An Atlas Brake Service sign with the post 1962 SOHIO logo.






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SOHIO used decals instead of metal signs on their pumps so these oil rack signs were probably the smallest SOHIO signs used. The first two feature the old logo and the last one the newer logo. They are all double sided and designed to hang at the top of a display rack.











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Here is a Sohio jigsaw puzzle from the 40s I just got. I like it because it is differant than what you would normally find from a gas,oil company.

A SOHIO well sign.

A SOHIO Kerosine pump decal.

Some Fleet Wing pump signs.







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Another Fleet Wing sign.



That's all the signs I have. I will finish out the month with some maps, banks, thermometers, lighters, S&Ps and some other misc items.

Some SOHIO maps. This ones from 1928.



From 1929



From 1930



From 1931



From 1932



From 1933













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From 1934


From 1935



1936



1937



More from the late 1930's



















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...great stuff Bill!

Some more maps.

Early 1940's




These next two are from the WWII years.






1940's



Late 1940's



1950's





















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Late 1950's


1960's. Post 1962 as the new logo is shown.





A Lake Erie Cruise Guide and Marine Info Brochure from the 1950's.







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A couple of Fleet Wing maps. First is circa 1935 and second from 1940 -50'S.





Two Canfield maps from the 1940's -50's.









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WOW! THOSE ARE SOME GREAT MAPS FULL OF NEAT BOLD GRAPHICS LIKE US COLLECTORS' LOVE!

GREAT JOB BILL AND THANKS FOR VOLUNTEERING!

~DOC.TAG.WEST

Some thermometers. Pole signs with old/new SOHIO logos and a Fleet-Wing. The old logo SOHIO is from my home town of Ashtabula, OH.



A neat picture of a tanker truck!



Four different 6" metal SOHIO and two Fleet-Wings.



A Pam style Fleet-Wing.







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Some more smalls. Two different sets of SOHIO and Fleet-Wing S&Ps. From the 1950's.



Banks. The one on the left dates to the late 1940's the others from the 1950's. I have a advertising brochure showing a 4" tall plastic SOHIO gas pump bank but have not seen the actual thing.



Gas pump transistor radios from the 1970's.



Some ashtrays.



Some lighters to go with those ashtrays.



And some matchbooks.











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Few Sohio 5 qts and few fleetwing -couple of Sohio little rough but old-



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Wanted 5 quart cans

Bill, this collecting hobby of ours, is a microcosm of society - it contains some good people and some real jerks.
Thanks for being one of the really great people in this hobby of ours - you've always been fair and willing help others.

The following photos will help fill in your Sohio forum.













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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

A few more pics:













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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

THIS ITEM IS A FAKE!!!

Someone made these up - tea soaked (or similiar) label, etc.




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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net

Thanks for the compliments Ron and also for the pictures that did fill in some gaps. Will have more smalls, some cans and misc the next two days to finish up the month. Also appreciate others who have posted or sent photos. Bill.

Great COTM Bill, thanks to you and the others for posting outstanding SOHIO stuff so far. Wish I had something to add.
Love the Fleetwing curb sign Ron.

Some cans. First one is a five gallon gear oil.



An outboard quart submitted by a fellow oldgasser. (Kmann)



A quart.



A couple of handy oilers. Old and new logos.



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Some Fleet-Wing license attachments. I have never seen a SOHIO attachment but some type probably exists.

Some SOHIO Extron pump add glass and a Fleet-Wing pump glass.

A neat brochure titled "ABC Book of Flying".
Dated 1929. Includes Airplane parts, how it flies, Pilot requirements, aircraft markings,
maneuvers, instrumentation, aviation history and a listing of all airports in Ohio. Book was inspired by the recent purchase of an aircraft by the Standard Oil Company of Ohio for the purpose of "further upbuilding aviation activities in Ohio". The aircraft is called the "Sohioan".



A picture of the "Sohioan" from the brochure. It is described as an advanced version of the plane Lindbergh used for his famous flight.





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A 1953 calendar once again from my home town in Ohio.




Will finish up with some more misc items tomorrow.

An unusual collapsible drinking cup. The lid pictures Mickey Mouse. I have seen Mickey used with Chevron and Sunoco but this is the only SOHIO item I have seen him used on.

Being headquartered in Cleveland use of the Cleveland Indians in advertising was a natural. The following items show that link.


1957 Sohio Cleveland Indians baseball card book giveaway, also made one for the Cincinnati Reds. Card examples are of Roger Maris when an Indian before being traded to Yankees and 300 game winner Early Wynn. This one was given out by Redmond's Super Service Sohio, Lake Rd. & Carpenter Rd. Ashtabula , Ohio



Some photos from the book.



A bumper sticker.







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A "grease monkey" hat.



A clipboard.




A travel game.



The other side of game board.



An umbrella cover.









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I've got an embossed SOHIO visible pump price box somewhere but can't find it, so I guess that's all I have to post. Besides, it's the end of the month and time for the next company. Once again I would like to thank those who posted or sent photos. I also appreciate the favorable comments from many fellow oldgasers.

[This message has been edited by wfort39663 (edited 09-30-2006).]

Bill
Here are a few Fleetwing signs to fill in a few gaps.













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Ron Bettin
740-774-OHIO(6446)
bettin@bright.net