Stop 9
9A- Quaker State Sign
9B- Phillips 66 Sign
9C- BP Sign
9A – Quaker State Motor Oil Sign
Quaker State Oil Refining Company, founded in 1931 in Oil City, Pennsylvania, emerged from earlier oil ventures dating back to the 1910s, capitalizing on the state’s rich oil fields. During the 1940s and 1950s, when this sign was likely in use, Quaker State became a household name, known for its high-quality motor oils that promised superior engine protection.
Fun Fact:
Road Trip Companion: During the 1950s, families embarking on cross-country road trips often spotted Quaker State signs at gas stations, making it a familiar sight for kids playing “I Spy” in the backseat of the family car.
This period coincided with the post-World War II economic boom, when car ownership surged, and the U.S. interstate highway system expanded, increasing demand for automotive products. Quaker State’s marketing, including signs like this one, played a key role in building brand recognition during this transformative era.
Fun Fact:
Winter Woes Solution: Quaker State marketed a special “winter-grade” motor oil in the 1950s, promising easier starts on cold mornings—a lifesaver for drivers who dreaded scraping ice off their windshields while their engines sputtered.
During the 1950s, Quaker State began researching synthetic oils, a precursor to modern formulations, though its focus then remained on conventional motor oils.
9B – Phillips 66 Sign
This 30″ x 30″ metal Phillips 66 sign, with its iconic shield shape and bold red, black, and white color scheme, is a quintessential piece of mid-20th-century roadside Americana, likely dating from the 1950s to 1960s.
The Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by brothers Frank and L.E. Phillips in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the company had grown into a major player by the 1950s, with a focus on refining, marketing, and innovation in petroleum products.
Fun Fact:
What’s In A Name: Introduced in 1927, Phillips 66 was named after a test where a car using their high-octane gasoline hit 66 mph on Route 66, tying the brand to the iconic highway and the era’s car culture.
Phillips 66 was a leader in petroleum innovation and
also made significant strides in the chemical sector. By the late 1940s, it had formed the Phillips Chemical Company, and in the 1950s began producing Marlex, a high-density polyethylene plastic. This breakthrough led to widespread applications, including the production of durable plastics for consumer goods, showcasing Phillips’ diversification beyond traditional fuels.
Fun Fact:
Hula Hoop Craze: In 1958, Phillips 66’s innovation in plastics led to an unexpected cultural phenomenon—its Marlex plastic was used to manufacture the first Hula Hoops, which became a nationwide craze, selling over 100 million units in two years.
Ironically, due in part to Phillips Chemical Company, these massive porcelain signs began to fade from use in the late 1960s, replaced by lighted plastic signs as stations modernized.
9c- BP Sign
This 45″ x 60″ BP metal sign, with its bold green shield and bright yellow “BP” lettering, is a striking artifact from the 1960s, a period when British Petroleum was expanding its presence in the U.S. market.
The shield logo, introduced in 1958, symbolized strength and reliability, a design choice that became synonymous with the brand’s commitment to quality petroleum products.
Fun Fact:
Global Reach: By the end of the 1960s, BP operated in over 50 countries, making it one of the largest oil companies in the world, with its shield logo recognized globally.
British Petroleum, originally founded in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, rebranded to BP in 1954 and began its U.S. expansion in the 1960s.
Fun Fact:
Space Race Connection: BP supplied specialized lubricants for aerospace applications in the 1960s, indirectly supporting the U.S. space program during the Apollo missions.
The 1960s also saw significant global events, such as the 1967 Six-Day War, which disrupted Middle Eastern oil supplies and highlighted BP’s strategic importance as a major oil supplier with operations in the region. This sign represents BP’s efforts to establish a foothold in the U.S..
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