Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SOCONY VACUUM OIL COMPANY INC.
SOCONY VACUUM OIL COMPANY INC. Vacuum Oil was founded in 1866 by Matthew Ewing and Hiram Bond Everest, of Rochester, New York. The lubrication oil was an accidental discovery while attempting to distill kerosene. Everest noted the residue from the extraction was suitable as a lubricant. Soon after, the product became popular for use by steam engines and the internal-combustion engines.
Ewing sold his interest to Everest, who carried on the company. Vacuum was bought by Standard Oil in 1879. It originated the Mobil trademark in 1899 (as "Mobilgas;" "Mobiloil" came later). When Standard Oil was broken up in 1911 by the the Sherman Antitrust Act, Vacuum became an independent company again.
Vacuum Oil and Standard Oil of New York (Socony) merged in 1931. At the time, the newly combined company made Socony-Vacuum Corp. the third largest oil company, worldwide. Everest remained with the firm, and was given a salaried job as president.
In 1955, the company became Socony Mobil Oil Company. In 1963 it was renamed Mobilgas then just Mobil.
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Source:
"Vacuum Oil Company," Wikipedia. Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_Oil_Company
The 1942 through 1948 Dubuque Classified Business Directory listed 300 E. 6th.