The A to Z of Petroliana Brands
A
AMOCO – American fuel giant known for its torch-and-oval logo.
ARAL – German brand famous for its blue-and-white diamond sign.
ATLANTIC – Early American petroleum brand with bold shield-style signage.
B
BP (British Petroleum) – Iconic green-and-yellow shield recognised worldwide.
BAT OIL – Popular early motor oil brand with distinctive bat imagery.
C
CALTEX – Chevron’s global brand with the red star emblem.
CASTROL – Legendary British lubricant company with the green-and-red roundel.
D
DUCKHAMS – Classic British oil maker, famed for “Q” motor oil.
DUNLOP – Tyre brand strongly represented in garage signs and enamel advertising.
E
ESSO – Tiger mascots, oval logo, and some of the world’s most collected signs.
EPPIE / EPPCO – Historic petroleum brands tied to regional oil distribution.
F
FIRESTONE – Tyre and garage-equipment branding seen on signs and pumps.
FLEETWING – American gasoline brand with striking winged-shield logos.
G
GARGOYLE MOBILOIL – Early Mobil brand featuring the famous red gargoyle.
GULF – Bright orange-and-blue disc logo, prized by motorsport fans.
H
HAVOLINE – Texaco-owned oil brand known for star-and-shield motifs.
HUMBLE OIL – Pre-Exxon American brand often found on enamel pumps.
I
IGOL – French oil company with bold block-letter signage.
INDIAN MOTOR OIL – Collectable for its Native American imagery and early tins.
J
JET – UK and European fuel chain with bold yellow-and-blue branding.
JOHN BULL – Tyre repair and accessory brand popular in vintage garages.
K
KENDALL – US oil brand famous for the “two fingers” 2,000-mile logo.
KLEEN-FLO – Fuel additives and garage products with colourful can graphics.
L
LUBRIPLATE – Grease and lubricant maker with distinctive industrial packaging.
LAMCO / LAMSON – Vintage pump and equipment manufacturers seen in old stations.
M
MOBIL / MOBILOIL – The flying red Pegasus is one of petroliana’s most iconic symbols.
MICHELIN – Bibendum signs, enamel plates, and garage accessories are highly collected.
MUNSTER SIMMS - Modern pump/oil-system manufacturer.
N
NATIONAL BENZOLE – British fuel brand with its yellow-and-black “Mercury” logo.
NESTE – Nordic petroleum brand with modernist mid-century signage.
O
OLDSMOBILE SERVICE – Although a car brand, its service-station signage is highly collectible.
ORLENE / ORELCO – Vintage fuel and oil issuers from early petrol retailing.
P
PHILLIPS 66 – Shield-shaped US brand with strong Route 66 heritage.
POWERLUBE – Early 20th-century lubricants with striking tin designs.
Q
QUAKER STATE – US oil brand known for its green-and-white identity.
Q8 – Kuwait Petroleum’s global retail brand with bold striped motif.
R
REDLINE – High-performance oil with strong motorsport associations.
REGENT – Post-war British petrol brand featuring blue, white, and red roundels.
S
SHELL – The scallop shell logo is among the most recognisable in petrol history.
STANDARD OIL – Massive early US petroleum trust whose sub-brands are heavily collected.
T
TEXACO – The red star-and-T logo is iconic across pumps, globes, and enamel signs.
TOTAL – French multinational with distinctive tricolour branding.
U
UNION 76 – Known for its bold orange “76” globes at American service stations.
ULTRAMAR – Canadian/UK brand with striking maritime-themed graphics.
V
VALVOLINE – Well-known V-shield logo, seen on everything from tins to race banners.
VEEDOL – Early lubricant brand with strong aviation and motor heritage.
W
WOLVERINE – Classic oil brand with bright yellow tin designs.
WAVERLY – Early petroleum trademark known for colourful can art.
X
XCL – Lesser-known American motor oil often found in collectible cans.
XOMAX / XOMAT – Equipment and accessory makers sometimes found in garage ephemera.
Y
YAMALUBE – Motorcycle and marine lubricants tied to Yamaha branding.
YPSILANTI / YPCO – Regional US petroleum brand with charming vintage signage.
Z
ZEROLENE (by Standard Oil) – “The Standard Oil for Motor Cars,” highly collectable tins.
ZIC – Modern Korean oil brand, occasionally seen in contemporary petroliana collections.
The A to Z in more detail
AMOCO
Amoco was one of America’s major oil companies, instantly recognisable by its torch-and-oval logo. Petroliana collectors look for Amoco fuel globes, porcelain signs, pump plates, and station memorabilia. Amoco’s distinctive red, white, and blue colour scheme makes it a favourite display brand for US-themed garages.
Typical collectible items: glass globes, oil cans, torch-logo porcelain signs.
ARAL
Aral is Germany’s iconic fuel brand, characterised by its elegant blue-and-white diamond identity. Aral enamel signs and pump fronts are known for their clean design and high-quality German porcelain enamel.
Typical collectible items: enamel panels, metal pump fascia plates.
ATLANTIC
An early American petroleum brand, Atlantic produced a wide range of enamel signs and oil tins, often featuring bold shield-style graphics. Pre-war Atlantic pieces are especially sought-after.
Typical collectible items: shield logos, 1930s oil cans, early station signage.
BP (British Petroleum)
BP’s green-and-yellow shield is one of the most recognised garage symbols in the UK. Collectors favour BP petrol pumps, enamel signs, oil pourers, and workshop tins from the 1920s through the 1970s.
Typical collectible items: BP shield signs, Visco Static oil cans, 1950s–60s pumps.
BAT OIL
Known for its dramatic bat imagery, Bat Motor Oil is popular with collectors who favour early 1900s tin graphics. Surviving pourers and cans are rare and valuable.
Typical collectible items: early tins, gothic-style advertising.
CALTEX
CALTEX (California–Texas Oil) uses a striking red star logo, making its globes and enamel signs highly decorative. Popular across Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Typical collectible items: red-star globes, regional enamel signs.
CASTROL
One of Britain’s greatest lubricant brands, Castrol is famous for its green-and-red roundel. Vintage Castrol pourers, shelf tins, and workshop wall signs are essential staples in petroliana collections.
Typical collectible items: green pourers, GTX tins, enamel panels.
DUCKHAMS
Duckhams is a legendary British oil brand well-loved for its distinctive blue-and-yellow branding. Items such as “Q” 20W-50 tins, 2-stroke dispensers, pourers, and enamel signs are widely collected.
Typical collectible items: Duckhams Q tins, 2-stroke dispensers, enamel signs.
DUNLOP
A tyre manufacturer rather than a petroleum company, but central to garage history. Dunlop signs, foot pumps, posters, and tyre gauges are highly collectable.
Typical collectible items: tyre inflators, enamel advertising, racing banners.
ESSO
Esso is one of the giants of petroliana collecting. Its oval logo, “Put a Tiger in Your Tank” campaign, and Esso Blue paraffin branding create huge demand. Collectors prize anything from globes to tin signs and Esso Man figures.
Typical collectible items: globe tops, tiger posters, paraffin cans.
EPPCO / EPPIE
Regional petroleum distributors known for distinctive mid-century graphics. Ideal for collectors seeking unusual, non-mainstream brands.
Typical collectible items: localised enamel signs, branded cans.
FIRESTONE
Firestone’s bold typography and racing heritage make its signage desirable among garage collectors. Their early enamel signs are especially prized.
Typical collectible items: enamel signs, workshop tools, tyre stands.
FLEETWING
An American petrol brand featuring an elegant winged logo. Often found on pumps and tin signs from the 1940s–60s.
Typical collectible items: winged-shield signs, petrol globes.
GARGOYLE MOBILOIL
The early Mobil identity featuring a red gargoyle is iconic. These items date from the 1910s–1930s and are among the most valuable in petroliana.
Typical collectible items: Mobiloil A/F tins, double-sided porcelain.
GULF
Gulf’s bright orange-and-blue disc makes it instantly recognisable and extremely popular among motorsport fans.
Typical collectible items: globe tops, pump plates, racing signs.
HAVOLINE
Texaco’s premium motor oil brand, often distinguished by clean black-and-white packaging and star insignia. Popular among collectors of mid-century oil cans.
Typical collectible items: pyramid tins, quart cans.
HUMBLE OIL
The precursor to Exxon in many US states, Humble Oil produced attractive signage and early pump branding.
Typical collectible items: porcelain station signs, Humble-branded pumps.
IGOL
French lubricant brand featuring bold, blocky lettering and stylish European mid-century design.
Typical collectible items: French enamel plates, tins.
INDIAN MOTOR OIL
Collected for its striking Native American iconography. Authentic pieces are rare due to early production dates.
Typical collectible items: tins, signs with tribal imagery.
JET
UK and European fuel chain with sharp yellow-and-blue branding. Popular for collectors of modern-era petroliana.
Typical collectible items: forecourt signs, pump decals.
JOHN BULL
Known for tyre repair kits and garage accessories, John Bull advertising is colourful and nostalgic.
Typical collectible items: puncture repair kits, enamel signs.
KENDALL
Famous for the “two fingers” logo (signifying 2,000-mile oil changes). A staple of American service station décor.
Typical collectible items: quart cans, service station signs.
KLEEN-FLO
Additives and fuel treatment products often packaged in eye-catching tins.
Typical collectible items: red/yellow tins, counter displays.
LUBRIPLATE
Known for industrial lubricants, Lubriplate tins and grease containers are popular with collectors seeking workshop-style pieces.
Typical collectible items: grease tins, lubricant cabinets.
LAMCO / LAMSON
Manufacturers of early fuel pumps and garage equipment. Their mechanical pumps are sometimes restored as display pieces.
Typical collectible items: pump handles, brass gauge plates.
MOBIL
The flying red Pegasus is one of the most beloved symbols in petroliana. Mobil’s branding spans from early Gargoyle years to modern Pegasus-era items.
Typical collectible items: globes, Pegasus porcelain signs, oil tins.
MICHELIN
Tyre brand famous for Bibendum (the Michelin Man). Their enamel signs are among the most desirable worldwide.
Typical collectible items: Bibendum figures, tyres stands, enamel plates.
MUNSTER SIMMS
Munster Simms (MS) was a regional Irish fuel brand known for its own station signage and road maps. Though later absorbed into larger petrol groups, surviving MS memorabilia is highly prized by collectors.
Typical collectible items: Road maps, signs and tins.
NATIONAL BENZOLE
A classic British brand with its yellow-and-black “Mercury” winged helmet mascot. Highly collectible, especially 1930s–50s enamel signs.
Typical collectible items: Mercury pump globes, enamel signs, tins.
NESTE
Nordic petroleum brand with clean, modernist designs that appeal to Scandinavian collectors.
Typical collectible items: station signage, plastic globes.
OLDSMOBILE SERVICE
While a car brand, Oldsmobile’s service station enamel signs and dealership advertising fall firmly into the petroliana universe.
Typical collectible items: service signs, dealership porcelain.
ORLENE / ORELCO
Early petroleum suppliers producing distinctive typography and colourful tins.
Typical collectible items: pre-war tins, petrol pump plates.
PHILLIPS 66
The black-and-white shield—later orange—is strongly associated with Route 66 nostalgia.
Typical collectible items: neon signs, globe lenses, pump plates.
POWERLUBE
A premium oil brand from the early automobile era, widely collected for its detailed animal-themed tin graphics.
Typical collectible items: bear-graphic tins, pre-war pourers.
QUAKER STATE
American oil brand with traditional green-and-white colours. Common but highly decorative.
Typical collectible items: tins, rack signs, dealer banners.
Q8
Kuwait Petroleum’s retail arm, known for its distinctive striped logo.
Typical collectible items: pump fronts, forecourt signage.
REDLINE
Modern performance oil with a strong motorsport footprint. Highly collectable for racing-themed garages.
Typical collectible items: racing signage, sponsorship banners.
REGENT
British post-war petrol brand using clean blue, white, and red motifs.
Typical collectible items: enamel pump plaques, cans.
SHELL
The scallop shell symbol is one of the most recognised logos in the world. Shell petroliana spans early Victorian enamel signs to modern globes.
Typical collectible items: clam-shell signs, Oil Can Man figures, pumps.
STANDARD OIL
Standard Oil’s breakup created many sub-brands, all of which are highly collected. Early Standard Oil signs can be extremely valuable.
Typical collectible items: early porcelain signs, globes.
TEXACO
The red star and green “T” logo is a cornerstone of petroliana. Texaco produced pumps, gas globes, porcelain signs, and oil tins across decades.
Typical collectible items: star globes, hexagon signs, oil cans.
TOTAL
French multinational with strong European presence; modern but widely collected for its clean branding.
Typical collectible items: forecourt signs, metal display panels.
UNION 76
Famous for its bright orange “76” ball globes, a true American service-station icon.
Typical collectible items: globe balls, neon signs, pump plates.
ULTRAMAR
Recognisable through its naval-themed identity; popular in Canada and the UK.
Typical collectible items: ship-logo signs, pump fascia.
VALVOLINE
Known for its bold V-shaped logo and long racing history. Oil cans and workshop signs are staples among collectors.
Typical collectible items: V-logo tins, enamel dealer signs.
VEEDOL
Historic lubricant brand with aviation links. Their tins, particularly from the 1930s, are highly desirable.
Typical collectible items: aircraft-themed tins, enamel signs.
WOLVERINE
Early oil brand with yellow tins and strong animal motifs. Items are less common but very collectible.
Typical collectible items: 1920s tins, early signage.
WAVERLY
Another early lubricant name known for striking art deco tin graphics.
Typical collectible items: art-deco tins, early pump plates.
XCL
Smaller American oil brand best known for colourful mid-century quart cans.
Typical collectible items: 1950s–60s tins, retail display racks.
XOMAX / XOMAT
Associated with workshop tools and forecourt equipment. Ideal for adding authenticity to garage displays.
Typical collectible items: tool signage, garage accessories.
YAMALUBE
Yamaha’s official lubricant brand, popular with collectors of motorcycle garage décor.
Typical collectible items: workshop banners, branded tins.
YPCO / YPSILANTI
A smaller US petroleum name, often found on regional enamel signs.
Typical collectible items: Midwest signage, oil cans.
ZEROLENE (Standard Oil)
Marketed as “The Standard Oil for Motor Cars,” Zerolene produced beautiful early tins featuring bears and typography-heavy graphics.
Typical collectible items: early tins, enamel signs.
ZIC
A modern Korean oil brand sometimes collected for contemporary garage displays.
Typical collectible items: metal canisters, signage.
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