PETROLEUM HISTORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 37, 14 October 1946, Page 6

PETROLEUM HISTORY

VACUUM OIL COMPANY GOLDEN JUBILEE The year 1946 is a significant period in the annals of the Petroleum industry in New Zealand; for it marks the fiftieth anniversary of the existence of that industry in this part of the world. In 1896 the Vacuum Oil Company, which.was the first in the field, commenced operations in Wellington. The original staff numbered three. The office was in a building in Featherston Street, on the site now occupied by the General Post Office. No greater example of true “romance in industry” . could be given than the rise and development of this organisation which is today one of New Zealand’s leading commercial institutions. Experimental Stages ‘ In those days there were no motor cars in New Zealand; elsewhere, they were still in their early experimental stage. Secondary industries generally, judged by today’s standards were in their infancy. Petrol or benzine, as a producer of power was unheard of. The lubricating oils in almost universal use on railways and manufacturing plants were castor oil for machine bearings and tallow (in a melted state) for steam cylinders. Prior to 1896, there was no Oil Company in New Zealand and on setting up business, the Vacuum Oil Company had a new doctrine to spread. It proposed to market mineral—that is petroleum—lubricants. The number of products it had for sale was few—about a dozen grades of oil—and its difficulties were many. It had to pioneer entirely new ground. Its chief competitors were conservatism and prejudice.

Plant engineers in those days thought that tallow and castor oil were quite satisfactory, because they knew no other lubricants.

Gaining Popularity The fame of the new lubricants, however, soon spread for they gave service far in advance of the nonmineral “oils”. The mining industry formed a large section of the customers of the new Company. Coastal Shipping, too, commenced using Vacuum Oils, and found they gave improved performance in . marine engines. With the turn of the Century the Company had established branches and agents in many parts of the Dominion. When the organisation became a Proprietary Limited Company in April 1904, the industrial buyers of lubricating oils still represented the bulk of its trade. The motor car was, as yet, little known in this country, although the first motor vehicles to be imported into New Zealand arived in 1898. Birth of an Industry It was necessary for the users of early motor vehicles to import their own fuel, as no “petrol” importing company was established until 1901. In that year, the Colonial Oil Company was formed. However, the first activities of that company were confined to kerosene and not for some time did it import any motor fuel. It did not handle lubricants. In 1906 the Vacuum Oil Company foresaw the very great need for the correct lubrication of the new machine that was destined to take possession of the roads and the first “Chart of Recommendations” was produced. Prior to this the motorist simply asked for “motor oil” and trusted to luck. The Vacuum Oil Company, however, by now had developed a range of motor oils, each with different characteristics to suit the varying types of engines or service. This meant far better mechanical performance. 200 Car Models It is interesting to note that in 1906 when the Company brought out its first “Chart of Recommendations” as a guide to correct lubrication, over 200 makes of cars were listed. Probably, many of these makes never reached New Zealand but were placed in the chart “just in case.” The year 1908 witnessed an important event in the history of the Company, namely, its amalgamation with the Colonial Oil Company, which as mentioned earlier had been formed in 1901 for the marketing of kerosene, benzine and the like.

From then on Vacuum Oil Company marketed not only lubricating oils for industrial and automotive use but also “refined oils” including motor spirits, kerosenes, distillates, solvents etc., until today the variety has grown to more than 300. Bulk Distribution A far reaching and most important innovation so far as the motoring world was concerned was the introduction, in the early twenties,

of the Bulk Distribution Scheme involving the building of bulk storage depots throughout the Dominion, installation of petrol pumps, and the operation of fleets of road tank waggons, and rail tank cars. In 1930 bulk distribution of power koresene was introdced to the Dominion thereby providing a valuable economic service to the farming community which, by this time, had become highly mechanised. From the earliest days of aviation in New Zealand, the Vacuum Oil Company did everything it could to assist the development of the hew form of transport. Where necessary, special fuels and lubricants were made available and servicing facilities provided. Many great names are associated with these activities. In 1928 the Trans-Tasman air route was pioneered by the late Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith—undoubtedly the world’s most outstanding peacetime . aviator. In all his famous flights but one Sir Charles used Vacuum products and availed himself of Vacuum Service of which he had the highest opinion.

Research in N.Z.

For more than 25 years the Company has been actively interested in the search for oil in Australia and New Zealand and in later years has extended its research work to Papua and New Guinea. This self-imposed task has entailed the engagement of many noted scientists and the expenditure of one and a quarter million pounds sterling. Before the operations were suspended in the islands owing to the Japanese entry in the war, the Vacuum Oil Company and other companies associated with it in Papua and New Ginea had a total tsaff of 1563 employees of whom 1411 were natives. The white employees included highly qualified scientists, geologists, geophysicists, surveyors, field engineers, wireless operators etc.

A Worthy Record

Fifty years of continuous trading is a worthy record in a young coun® try like New Zealand, and the Vacuum Oil Company has every reason to be proud of its achievements and of the outstanding contribution it has made to the industrial and commercial activities of the Dominion.

Fifty years ago the Company was little more than a selling agency with insignificant resources. Its original staff numbered three; today there are over 500 employees and Branch Offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. In addition, the Company operates seven main bulk (seaboard) installations, four main warehouses including a large manufacturing plant at Wellington and approximately thirty lesser depots established at various points through the Dominion.

In peace and war the Vacuum Oil Company has contributed in no small measure to the welfare and progress of the country in which it finds its being. In the year to follow it will render even better service.