WINDOWS\Jim\11-99

Monthly Feature ---- November 1999

"Frictionless Compound" ----You gotta love the names of early products. It tells you immediately----THIS THING IS OLD. ( other favorites are Motor Gasoline , Motor Grease , Axle , Cup ,and Transmission Grease ) This Sterling "frictionless Compound" 5 Lb. tin was manufactured by Canadian Oil Companies about 1912 , I believe . Besides the name , another interesting point is the logo-- a maple leaf and a beaver---You can't get more Canadian than that.

The thing I enjoy most about preparing these monthly features is taking the time to actually compare all my related memorabilia and put them into a chronological order , while making notes of interesting changes that occurred. I'm learning from these pieces , not just collecting.

These examples show Sterling Axle (bottom) and Sterling Cup Grease. While these grease tins are not mint , I doubt if more than a few have seen any like these. They are all "Sterling" grease put out by Canadian Oil Company .These were produced in the years 1904 to 1908. After that the name changed to "Companies" but the container remained the same. Later (1912 ?) a switch was made to the orange tins like the "Frictionless Compound" at the top of this page. I'm not sure if Frictionless Compound was available in the era of these gold and black tins. These examples are 5 and 10 lb. size.

The next era brought about the "National" brand name following the purchase of Canadian Oil Company by the National Refining Company of Ohio. (1908) The initials of this company are the basis for the En-ar-co name. The logo now merges the old name and the new : "NATIONAL BRANDS MEAN STERLING QUALITY" There were hand soldered containers for ; National Motor Grease (square container) National Transmission Grease (square) National Frictionless Compound (round) * Early tins in this era were a yellowish-orange , later ones became more yellow.*

Black Beauty Axle Grease , an established product of the National Refining Co. , was introduced to Canadians in this era .

Next came the line of "En-ar-co" products beginning with the "En-Ar-Co / NATIONAL" name (circa 1917 -'19) and, by 1920, switching to just "En-ar-co" brand with the "Quality First" logo. "EN-AR-CO BRANDS MEAN STERLING QUALITY" The 1923 Canadian Oil Companies catalog lists the following greases: Enarco Motor Grease: A dark green colored grease , superior in lubricating value to            ordinary cup grease in-as-much as it has a much higher fire test.                            In one grade only , about a No. 3 consistency. Specially prepared for
                           use in compression cups and alemite lubricating systems on automobiles.
                         Available in 1, 3 , 5 ,& 10 lb.tins , 25Lb.Pails , 50Lb.tubs , 1/2 barrels and barrels

Enarco Transmission Grease:A yellow colored semi-fluid grease of great durability and
                         superior cushioning properties .Specially prepared for the lubrication of
                         close-fitting gears in an automobile--roller and ball-bearings-axle lubrication -
                         transmissions - differentials , etc.
                         For cold weather it has no equal.
                               Available in 5 & 10 lb. tins, 25 lb.pails, 1/2 barrels and barrels.

Enarco Cup Grease: For the lubrication of crank pins , cross-heads, valve motions,
                         eccentrics, slides, pillow blocks, main journal and all heavy open bearings .
                         The finest grease on the market , and manufactured under our own special
                         formulae. Made of pure mineral oils and acidless horse oil (?). Will outwear
                         any other grease , and is a sure preventive against hot bearings.
                         Made in 5 five different consistencies from No.1 to No. 6 .
                         No1 is a soft grease , and No. 6 is a hard grease.
                         When not otherwise specified we will send the medium (No. 3) grease.
                         Available in 1, 3 , 5 ,& 10 lb. tins , 25 Lb. Pails , 50 Lb. pails ,
                         1/2 barrels and barrels

Enarco Tractor Cup Grease: Made especially to withstand the tremendous strain to
                         which tractor bearings are constantly subjected while the tractor is in use, but
                         can be used with equally good results in compression cups on autos and trucks .
                            This grease is made by using the highest grade cylinder stock as a base and the
                        compounding of medium consistency , about a No. 3 grade ,and is not affected
                        by climatic changes .
                            Many tractor owners have been "penny wise and pound foolish" as they have
                        used axle and other greases not intended for the lubrication of these machines.
                        Greases of the latter type will gum or cake and in most cases corrode and pit the
                        bearings, setting up a frictional resistance that might easily be avoided .
                             In handling any kind of grease and oil , great care should be taken to see that
                        the container is never allowed to stand uncovered. Grit in either oil or grease will
                        soon cause damage to the wearing surfaces.
                        Available in 5 & 10 lb. tins, 25 lb pails 1/2 barrels and barrels.

Black Beauty Axle Grease: is a graphite grease of uniform consistency . By a special
                        process , all the heavy, rich lubricating properties in the mineral oils are
                        retained . Unequaled for lubricating and wearing qualities , and is sold under an
                        ironclad guarantee to give satisfaction.
                        Put up in beautiful white enameled tins, in every convenient size.
                       One box of Black Beauty Axle Grease will last as long as TWO boxes of any
                       other kind. That is why Black Beauty Axle grease is demanded by the large
                       cartage companies everywhere.
                       Available in 1, 3 , 5 , & 10 lb. tins , 25 Lb. Pails , 1/2 barrels and barrels

National Crank Pin Grease: A very high-grade grease for the lubrication of Crank Pins ,
                       Cross Heads , etc., on Stationary , Marine Engines and Locomotives .
                       Available in 5 & 10 lb. tins , 25 Lb. Pails

National Graphite Grease: Graphite is a filler - and for this reason we make a solid oil
                        compounded with graphite . Fills up the small depressions and smoothes out
                        the rough parts on any bearing.
                       Available in 1, 5 , & 10 lb. tins , 25 Lb. Pails , 1/2 barrels and barrels
* * * * * *     En-ar-co Frictionless Compound was available in a orangish -yellow tin but it appears to have been dropped prior to the printing of the 1923 catalog . This catalog does list En-ar-co Tractor Grease , which was in a tin with a more yellow colour. This provides some clue to the era of the colour change. * * * * * *

White Rose Pressure Gun Grease was first mentioned in the May 1926 Enarco Booster . In the same issue , I found the earliest " Boy & Slate" (on a Canadian tin) that I have seen . It appeared on a square , 5 gallon Enarco Motor Oil can. Patented in 1917 , I have found no evidence of a "Boy" (in canada) until he made the cover of a 1920 Enarco Booklet . More and more , from 1920, he appeared on printed advertising and signs and by 1926 made the jump to packaging.

The October 1927 "Enarco Booster" supplied this growing list of grease available: Black Beauty Axle Grease Enarco Cup Grease Enarco Pressure Gun Grease Enarco Chain and Cable Coating Enarco Graphite Grease Enarco Pinion Grease Enarco Wool Fibre Grease Enarco Gear Shield Grease Enarco Gear Grease Enarco Curve Grease Enarco Car Grease (Rail car) Enarco Sponge Grease

While these are all 5 lb. examples , they were at originally available in 1 , 5 & 10 lb. tins , 25 lb. tins & pails, and larger sizes . By 1953 (lower left) the one pound size was eliminated These are arranged according to age with the exception of the one in the bottom right , which , I believe could be wartime or possibly intended for use only in the White Rose "lubritorium" where the public would not see it - possibly explaining the lack of graphics .

The July 1932 En-ar-co Booster introduced a new product line including: Enarco Chassis Lubricant Enarco Water Pump Grease Enarco Universal and Wheel Grease Enarco Trans-Gear Lubricant These were all new at the time and I feel this is when the new style tins were introduced . The new tins (shown in the photo above , 2nd from left ) featured the Boy & Slate but now included the white area below the boy where the product name was stenciled in. The slate now carries the slogan " BUY AT THIS SIGN " This stenciling on a generic tin continued with the yellow 'White Rose' packaging .

At stations where automobile service was available , there was a service bay called the "Lubritorium". It usually had a ramp , hoist or pit and supply of bulk oil and grease. Often the lubritorium was outdoors. This wood Boy and Slate was the main feature on the wall , ahead of the vehicle. On the left hand side were 5 glass jars with grease and oil samples, and, although hard to see in this photo there are hooks and 5 styles of grease guns for servicing specific areas of the vehicle . The yellow lettering below each gun describes where each grease or compound is used . Since the lettering includes Trans-Gear Lubricant and Universal & Wheel Grease this sign dates after July 1932 . Similar to the wooden signs, this "Slate's" lettering is unique to the lubritorium , and has a porcelain 'slate' for easy clean-up as opposed to the outdoor signs which the company , in 1923 , described as " finished with liquid slate"--( painted tin ). Special Thanks to a good friend for sharing his photos of this Boy & Slate and the Sterling Grease tins.

First "Durmax" I've seen This very small sample jar of grease has a logo with " White Rose " written under the rose. I believe this style logo was only used for a very short time --circa 1940. I'm not aware of any tins with this logo , usually it is seen on paper and often in conjunction a boy and slate logo, suggesting the transition period after 1939, when Canadian Oil Companies became truly Canadian again. Most products now dropped the 'Enarco' name and were prefixed with 'White Rose'

A gun filling pail as introduced in the White Rose News --Christmas 1948 issue. They featured a screw-on adapter for filling grease guns without the previous mess. "These containers come filled with either White Rose Chassis Lubricant or White Rose Pressure Gun Grease and can be refilled from 100 lb. and 400 lb. grease drums ."

This photo shows a grease gun cartridge on the right, which I believe was introduced between 1957 and 1961. On the left is another cartridge which is not grease but "HOLD-ON BELT DRESSING" which has the old logo , so I will date it before 1953. En-ar-co Belt Dressing was offered in the 1923 catalog , packaged in a tin container.

Grease had been manufactured in the Petrolia refinery from the early days but in 1951 the Lubricating Oil and Grease Plant (L & G) opened in Montreal . Canadian Oil already operated a large marine terminal here . Ocean going tankers of the largest capacity could tie up to their docks and unload their cargoes . Home also to Canada's two largest railroads , strategic reasoning chose Montreal for the new two million dollar plant. Less than two years later it was destroyed by fire on April 28th ,1953. Fully insured it was rebuilt and re-opened in just under one year. Consider this portion of a very non-technical article from Montreal's L&G opening: Basically greases are just lubricating oils with jellying agents added and are used where oils are not suitable. These jellying agents are prepared in contactors under high temperature and pressure conditions and then transferred to large mixing vats where petroleum oils are added , worked to the necessary consistency and all air is removed. Now in its final state the product is placed in containers where it is allowed to take its final set . --White Rose News - Christmas 1951

Lubritorium operators were assisted in their duties by Company issued lubrication guides. The earliest I have seen of these was 1938 and features a Boy and Slate on the cover. These were issued yearly , I believe ,with a probable interruption during of the war years. Usually coil-bound , they included the newest logos on the cover with a product list inside but the actual content was generic and were probably available from Chek-Chart for other companies.However they are a good source of product information and introduction dates.

One grease - White Rose Ultra Multi-Purpose Grease - replaced Cup Grease, Pressure Gun Grease , Water Pump Grease , Universal and Wheel Greases and Ball and Roller Bearing Greases. This was about 1953 (?) I believe . It was itself replaced by WHITE ROSE ULTRALUBE ,in 1960 , which had a distinctive green colour , smooth and buttery texture , and is made from the highest quality lithium soap base. * One grease for most automotive purposes * Pressure Gun Grease and Universal & Wheel Grease remained in production , as well as a vast selection of special-purpose industrial greases.

While crude petroleum forms the basic and major raw material , the refiner requires many other diversified materials such as chemicals of all kinds , animal oils and fats , vegetable and marine oils , fats and waxes , animal and vegetable fatty acids , resins , solvents , graphite , talc , mica , etc. , etc. , in order to prepare the many products required for industry ,transportation and home. Lubricating greases are , basically , carefully selected and balanced combinations of metallic soaps with petroleum lubricating oils . Frequently such materials as Graphite , Talc , Asbestos , Mica , Rubber and other additives are incorporated for special purposes . The metallic soaps are made from the metals , Calcium , Sodium , Aluminum , Lithium , Barium , Strontium , Lead , Tin , Copper and Iron . These metals , or combinations of them , when combined with fatty or vegetable oils and/or fatty acids , produce soaps having many diversified characteristics. These in turn are lent to the finished grease products . The final products can also be influenced by the type , combination and quality of the petroleum lubricating oils used in combination with the soap(s) .

What have I missed ?

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