Tidewater Petroleum
Encyclopedia
Tidewater Oil Company was a major petroleum
refining and marketing concern in the United States
for more than 80 years. Tidewater was best known for its Flying A-branded products and gas stations, and for Veedol motor oil, which was known throughout the world.
Tidewater was founded in New York City
in 1887. The company entered the gasoline market just before World War I, and by 1920 was selling gasoline, oil and other products on the East Coast under its Tydol brand. In 1931, Tidewater expanded its reach into the midwestern U.S. by purchasing Northwestern Oil Company of Superior, Wisconsin
.
Soon thereafter, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (now ExxonMobil
) gained control of Tidewater, and set up the subsidiary Mission Corporation to operate it. J. Paul Getty
's purchase of Mission in 1937 set the stage for the birth of Tidewater as a major national player in the oil industry.
In 1938, Getty merged Tidewater with Associated Oil Company, based in San Francisco with a market area limited to the Far West. Associated, founded in 1901, had created the prominent Flying A brand for its premium-grade gasoline in 1932.
With the merger and creation of Tidewater Associated Oil Company, Flying A became the primary brand name for the company, though the Tydol and Associated names were also retained in their respective marketing areas. Tydol During the 1950s, the Associated and Tydol brands gradually fell into disuse, and were dropped entirely in 1956. That same year, "Associated" was removed from the corporate name. The Veedol trademark was retained for motor oils and lubricants. BP acquired the Veedol brand when it bought Burmah-Castrol (who then owned the Veedol brand). In February, 2011 announced that they wished to sell the Veedol Brand.
Tidewater operated refineries on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as a small fleet of West oast-based tankers.
(later Exxon
). In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court nullified the purchase on anti-trust grounds.
In 1966, Phillips Petroleum Company (now ConocoPhillips
) purchased Tidewater's western refining, distribution and retailing network. Phillips immediately rebranded all Flying A stations in the region to Phillips 66
.
On the East Coast that year, parent firm Getty Oil Company dropped Tidewater Oil Company as a corporate name, after 15 years of operating the company as a subsidiary. Getty retained the Flying A brand for its East Coast stations until 1970, then dropped it in favor of its own Getty trademark. Texaco
acquired Getty in 1984.
(now the Pac-10) football and basketball during most of that period. The Flying A brand was also prominently linked with scoreboard and public-address system sponsorships at most major college stadiums and arenas on the West Coast.
Tidewater also sponsored New York Yankees
baseball telecasts during the 1960s.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
refining and marketing concern in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for more than 80 years. Tidewater was best known for its Flying A-branded products and gas stations, and for Veedol motor oil, which was known throughout the world.
Tidewater was founded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1887. The company entered the gasoline market just before World War I, and by 1920 was selling gasoline, oil and other products on the East Coast under its Tydol brand. In 1931, Tidewater expanded its reach into the midwestern U.S. by purchasing Northwestern Oil Company of Superior, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Soon thereafter, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (now ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
) gained control of Tidewater, and set up the subsidiary Mission Corporation to operate it. J. Paul Getty
J. Paul Getty
Jean Paul Getty was an American industrialist. He founded the Getty Oil Company, and in 1957 Fortune magazine named him the richest living American, whilst the 1966 Guinness Book of Records named him as the world's richest private citizen, worth an estimated $1,200 million. At his death, he was...
's purchase of Mission in 1937 set the stage for the birth of Tidewater as a major national player in the oil industry.
In 1938, Getty merged Tidewater with Associated Oil Company, based in San Francisco with a market area limited to the Far West. Associated, founded in 1901, had created the prominent Flying A brand for its premium-grade gasoline in 1932.
With the merger and creation of Tidewater Associated Oil Company, Flying A became the primary brand name for the company, though the Tydol and Associated names were also retained in their respective marketing areas. Tydol During the 1950s, the Associated and Tydol brands gradually fell into disuse, and were dropped entirely in 1956. That same year, "Associated" was removed from the corporate name. The Veedol trademark was retained for motor oils and lubricants. BP acquired the Veedol brand when it bought Burmah-Castrol (who then owned the Veedol brand). In February, 2011 announced that they wished to sell the Veedol Brand.
Tidewater operated refineries on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as a small fleet of West oast-based tankers.
The last years
In the early 1960s, Humble Oil & Refining Company purchased Tidewater's western refining and marketing properties, with the intention of rebranding Flying A stations in the western U.S. to EncoEnco (oil company)
Enco was a secondary retail brand name for products of Humble Oil, in certain parts of the United States from 1960 to 1973...
(later Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
). In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court nullified the purchase on anti-trust grounds.
In 1966, Phillips Petroleum Company (now ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips Company is an American multinational energy corporation with its headquarters located in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas in the United States...
) purchased Tidewater's western refining, distribution and retailing network. Phillips immediately rebranded all Flying A stations in the region to Phillips 66
Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is a brand of gasoline and service station in the U.S. It is owned by the ConocoPhillips Company.Phillips 66 will also be the name of the future downstream company created when ConocoPhillips repositions its integrated assets and businesses into two independent, publicly-traded...
.
On the East Coast that year, parent firm Getty Oil Company dropped Tidewater Oil Company as a corporate name, after 15 years of operating the company as a subsidiary. Getty retained the Flying A brand for its East Coast stations until 1970, then dropped it in favor of its own Getty trademark. Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
acquired Getty in 1984.
Publicity
Flying A was closely linked with Far West college football and basketball between the late 1920s and early 1960s, and "Play ball with Flying A!" was a familiar slogan to sports fans. Associated, and then post-merger Tidewater, owned the radio-broadcast rights to Pacific Coast ConferencePacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
(now the Pac-10) football and basketball during most of that period. The Flying A brand was also prominently linked with scoreboard and public-address system sponsorships at most major college stadiums and arenas on the West Coast.
Tidewater also sponsored New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
baseball telecasts during the 1960s.