The Gilmore Oil Company was an independent oil company in California which was founded by Arthur Fremont Gilmore after he struck oil on his dairy farm in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles around 1903. His son, Earl Bell Gilmore, took over the family business and expanded its distribution network which, at its peak, operated over three thousand gas stations on the West Coast. He promoted the company in a flamboyant style with much advertising, branding and sponsorship.
An old Gilmore filling station, preserved at the Farmer's Market
Arthur and Earl Gilmore with the staff of Gilmore Oil around 1914. Earl is leaning against the automobile with a roof while his father stands next to him with his hand on the fender of a Model T.[1]
Arthur Fremont Gilmore moved to California in the 1870s and, with another farmer Julius Carter, established a dairy farm in Compton. In 1880, they acquired a 256-acre (104 ha) tract of James Thompson, who had gone bankrupt, and established another dairy farm. In 1890, Gilmore's partnership with Carter was dissolved and they drew straws to divide their farms – Gilmore got the property. He lived with his family in the adobe farmhouse there and, around 1903, drilled for water so that he could expand their dairy herd. Instead of water, he struck oil. This find was part of the substantial Salt Lake Oil Field and the farm was converted to oil production. The A. F. Gilmore Oil Co. initially sold the petroleum and tar for lubrication and paving, but Gilmore saw the potential of the automobile and started refining the crude oil into gasoline.[2]
Arthur Gilmore died in 1918 and his son, Earl Bell Gilmore, took charge. He had initially sold gasoline from a horse-drawn tanker at the corner of La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard and this became the site of the first Gilmore gasoline station. E. B. Gilmore expanded the business, establishing over three thousand more gas stations on the west coast. His methods included energetic advertising and promotion. He created the branding for Red Lion gasoline with the slogan "Roar with Gilmore" and sponsored daredevils like Roscoe Turner, who flew with Gilmore, the flying lion, and John Cobb who drove the Railton Red Lion to set a land speed record of 369.7 miles per hour (595.0 km/h).[3]
The Gilmore property was named Gilmore Island and a variety of other businesses were established there. The Original Farmers Market at 3rd & Fairfax was established in 1934 and this still exists today as a major attraction at "3rd and Fairfax" -- https://farmersmarketla.com/.[4] The Gilmore Stadium was established at the same time. This initially hosted midget car racing and then added boxing matches and the Los Angeles Bulldogs football team. Gilmore Field was opened as the home of the baseball team, the Hollywood Stars. Other attractions on Gilmore Island included specialty shops at The Dell, a drive-in theater and the Pan-Pacific Auditorium.[5]
In the 1940s, 75% of the shares in the oil company were acquired by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company and it was then merged into that group which became Mobil.[6] In 2006 the A.F. Gilmore Company regained control of all of the original Gilmore art licenses and established the e-commerce website http://www.gilmoreoilandgas.com/. You can also learn more about the history of Gilmore Oil at https://farmersmarketla.com/history
Hinckley, James (2012), "Gilmore Oil Company", The Route 66 Encyclopedia, Voyageur Press, p. 118, ISBN9780760340417
Seims, Charles; Darr, Alan (2014), Roar with Gilmore: The Story of America's Most Unusual Oil Company, ISBN9780578144245
Folven, Edwin (25 April 2016), "Eight decades of exploring Gilmore Island", Beverley Press
Hamlin, David; Arena, Brett (2009), Los Angeles's Original Farmers Market, Arcadia, ISBN9780738570051
Wallach, Ruth (2013), Miracle Mile in Los Angeles: History and Architecture, Arcadia, ISBN9781625846358
Richmond, Akasha (2006), "The Farmers Market", Hollywood Dish, Penguin, ISBN9781440628146, One of the must-see attractions in L.A. is the Farmers Market...
August 25, 2023
gilmore, company, independent, company, california, which, founded, arthur, fremont, gilmore, after, struck, dairy, farm, fairfax, district, angeles, around, 1903, earl, bell, gilmore, took, over, family, business, expanded, distribution, network, which, peak,. The Gilmore Oil Company was an independent oil company in California which was founded by Arthur Fremont Gilmore after he struck oil on his dairy farm in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles around 1903 His son Earl Bell Gilmore took over the family business and expanded its distribution network which at its peak operated over three thousand gas stations on the West Coast He promoted the company in a flamboyant style with much advertising branding and sponsorship An old Gilmore filling station preserved at the Farmer s Market Contents 1 History 2 References 2 1 Citations 2 2 SourcesHistory Edit Arthur and Earl Gilmore with the staff of Gilmore Oil around 1914 Earl is leaning against the automobile with a roof while his father stands next to him with his hand on the fender of a Model T 1 Arthur Fremont Gilmore moved to California in the 1870s and with another farmer Julius Carter established a dairy farm in Compton In 1880 they acquired a 256 acre 104 ha tract of James Thompson who had gone bankrupt and established another dairy farm In 1890 Gilmore s partnership with Carter was dissolved and they drew straws to divide their farms Gilmore got the property He lived with his family in the adobe farmhouse there and around 1903 drilled for water so that he could expand their dairy herd Instead of water he struck oil This find was part of the substantial Salt Lake Oil Field and the farm was converted to oil production The A F Gilmore Oil Co initially sold the petroleum and tar for lubrication and paving but Gilmore saw the potential of the automobile and started refining the crude oil into gasoline 2 Arthur Gilmore died in 1918 and his son Earl Bell Gilmore took charge He had initially sold gasoline from a horse drawn tanker at the corner of La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard and this became the site of the first Gilmore gasoline station E B Gilmore expanded the business establishing over three thousand more gas stations on the west coast His methods included energetic advertising and promotion He created the branding for Red Lion gasoline with the slogan Roar with Gilmore and sponsored daredevils like Roscoe Turner who flew with Gilmore the flying lion and John Cobb who drove the Railton Red Lion to set a land speed record of 369 7 miles per hour 595 0 km h 3 The Gilmore property was named Gilmore Island and a variety of other businesses were established there The Original Farmers Market at 3rd amp Fairfax was established in 1934 and this still exists today as a major attraction at 3rd and Fairfax https farmersmarketla com 4 The Gilmore Stadium was established at the same time This initially hosted midget car racing and then added boxing matches and the Los Angeles Bulldogs football team Gilmore Field was opened as the home of the baseball team the Hollywood Stars Other attractions on Gilmore Island included specialty shops at The Dell a drive in theater and the Pan Pacific Auditorium 5 In the 1940s 75 of the shares in the oil company were acquired by the Socony Vacuum Oil Company and it was then merged into that group which became Mobil 6 In 2006 the A F Gilmore Company regained control of all of the original Gilmore art licenses and established the e commerce website http www gilmoreoilandgas com You can also learn more about the history of Gilmore Oil at https farmersmarketla com historyReferences EditCitations Edit Seims amp Darr 2014 Wallach 2013 pp 15 16 Hamlin amp Arena 2009 pp 41 58 Richmond 2006 p 160 Folven 2016 Hinckley 2012 p 118 Sources Edit Hinckley James 2012 Gilmore Oil Company The Route 66 Encyclopedia Voyageur Press p 118 ISBN 9780760340417 Seims Charles Darr Alan 2014 Roar with Gilmore The Story of America s Most Unusual Oil Company ISBN 9780578144245 Folven Edwin 25 April 2016 Eight decades of exploring Gilmore Island Beverley Press Hamlin David Arena Brett 2009 Los Angeles s Original Farmers Market Arcadia ISBN 9780738570051 Wallach Ruth 2013 Miracle Mile in Los Angeles History and Architecture Arcadia ISBN 9781625846358 Richmond Akasha 2006 The Farmers Market Hollywood Dish Penguin ISBN 9781440628146 One of the must see attractions in L A is the Farmers Market Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gilmore Oil Company amp oldid 1155850372, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
