Motor Oil Magnets
Description: Founded as Charles Auto Supply in 1934, Charles would go on to open a dozen locations throughout the greater Washington Metro area, subsequently changing their name to Charles Auto Supply Stores. The retailer’s initial offerings were basic repair parts and supplies, but by the time the boys began coming home from WWII and began hot rodding their cars, the Charles stores began adding speed parts and go fast goodies. Streamline was Charles' house brand for several products, including their 'Hi-Speed Motor Oil.' By the late ’70s, dedicated speed shops and national auto parts supply stores were putting the squeeze on Charles Auto Supply Stores, and they struggled throughout the ’80s before closing up shop some time in the ’90s.
Description: Harry Sinclair had his eye on a rival, Prairie Oil and Gas – a Rockefeller interest as big as Sinclair Consolidated. Sinclair held a half interest in the Ajax pipeline, which was jeopardizing the entire Prairie system by siphoning off most of their pipeline traffic. But in 1930, Sinclair sold its half to Standard Oil Company, along with its 50 percent interest in the Sinclair Crude Oil Purchasing Company, for $72.5 million cash.
