The
Legend
Number 51, Summer 2011
Texaco Maps 1926-1943
by Nick L. Nielsen (RMCA #220)
I found the prewar Texaco map series to be confusing, as they
issued multiple maps in most years with minor and major
differences. Some of the maps were dated, some had distinct
map codes, some had small cover dates and some had Gas Tax
Table dates. So to define the series I made a detailed
spreadsheet of my California Texaco Map Collection. I added
two maps from TX where CA maps were not available. A
copy of this spreadsheet is included as an insert to this issue of
The Legend.
A little history: Texaco had a presence in the Rocky Mountain
region where it started operating it's Casper, Wyoming works
in Feb. 1923. In Jan. 1928 Texaco began operating Terminals
in Oakland, Ca. and Seattle, Wa. and in Mar. 1928 Texaco
purchased the California Petroleum Corporation (Calpet).
Calpet was a well-established refiner and marketer in the west.
In Nov. 1928 Texaco began
operating a terminal in Portland,
Oregon. So in 1928 Texaco was
now marketing in the far west and
started issuing California maps.
CONTENTS
Texaco Maps 1926-1943
(California Pre-war Maps chart
RMCA Officers and Directors
RMCA Club Notes
2011 RMCA Convention
1911 Monarch road map
McAlpine Maps
Mid-Year Logo Changes
the Northwest and Rocky Mountain States issued in 1927. To
my knowledge this is the only pre-war General Drafting map
issued by any oil company covering part of the West Coast.
The third is the unique 1928 map by the "Touring League of
America" covering WA, OR, CA. The rest of the prewar
Texaco map series from 1929 on are all Rand McNally maps.
Continued on Page 4
To determine the date of issue of the
maps for this article I have used the
inside and cover dates on the maps
from 1926 to 1934, and the Rand
McNally code on the large
California map from 1936 to 1943.
For the late 1934 map and the 1935
maps I used the small cover date, as
the Rand McNally map codes do not
contain a date letter until 1936.
Texaco Maps in the west start with
three unusual maps. The first, from
1926, is a map of southern Idaho
published by Gene Young (another
of Utah is also known to exist). The
second is a General Drafting map of
Page 1
Insert)
Page 2
Page 2
Page 3
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
1926, 1927 and 1928 Texaco Road Maps
Road Map Collectors Association
ROAD MAP COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.
TREASURERS REPORT
DIRECTORS
Submitted by Gary Spaid, RMCA Treasurer
Ian Byrne, Stan DeOrsey, Norm Fenske, Terry Palmer,
Wayne Stitt, James Wakefield, Walt Wimer
OFFICERS
President………………………..…...… Alan Easlund
Vice President.…………………..…. Richard Horwitz
Secretary/Historian………….……...… Mark Greaves
Treasurer…………..……………..……… Gary Spaid
Newsletter Editor.……………………..…… Mark Greaves
Webmaster.……………………………..…….. .Judy Aulik
Membership Coordinator.….…………… Richard Horwitz
Publicity Coordinator...……….….…………….. <open>
Registered Agent…………………………..…….Jon Roma
TO JOIN RMCA send your name, address, phone, e-mail
address and a short description of your road map collecting
interest to: RMCA, PO Box 158, Channelview, TX 775300158.
Dues are $15, Canada $16, other countries $20. Dues may
also be paid via PayPal from the RMCA website at
www.roadmaps.org
E-mail Legend material to: [email protected]
RMCA CLUB NOTES
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to our newest members:
#931
#932
#933
$934
David B. Cole of Portland, OR
Dano Hahn of Antwerp, OH
Chris Marcho of Clifford, PA
Lynn Wells of Warsaw, OH
9/17/2010 beginning balances
Bank balance
Paypal balance
TOTAL
$3,661.45
$1,247.53
$4,908.98
9/17/2010 through 6/19/2011
INCOME
2010 EXPO Income
Bankhead CD sales
Dues
Map Sales
Newsletter Sales
Paypal (dues & newsletter sales)
TOTAL INCOME
$183.00
$31.00
$1,677.00
$179.00
$50.92
$1,196.90
$3,317.82
EXPENSES
2010 EXPO Expenses
Bank Charge
Office Supplies
PO Box
Postage
Printer
Internet
TOTAL EXPENSES
$1,194.10
$27.00
$24.51
$56.00
$378.50
$1,161.00
$158.31
$2,999.42
6/21/2011 ending balances
Bank Balance
Paypal Balance
TOTAL
$2,779.95
$2,429.43
$5,209.38
And a welcome back to returning member Don Helm (#545)
of Jersey Shore, PA
EDITOR’S NOTE
RMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
It will soon be time for Board elections. Our current Board
of Directors (see above) are willing to continue, but if any
one else is interested, we are open for nominations.
Election ballot will be included in the next issue, Fall 2011.
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
You may notice a new look to the top of Page 1. This is our
new official banner for the RMCA, developed by our
president, Alan Eastlund. Alan also had a physical banner
made with this logo, which was on display at the recent
RMCA convention in Ohio. Thanks, Alan!
Page 2
Road Map Collectors Association
2011 RMCA Convention text by Alan Eastlumd
(RMCA #761), photos by Richard Horwitz (RMCA #314)
The 2011 RMCA convention was held in conjunction with a
gasoline and oil collectors show called "Check The Oil!" in
Columbus, Ohio on June 24-25th this year. Approximately
30 members met over two days for trading, selling, and
camaraderie at the Embassy Suites.
The CTO! show had several hundred attendees for both
indoor and outdoor vending. I think it was the general
consensus of RMCA members that while it was a bit of a
squeeze for everyone within the indoor area, it didn't deter a
higher amount of sales traffic than we've seen over previous
years. Perhaps the tighter accommodations really brought us
close together! We had a total of nineteen tables for map
selling. I heard from a few people that there was definitely
interest from the non-map attendees for maps advertising
their favorite brand of gas or oil. While an increase of three
in the membership rolls may not seem like much, I think we
had great overall exposure for the RMCA.
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
On Friday evening, there was a dinner at the hotel attended
by over 100 of the RMCA and CTO attendees. The
highlight of the dinner was our very own Gary Spaid giving
a post dinner presentation on road maps, and why we are
afflicted with the disease that causes us to collect them!
Gary discussed the history of maps, cartographers, oil
company maps, graphic cover maps, and official state maps.
He showed numerous maps on an overhead projector to
really enhance the talk. I'd like to thank Gary for the work
he put into the presentation. It really highlighted what the
RMCA members look for in maps. In addition to being able
to plug the RMCA, some sellers said they had increased
sales the next day as a result of his presentation!
Because of the success of the 2011 convention, the board
has decided we'll move ahead with the 2012 show to
coincide with the CTO! show once more. We'll take some
suggestions and board discussions to make the 2012
convention even better than 2011. If you have any ideas for
the show, please contact one of your friendly RMCA board
members!
Page 3
Road Map Collectors Association
Texaco – from page 1
1932
1929
1930
The 1929, 1930 & 1931 Texaco maps of CA/NV feature
rural scene covers. The maps are all dated in the map title
block. There is only one map each year for 1929 and 1930,
but in 1931 Texaco issued three different maps dated
Winter, Spring and Summer in the map title block. These
maps were revised each issue showing changes in road
conditions.
1932
1933
1933
1934
1931
1934
1934 (11-34)
The 1932, 1933 and 1934 Texaco map covers feature a US
outline map with the Texaco logo in the center. During these
years Texaco continued with the Winter, Spring and
Summer editions; I have not seen a Winter edition of the
1934 map, but I assume it exists. I have looked for a Fall
edition of these maps and have not found one for any year
or any state, so as of this writing I assume they do not exist.
The 1933 and 1934 maps have dated covers. There is one
additional map in this series, a map of the same design
without the large cover date, but it has a small cover date of
11-34 in the lower right hand corner. I do not have a CA/NV
copy of this map but have included a TX/OK map as an
example. I assume this undated cover is a national issue and
all copies most likely contain the 11-34 small cover date.
There is a text box on this map that reads as follows:
"ON THIS MAP IS SHOWN THE NEW FEDERAL HIGHWAY
NUMBERING AUTHORIZED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATON OF
STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS, NOVEMBER, 1934"
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
The 1933 and 1934 Texaco maps have a cover color
variation worthy of note, illustrated by this set of New
England maps. The 1932 New England map is the same
color as the CA/NV issue, but the 1933 and 1934 maps have
a green background instead of the red background of the
CA/NV maps. There are other maps with the green
background including the IL/IN/OH map. As of this writing,
I do not know why some states are red and some are green.
1935
1936
1937
1937
The 1935 map cover features a large red square. The 1936
map is the same as the 1935 map, but now the writing has
changed from green to blue and includes maps of WA &
OR. The 1937 map cover has an outline US map and the
Texaco logo overhead like the sun. In addition to the
CA/NV & OR/WA map there is an AZ/CO/NM/UT &
CA/NV map. Starting in 1935 the maps include a State Gas
Tax Table that has a new date each time it is revised, and
from late 1934 on, each map has a small cover date in the
corner of one side of the map.
The 1938 Texaco map is a California only cover, with the
same design as the 1937 maps, but with lighter green colors
(this is the only map without a small cover date). Later in
1938, Texaco issued a CA only map with the same darker
colors as the 1937 map, but with three lines of text rather
than the two on the previous maps. Then in 1939 Texaco
issued the last CA only cover, but this time with the subtitle
Page 4
Road Map Collectors Association
1938
1938
1939
1940-41
1941-42
1943
"with sectional map of adjoining states." This subtitle will
be on the remainder of the maps from 1940 to 1943.
correlate very well with the map codes or the Gas Tax Table
dates (see spreadsheet).
The Pole Sign covers start in 1940. This cover design
continued into 1941 and then in late 1941 the green header
was dropped. The no header design continued into 1942 and
the first "Paper is Precious" cover was issued in 1943. I
have included a Texas map as an example of this cover, I
assume a 1943 California map probably exists, but have not
seen one.
The reverse sides of the last few maps of this series are
worthy of note. The reverse of the 1941 map contains a neat
Dog-Gone Lively advertisement. The 1942 map advertises
"In all 48 States" and the 1943 map shows a billboard with
"WAR SPEED UNDER 35."
From 1941 to 1943 the small cover dates start with a letter
instead of a number. One can only assume that A-41 stands
for January 1941, but the cover dates including letters do not
1941 Reverse
There are multiple issues of the maps with different small
cover dates for each year starting in 1935, so I am sure the
spreadsheet is not a complete list of all variations issued. If
you find an issue not on the list, please let me know, and I
will update the list.
1942 Reverse
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
1943 Reverse
Page 5
Road Map Collectors Association
It’s Official - Oil Company Road Maps
are 100! by James Wakefield (RMCA #610)
This is an update to the article
“Oil Maps at 100” in Legend
45, which discussed and
described the earliest maps
known to have been issued by
oil companies in the United
States.
The earliest maps
known to exist at the time the
article was written were issued
in 1912, although it was noted
that one of these, a map issued
by Monarch Oil Refining
Company,
references
the
existence of an earlier edition.
Since that article came out, I
was lucky enough to acquire a
1911 edition guide issued by
Monarch. This is apparently the
earlier edition guide referenced
in the 1912 edition. This discovery pushes the earliest
known map issued by an American oil company back one
more year—making 2011 their centenary year!
The 1911 Monarch guide was produced by the Rawlins
Auto Guide Co., of Oakland CA, with a copyright date of
1911. Rather than being formatted as a single sheet map, as
most later maps are, it is formatted in booklet form with a
series of individual route maps in much the same manner as
early ACSC and CSAA tour books from the same era
(Legend 34 has a great article on the ACSC and CSAA tour
books by Dave Cole). The only other map known to have
been issued by the company is the 1912 edition shown in
Legend 45.
own crude oil, but also refining and marketing it. The
company owned rights to one of the richest oil fields in
California, the Sunset-Maricopa field, and it had what was
described as a modern
refinery in West
Berkeley, CA. That
refinery, which is
long gone, is now the
site of the Berkeley
Aquatics Center. A
1910 article in Sunset
Magazine describes
the company in the
following
glowing
Refinery in Berkeley CA, circa 1910
terms: “’From derrick
to can’ might well be the slogan of the Sunset Monarch Oil
Company. It pumps the black petroleum form the depths of
the earth and turns out a paler product from the refinery.”
Needless to say, these were not the type of words that would
leave the editor of Sunset Magazine quaking in fear of being
shot by Mr. Spreckels.
It is unclear how long Monarch Oil remained in business. It
was likely sold off, like much of the rest of Mr. Spreckel’s
empire, during the later 1910s when his health began to
deteriorate due to complications from syphilis. Spreckels
died in 1924. Records show that by 1930, the company had
been acquired by Associated Oil Co, and its assets absorbed
into that company.
The company had a brief but colorful history. Monarch Oil
Refining Co. was the refining arm of Sunset Monarch Oil
Company, which was founded in San Francisco in the late
1800s. By 1910, the company had come under the control
of one of the richest men in California, sugar baron Adolph
B. Spreckels, who added it to his ever-increasing business
empire. Mr. Spreckels was an infamous character in
California history. In addition to his business empire,
Spreckels is remembered for shooting Michael de Young,
co-founder of the San Francisco Chronicle, because he was
unhappy with bad press coverage of one of his business
deals. Spreckels pleaded temporary insanity to the charge
of attempted murder and was eventually acquitted.
Like many small regional oil companies of its era, Sunset
Monarch was vertically integrated; not only producing its
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
Typical route maps in the guide
Page 6
Road Map Collectors Association
1933
1934
1935
Wilbur S. McAlpine (1888-1977) founded the W. S.
McAlpine Map Co of Birmingham, Michigan in December
1915 and owned it until his retirement in 1965 when he sold
the business to his employees. He also owned McAlpine
Engineers Inc. and did mapping, surveying, and engineering
under these business names. Wilbur also was a charter
member of The Lepidopterist’s Society and through the
years donated over 12,000 specimens of moths and
butterflies to the Smithsonian Institution, and over 1,500
moths, butterflies, and insects to Michigan State University.
Rand McNally made White Star division maps in 1936 and
after. The 1937 White Star Limited of Canada map I have
was lithographed in Canada but I can’t find who made it.
The 1933 McAlpine Michigan map includes Wayne county
and I expect there were other maps with different counties.
The 1934 includes Oakland county. The 1935 McAlpine
White Star division map of Indiana has maps of Michigan &
Ohio included rather than the typical map of the US. The
1935 Michigan White Star division map has Zone 3
included rather than the US. The few McAlpine maps
pictured are samples of what they produced. The 1968
Clinton county and the 1974 Gratiot county use a 1953
McAlpine map of Michigan on the cover. Also, an undated
Barry county map has a 1938 McAlpine map of Michigan
on the cover that from the pictures inside would have come
from the 1940s. I wonder whom they made the 1938 & 1953
Michigan maps for, and what the covers looked like.
His firm produced complete maps of all Michigan counties,
especially detailed maps of Oakland county. McAlpine
published an Atlas of Oakland county, and engineered and
recorded over 200 subdivision plats. The newest McAlpine
map that I have is 1974, but what happen to the company
after that is unknown as I couldn’t find anything more on
the company from the Birmingham, Michigan library or
museum. McAlpine made maps for the White Star division
1937
1939
1935
of Socony Vaccum from 1933 to 1935. Prior White Star
maps were made by Gousha in 1928 and Rand McNally in
1931. Is there a 1932 White Star map?
McAlpine maps by Dave Rowlison (RMCA #557)
1940s
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
1968
1974
Page 7
Road Map Collectors Association
Mid-Year Logo Changes
by Richard Horwitz (RMCA #314)
One company. One year. One map cover. Two logos. Why?
The Chevron and Indiana Standard examples are easy.
Most likely explanation: Gousha started printing the 1970
Chevron maps in 1969, before Standard Oil of California
created a new corporate logo that added the word "Chevron"
to its chevron symbol. When they realized more copies of
popular titles were needed, the new logo was in place. This
is based on seeing the new logo on 1970 maps of Chevron's
British Columbia and Rocky Mountain (Chevron - West)
affiliates.
The Legend Number 51 – Summer 2011
Standard Oil of Indiana is a similar story. Some time after
the first 1960 maps were printed, corporate headquarters
decided to flatten the "Torch and Oval" and modernize the
torch. More maps were
ordered
from
Rand
McNally, and these had a
more oval "oval."
The 1937 Sunoco maps
by Rand McNally are
more mysterious. The
Sunoco logo with the
horizontal arrow and
words "gas" and "oils"
was used throughout the
1930s - except for this
one version in 1937
which uses the compass
rose. Question is: which
version came first that
year? Judging from the
circle design, the rose
pattern may have come
first. Double 1937 maps
have been spotted for
Michigan,
Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New
England, so what was
going on at headquarters
that led to the reprints?
The Conoco story is more involved. Maps began 1970 with
the old triangle logo. The new logo was produced and
approved for change-over in 1971. Wisconsin may have
been an early adopter of the new look, with new station
signs and a road map during latter 1970. Then, after Gousha
started distributing the 1971 maps with the new logo in red,
someone decided red was out and transparent was in. Maps
were changed to the transparent logo during 1971 and
remained on its maps while the red version was prominent
at its stations. [1971 Conocos courtesy of Jim Wakefield.]
Page 8