1880 Valvoline Cylinder Oil & Isaac Anderson Machine Oils Advertising Brochure | Early Canadian Petroliana
Before petroleum lubricants became the industry standard, steam engines, factory machinery and railway equipment depended largely on animal and vegetable oils for lubrication. This original pair of Canadian advertising pieces from circa 1880 captures the transition to modern petroleum-based lubricants through an Isaac Anderson Machine Oils booklet and a rare Valvoline Cylinder Oil instruction sheet. Together they provide a remarkable glimpse into the early marketing of industrial oils during one of the most significant technological changes of the Victorian industrial era.
The Isaac Anderson booklet, printed in Toronto in 1880, promotes the company's line of machine oils and includes testimonials from Canadian manufacturers, paper mills, engineering firms and factories describing the performance of Anderson's lubricants. Companies represented include Gooderham & Worts, the Dominion Organ Company, Lincoln Paper Mills, Canada Cotton Company and numerous others, providing a fascinating glimpse into Canadian industry during the late nineteenth century.
Accompanying it is an original Valvoline Cylinder Oil instruction sheet issued by Leonard & Ellis. Rather than promoting automobiles, it instructs steam engineers on converting machinery previously lubricated with tallow, sperm and other animal oils to the then-modern petroleum-based Valvoline Cylinder Oil. The document is an excellent illustration of one of the major technological changes in industrial lubrication during the early petroleum era and likely dates to the early 1880s.
Measurements
Isaac Anderson booklet
- 3 1/2 inches x 5 3/4 inches (closed)
- 4 pages
Valvoline instruction sheet
- 5 1/2 inches x 7 1/8 inches
Condition
Both pieces remain in good condition considering their age. The booklet shows light wear, age toning, minor creasing and a small edge tear, together with period pencil notation on one page. The Valvoline instruction sheet has folds from original distribution, age toning, handling wear, a punched filing hole in one corner and testimonial writing on the reverse. Both pieces remain complete, clean and fully legible.
An exceptionally scarce pair of early Canadian industrial advertising pieces documenting the introduction of petroleum lubricants into steam-powered industry. They would make an outstanding addition to collections of petroliana, Valvoline advertising, Canadian ephemera, steam engines or industrial history.