Indian Gasoline's globe told two stories at once — a red ball with "INDIAN" arched above and "GAS" below, redesigned in 1922 to echo the Havoline trademark from the same company. Indian Refining Company ran its refinery out of Lawrenceville, Illinois and made its real mark not in gasoline but in motor oil — developing the industry's first wax-free formula, the technology every conventional motor oil still uses today.
Printed on a soft, broken-in cotton twill cap with deliberate distressing built in from day one. Unstructured, low-profile construction with a curved visor, self-fabric hideaway strap, and metal D-ring for an adjustable fit. Each hat carries slight natural variation in distress and color, so no two wear in exactly the same way. Spot clean with warm water and dish soap; a soft-bristled brush handles the stubborn spots.
The Texas Company bought Indian Refining in 1931, mainly to get its hands on that wax-free oil formula, and kept the Indian name alive regionally for over a decade before retiring it for good in the 1940s — a brand that quietly changed motor oil forever and then disappeared from pump signs entirely.
The perfect gift for petroliana collectors tracking Midwest oil history, motor oil historians, classic car enthusiasts, garage and man-cave decorators, and gas station history buffs.
The Faded Label Co. — keeping the golden age of American roadside art alive, one product at a time.
