Col. Thomas Harry Barton liked wordplay enough to name his company after it — Lion Oil is a palindrome, spelled the same forward and backward. He took over a small El Dorado, Arkansas refinery in 1922, and by the 1923 discovery of the nearby Smackover oil field, Lion had leases producing up to 12,000 barrels a day.
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.
Lion moved into gasoline retail around 1929, and by 1932 the company ran 441 stations. At its peak in the mid-1950s, nearly 2,000 Lion stations dotted the South — a genuinely major regional player that grew out of one small refinery and a fondness for a good name.
The perfect gift for petroliana collectors tracking Southern oil history, Arkansas natives, 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.
