This name eventually became one of the biggest private companies in America. Wood River Oil and Refining Company acquired the Rock Island refinery near Duncan, Oklahoma in 1946 and took the Rock Island name for itself. A young Charles Koch joined the company in 1961, became president by 1966, and took over as chairman the following year — the company was renamed Koch Industries in 1968.
6oz stainless steel flask, double-walled construction, smooth powder-coated finish. Vintage Rock Island Gasoline emblem printed on the front. Slips easily into a jacket pocket or glove box. Hand wash recommended.
The Rock Island name shows up attached to more than one independent oil company across the 20th century, but the Duncan, Oklahoma operation is the one with the biggest afterlife, quietly becoming the foundation of a company most people have heard of without knowing where the name started.
The perfect gift for petroliana collectors, classic car enthusiasts, business history buffs, groomsmen, and anyone who likes a good origin story.
The Faded Label Co. — keeping the golden age of American roadside art alive, one product at a time.
