Like most smaller, regional marketers not much is known about Old Dutch Refining Co. What we do know is that Old Dutch was founded in the early 1930's in Muskegon, Michigan as a refiner and marketer of gasoline, kerosene, fuel oils, and other petroleum related products. At the their high point in the late '30s there were 34 Old Dutch branded stations scattered up and down the western shoreline of Michigan's lower peninsula. Most of these stations were job operated.

Old Dutch Refining Co. felt the pressure from the WWII gas rations and by the mid-1950's Old Dutch was bought out by Aurora Gasoline Co. (marketers of the Speedway brand) of Detroit, which later became part of Marathon. After the buy out by Aurora the Old Dutch brand did not die, however. There were several marketers that kept the name and logo alive well into the 1970's. There were several Old Dutch station identifation signs with the distinctive windmill logo still hanging in front of stations into 90s, though those stations had long since stopped pumping gas.

Old Dutch was a relatively small marketer, but they produced a wide array of globes, signs, cans, and giveaways that are highly collectible today. Lets take a look at some of them!

Old Dutch had two different six foot identification signs. The first one pictured is porcelain and was likely used from the conception of the company until it was replaced by the latter variation in the 1950s.




The second sign pictured here is embossed plastic. There would be two of these signs mounted in a ring back to back with lights inside for greater visibilty at night. Interestingly, this is sign says "Old Dutch Gasoline" where as none of the Old Dutch globes known to this day have the word "gasoline" on them.



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Aaron, Can't wait to see you and your dad's Old Dutch collection.

------------------
Scott Shipers
WANTED: Jayhawk Oil
Kansas City, Missouri

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Over the course of Old Dutch Refining Co.'s history the company utilized four different globes with the windmill logo. These globes are quite popular and very attractive, too.The three gill body variations would have been used in the mid-30s through the mid-40s. The only capco version would likely have come into production following WWII and was used until the end of the company.



The first globe pictured here is found on a screw base clear ripple body. Old Dutch used clear ripples extensively, though they did also use milkglass gill bodies, too. Collectors today will often put these lenses on blue ripple bodies, though not correct, the result is an extremely beautiful globe. The Old Dutch Economy is far from common, but this globe does turn up more often than the other gill bodied globes.



The plain Old Dutch on gill is probably the most uncommon variation of the different Old Dutch globes.



This Old Dutch Quality globe is pictured on a screw base gill body.



The only plastic bodied globe Old Dutch used matches the porcelain station identically. This particular globe is common compared to the other 3 variations, though they are still challenging to find if you want one.



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Killer globes!
I'm thinking blue ripple........


Great COTM so far. Can't wait to see more!

Shown here is an example of the pump plates used by Old Dutch Refining Co. The plates are embossed tin and come in both Regular and Ethyl. These signs are quite uncommon and are rarely seen in excellent condition.

Lets see any of your Old Dutch stuff, too!

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This one quart can is quite rare. If anyone out there has another one, please post it or let me know as I have never seen another example of the Old Dutch cans. There was also and Old Dutch company out of Texas that had a much more detailed windmill logo, but the two companies were unafiliated.

Though Old Dutch did refine their own gasoline and motor oils and marketed their own products, often times they would just sell "name brand" oil (Quaker State, for example) at their stations which makes any oil container from this company rare.

Great information and very interestng. Now if I ever see any Old Dutch stuff in my travels I will know a little about it. Thanks for sharing.

Chevelle SS

YOU CANT TOP THOSE GLOBES JUST BEAUTIFUL!
...THANKS MORE...MORE...MORE
..............
REX LIKES MORE

Great job Aaron! I agree... the ripple would look killer blue and then you could sell me that one. LOL
Looking good!

Old Dutch marketed their premium gasoline under the Aro-Speed name and logo.



The Aro-Speed globe shown above is on a rare oval glass body. There are only a couple of these globes in collections today. No other oval Old Dutch globes are known to exist, but it could be a possibility.



This example of an Aro-Speed globe is just as uncommon as the oval. The lenses are reverse painted, flat pieces of glass that were likely made up by a local sign shop to serve until regular production globes came in. These lenses are for a gill body.



Pictured here is an example of the ad glass used in Aro-Speed pumps.

super nice stuff for sure, keep it coming, cheese.

Great looking pump, Cheese!

Old Dutch Refining produced four different styles of maps over the years that they were in business. Here they are.









I am not a map guy at all, so I cannot be of much assistance as to what years the various maps were used.

OLD DUTCH BLOTTER

OLD DUTCH TAPE MEARSURE

This is a pair of Old Dutch add glass I plan on using in a Wayne 60. This is my first attempt at a picture and it looks like it worked! Bill Fortune

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Here's another one of the pump at Cheese's place..........

Great Old Dutch stuff, guys! I have never seen that tape measure before, I'll have to start looking for one.






Shown here are a variety of pencils given away by different Old Dutch stations. Some just have words, others show the windmill logo.

This is a unique thermometer, to say the least. Even though it is missing one of the "handles" it is still a neat piece. There is also ships wheel barometer, but I currently know of only one of them.

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One of the more readily available Old Dutch collectibles are the water glasses given out. There are three variations that I know of, two are pictured here. I apologize for the poor picture quality on this one.

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Here are two different patches worn by Old Dutch station attendants.

Here are several different Old Dutch matchbooks. Notice that the can pictured on one of them matches the quart identically.

Western Michigan was the destination point for large numbers of Dutch immigrants in the late 1800s. Undoubtedly the name of company stems from this fact and these unique promotional items shaped as wooden shoes reflects the Dutch influence as well. I believe these to be pipe rests or something off that nature, please feel free to correct me on that one. Also, you'll see that one of the matchbooks is different than the ones previously posted.

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Great job Aaron! Cool stuff. Lets see some more!!!!

Here are a few different promotional items.

This is a gas ration book from World War II.

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The blue blotter was posted already, but the second photo shows a close up listing the various petroleum products offered by Old Dutch Refining.

Aaron, I love the pictures... killer stuff!

Shown here are two different newspaper ads. The top one is a recent ebay purchase for us. The bottom one is in the Larry Robertson collection.

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Also from the Larry Robertson collection is this Old Dutch barometer that matches the thermometer posted earlier in the month.

Here is another example of an Old Dutch water glass. It matches one of the glasses posted earlier in the month, except this one has "Wally's Service" on it.

This concludes this month's COTM. To all of you who have posted pictures and commented, thank you. A big thanks to Doc for helping me out with the pictures, with out him this month's feature would not have been much to look at. Happy New Year to all of you!

Aaron Hop

WELL GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY! YOU MEAN OLD DUTCH WASN'T JUST A POWDERED CLEANER? J/K!

AARON...GREAT JOB ON ONE OF THE SMALLER OIL REFINERY COMPANIES.
IT WAS A PLEASURE HELPING YOU WITH YOUR IMAGES MAKING THEM LOOK ALL PURDY AND PRESENTABLE AND SUCH! I KNOW YOU'LL BE GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER C.O.T.M. IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS AS WELL FOR DIXIE.....YEEEEEE-HAH!

THANKS AGAIN, AARON FOR SHOWING US YOUR STUFF AND YOUR HISTORY!

DOC @ TAG.WEST

Let's have a great big ATTA BOY for Aaron!!!!
Great job with your COTM. Thanks!

Now that I have my 2nd Tokheim 39 Short, and since I was born in Holland (the Netherlands, not Michigan), and since I'm now 62, Old Dutch is the logical choice for me to go after and refurb the pump I just bought.

Here is another example of the Old Dutch Oil Can I recently came across that I thought you might enjoy.

Only 2 items.