In what year or approximately about what years was the oil bottle faded out in favor of cans?

Self contained cans were introduced around 1934.....

so is it correct to say then that oil bottle predate this time period?

I believe the common master glass bottles stopped being produced in the 1950's.

oil bottles were before the cans but still used after the introduction of cans..

So even though the cans were introduced in the 30's bottle were still used up into the 50's? Hmm..

we used the lubsters at the refinery into the 80's & phased them out because the oil in them was getting contaminated, so we switched to the 55 gal. barrels..

1933 Refinery Sealed Quart can of motor oil introduced.
Prior to 1933 oil was sold in Rectangular metal cans w/ screw on caps that could be re- filled.

A station operator could & did sell Bulk Oil cheaper than he could sell Refinery Sealed Canned Oil. Sealed cans of oil could be sold to customers for use at home or as needed on the road.

Soon after the Sealed can, 5qt cans appeared at stations for customers to change their own oil at home. Later oil was also sold in 2gal cans.

During WW2 because of metal priority, oil was sold in glass jars w/ printed on or paper labels.

I remember destroying 200 bottles that were being phased out in the early 70's at a local Imperial Station. Yea,I wish I could go back!!!

You were doing what you were told, BUT you would be SHOT for doing that TODAY! LOL

Who won by throwing the bottle the Farthest w/o breaking it?

The reason I asked this question is I wanted to gather some info on what I believe is a gargoyle can rack that I am looking to possibly purchase. If in fact it is for cans, I wanted to try and date it. There is a sketch that I drew of it in another post of mine "Gargoyle rack. What is this???????". I hope to be posting an actual picture this evening. If in fact this is for cans, I'm figuring it must fall into a rather small window in time between when cans were first introduced and when Gargoyle oil disappeared. Does anyone know when Gargoyle oil disappeared?

Oil cans have been around since well before 1934.. Many cans even pre date the automobile... They were used to sell carriage and wagon grease and household products like lamp oil. I have many cans in my collection from the teens.

there talking about quart oil cans..

Vacuum Oil company made the Gargoyle quart cans, the taller skinny style with the caps, in the teens and 1920's. See eBay listing 230796607713 . There are crossover quart cans that have both the Gargoyle logo at the top, and the Pegasus and shield at the bottom that date from the late 30's. See eBay item 350561821722 . By 1940 S-V used the Pegasus logo with lines, eBay item 330718801704 . Hope this helps a little with your timeline. Most all Gargoyle signs are from the teens and twenties, although the symbol had been used by Vacuum Oil since before the turn of the century.
Darin