Lubal sign rare sign salvaged from old building, The Lubal Manufacturing & Distributing Company on National Historic Register, American Pickers interest?
One form of recycling is salvaging old items for collectors.
One of the more popular items salvaged and collected is motor oil and lubrication products.
One of my favorite TV shows is American Pickers.
They are always scrounging around in old barns and buildings seeking collectible finds.
A search on “american pickers lubrication signs” yields this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=american+pickers+lubrication+signs&rlz=1C1RLBH_enUS593US594&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD0Z3BzubVAhXIg1QKHdQiDJAQsAQILQ&biw=1366&bih=638
I have in my possession a lubrication sign that must be rare. I can find no reference to it on the internet. From The Lubal Manufacturing & Distributing Company whose building was placed on the National Historic Register.
“The Lubal Manufacturing & Distributing Company
In 1932, The Lubal Manufacturing & Distributing Company began operations at 375 West Rich
Street, and this small manufacturing venture would remain on the premises for the next three
decades as it took over both buildings and grew to national recognition. Lubal Inc. went on to
acquire ownership of 373 West Rich Street in 1947. It was at this time that the catwalks between
the two buildings were constructed, allowing space in both buildings to function as the
company’s headquarters and manufacturing facility. Also referred to as Lubal Inc., this
Columbus-based company manufactured lubricants for industrial and commercial diesel engines.
With a focus in the marine and aviation industries, Lubal also produced lubricants for stationary
engines used in the generation of electricity. Among the company’s contribution to industrial
innovation were the fuel oil additive products “Lubal D”, “Lubal Super D”, “Lubal A”, and
“Lubal K”. Vintage (c. 1930s) packaging for “Aviation Lubal K” states the product was
“Formulated to keep airplane engines internally clean of sludge, varnish and gum.” (Figure 14).
Details on the manufacturing processes of these products are unknown due to their patents and
copyrights, but research shows that this is the only facility in which Lubal products were made
and stored.
The need for effective additives in diesel engines became the primary goal of fuel additive
manufacturers. During the 1930s-1960s marine engines, stationary engines, and semi-trucks
favored diesel engines for the efficiency and safety purposes. Diesel fuel lacked components
added to standard petrol, which may explain some of the issues that are much more prevalent in
diesel fueled machinery. Such issues are directly related to the higher pressure and temperatures
at which they are operated. The nemesis of a properly functioning diesel engine is a buildup of
carbon that inhibits lubricant seals, leading to metal corrosion and deterioration of engines parts.
Carbonaceous buildup quickly inhibits a diesel engine from operating smoothly and requires
maintenance or overhauls, leaving vehicles and machinery out of service.
In 1932, Lubal Inc. introduced a product manufactured at 375 West Rich Street with the
intention of mitigating carbon build up in engines. While general information on the corporation
remains scarce, period trade journals are replete with testimonials and advertisements of the
product Lubal “D” and to a lesser extent, the companion product Lubal “K”. Research and
development for Lubal “D” began around 1918, started by an “internationally known oil
engineer” whose name is not identified in the company’s product information. Lubal Inc.
claimed its product increased efficiency and time between overhauls while staking a competitive
edge in the lubrication oils market.”
This sign was salvaged from an old building some years ago and was still in it’s original wrapping.
Perhaps American Pickers would be interested?
I have put it up for sale on the internet in hopes of selling it or at least establishing a value.
I already knew that recycling could be profitable.
This should be interesting.
The sign is approx. 6 1/2 X 14 1/2 inches
and reads:
THE PERFECT TOP CYLINDER LUBRICANT
COOL MOTOR CARBON SOLVENT
LUBAL
INSTANTLY INCREASES
COMPRESSION MILEAGE LUBRICATION
