Types of Oil Cans - Collector Guide

Sizes & Styles of Old Motor Oil Cans

Soldered Seam Quart- Metal (Photo Above, Far Left): Soldered seam cans are differentiated by their gray stripe on the back or side of the can. As pictured, bare metal is visible as is the solder. This can was primarily used from the introduction of the "standard" quart size can until the early 1940's. Some companies still use solder seam cans today, primarily for specialty aviation oils. The next time you are at the airport, look closely at the maintenance trucks, you might see a case of metal solder seamed cans it back!

Crimped Seam Quart- Metal (Photo Above, Center and Right): The crimped seam can eliminated the need, and expense of soldering the seam of the can. Instead, a crimped seam similar in strength to the seam that holds the top and bottoms of the can is used instead. Some companies adapted their soldered seam can artwork (Above, center) for use with the new technology. Later crimped seam cans simply continued the artwork right over the seam (Above, right). Crimped seam cans quickly replaced their soldered seam counterpart and were used in all future quart oil cans. Some companies always used metal cans even as other companies began to adopt the more economical composite or plastic siblings.

Composite / Cardboard Quarts:
There are many names for the quarts that are constructed of a heavy cardboard with a metal top and bottom. Some collectors also refer to this type of can as simply a paper quart can. Composite quart cans started to appear in the late 1940's but they were adopted by most companies by the late 1950's and were used until the late 1980's. There are a couple of variations of the composite quarts that we'll discuss below.
Square Cardboard Quarts:
As early as the 1960's petroleum marketers experimented with packaging motor oil is small square cardboard boxes. Presumably looking for an alternative to the composite/cardboard can as they used significantly less cardboard in their construction, used no metal, and the same quantity of oil could be shipping in a smaller box. Phillips 66 was one of the major marketers to test this type of container, but I have seen at least 75 different versions of a square cardboard quart.
Square Metal Quarts:
As early as the 1960's petroleum marketers experimented with packaging motor oil is small square cardboard boxes. Presumably looking for an alternative to the composite/cardboard can as they used significantly less cardboard in their construction, used no metal, and the same quantity of oil could be shipping in a smaller box. Phillips 66 was one of the major marketers to test this type of container, but I have seen at least 75 different versions of a square cardboard quart.
Round Plastic Quarts:
Plastic quarts have been in use since the 1960's, and were the precursor to today's typical plastic bottle. This quart consists of a one piece plastic container with a metal lid. Within this category, there are two basic types of quarts. Embossed logo or a direct printed label. Pictured are two examples of an embossed logo, Shell on the left, and DX on the right. Also pictured are two examples of the direct printed label from Gulf. With the exception of the embossed logo variation, most of the plastic quarts are fairly easy to locate.
War-time Cardboard Quarts:
1/2 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Rectangle:
1/2 Gallon Oil Cans - Tall Rectangle:
1 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Rectangle:
1 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Rectangle, Short:
1 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Rectangle, Tall:
1 Gallon Oil Cans - Rectangle:
2 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Round:
2 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Square:
2 Gallon Oil Cans - Standard Rectangle:
5 Gallon Oil Cans - Early Square:
5 Gallon Oil Cans - E-ZE Pour:
The 5 Gallon E-ZE Pour can was created by the St. Louis Can company in the 1920's/1930's. It's a unique can in the fact that it has very heavy steel edgees that allow the can to be rolled so that oil easily pours out of the spout located on the side of the can. The can also has two handles attached to make this process easier.
5 Gallon Oil Cans - Round:
Motor Oil Sample / Salesman Bottles