Commemorating the birth of the oil industry
This is the largest grouping of oil well silver spoons known at this time.
ALL SPOONS SHOWN ARE STERLING SILVER
Observe the many different styles of handles which were used to commemorate these oil wells
Oil drilling and refining was an important industry
in the 1890's. The discovery of a new deposit of black gold was a key
to instant riches. In spoon collecting we have two types of oil well
spoons:
Spoons commemorating the discovery of a
particular oil well
Souvenir spoons of a visit to an oil
producing area
The joy associated with a new well was indeed momentous. A few spoons
were engraved with a picture of the new gusher and the name and
sometimes a date. These spoons are rare and unique collectibles.
Of course, tourists visiting an oil producing area would often want a spoon as a memento of their visit. These are a little more common, but still fairly collectible. It is often difficult to tell the two types apart.
embossed spoon from Neodesha, Kansas
probably a tourist spoon
engraved spoon Whittier, California
possibly commemorating a well discovery or for someone who worked at the site
engraved spoon Bowling Green, Ohio
probably commemorating the discovery
engraved spoon, Bolivar, N.Y.
probably a tourist spoon
engraved Shooting oil well, Findley, Ohio
Probably commemorating the discovery
embossed and engraved spoon for Beaumont (Texas)
probably a tourist or worker souvenir
Engraved Bakersfield, California
"Elton Jan. 10, 1903"
gold washed bowl
Probably a commemoration of the discovery of this well
In my opinion, the oil industry was the most important industry in the USA and was the major force behind the huge technological developments which we have seen over the last 100+ years and the primary
reason why our standard of living is at its current level.
I do know that it is popular to bash this industry due to environmental problems, but the oil industry drove the development of automobiles, plastics, rubber, asphalt, some types of medical, agricultural improvements,
drilling technology for all industries, metalurgy, etc.
Return to spoon planet exhibits index