Schaeffer Oil

Last updated
Schaeffer Oil
Company type Private
IndustryOil company
Founded1839
Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri, US

Schaeffer Oil is a privately held, U.S. company, which operates under the name Schaeffer Manufacturing Company. Schaeffer manufactures specialty lubrication products, including oil additives, friction modifiers, and synthetic oils, greases and other compounds. Its products are marketed directly by the company to end users in industries including construction, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, trucking, marine, and high performance racing. As of 2017, the company had domestic and international sales in excess of $150 million. [1]

Contents

History

Schaeffer Manufacturing Company was founded in 1839 by a German immigrant, Nicholas Schaeffer, in St. Louis, Missouri, [2] under the name Nicholas Schaeffer and Company. Originally producing soaps and candles, [3] the company began manufacturing oils and greases to support the westward expansion during the 1849 California Gold Rush. Pioneers traveling west from St. Louis used Schaeffer soap and candles for domestic use products as well as for grease for wagon wheels. [4] As St. Louis established itself as a major Mississippi port and industrial city, Schaeffer manufactured products expressly for the high large number of wagon trains and steamboats that made their way through the city. The company's original line of lubricants was sold under the trade names Red Engine Oil and its original line of grease was called Black Beauty grease. [4] By 1862, Schaeffer produced over $1M in annual sales. [2] Miners in the Klondike gold rush later in the century reportedly smeared Black Beauty grease on their faces to ward off frostbite.

Founder Nicholas Schaeffer was a contemporary of another successful St. Louis business owner, Eberhard Anheuser, who also was a fellow soap-maker. Along with Anheuser, Schaeffer was a creditor of the Bavarian Brewery Company, a struggling brewery founded in 1853. When the brewery encountered financial difficulty in 1860, Schaeffer and Anheuser purchased the minor creditors' interests and took over the company, renaming it as Schaeffer, Anheuser & Co. [5] Two years later, Anheuser bought out Schaeffer's interest in what later became the Anheuser-Busch Company. Nicholas Schaeffer and Company continued to grow and was widely successful, eventually placing its owner as one of St. Louis’ first millionaires. [3] Nicholas Schaeffer led the company until his death in 1880.

In 1879, Jacob Schaeffer became president of the company and changed the name to Schaeffer Brothers and Powell. The company became the largest soap and candle maker west of the Mississippi, [2] producing Boss laundry bar soaps, crude glycerin, various grades of lard oil and Coach and Star brand candles. Schaeffer's Star Candles were discovered in the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand , [6] which sank in the Missouri River in 1865.

During the 1904 World's Fair, Schaeffer Brothers and Powell participated as sponsors.

William Shields, became president of the company, when his father-in-law, Jacob Schaeffer, died in 1917. [7] Shields remained president until his oldest son, Tom Shields, succeeded him in 1946.

In 1947, the company initiated a number of new products and remodeled their business structure into a direct selling format. [3] The name of the Company was changed to Schaeffer Manufacturing Company and in 1950, the company closed its soap and candle-making businesses to dedicate its resources to lubricant manufacturing. During this period, Schaeffer began building a direct sales force under the leadership of sales manager Martin J. Schwab. After the death of Tom Shields and Martin Schwab in 1982, John Schaeffer Shields became Chairman of the Board and continued to oversee the company's leadership until his death in December 2016.

It was also during this period that grease and oil blenders at Schaeffer began to experiment with the use of molybdenum disulfide as an extreme pressure lubricant. Schaeffer was recognized for its use of molybdenum as a friction modifier in the 1986 publication of Lubes n Greases Magazine.

In 1986, Tom Hermann, the son of Jackie (Shields) Hermann, became the president of the company. At that time, annual sales were $18M, primarily in the agriculture and mining markets. Hermann expanded the markets to include steel manufacturing, food processing and industrial customers. In 2004, Jay Schaeffer Shields became the president of the company.

Today, Schaeffer Manufacturing Company is the oldest oil and grease manufacturer in the United States. The company was included[ when? ] in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies.

Products

Schaeffer has developed energy conserving lubricants, as well as products that are designed for extended use, aiming to reduce negative impact on the environment and cut disposal costs. Schaeffer manufactures several fuel additives that are soy-based, including Soy Ultra and Soy Shield. Additionally, it offers products that aim to reduce the amount of water needed to grow crops in drought-prone areas, named Wet-Sol and Wet-Sol Gro. Schaeffer's proprietary additives, Micron Moly and Penetro, are claimed by the company to reduce temperatures and help extend lubricant life, reducing energy up to 5%.[ citation needed ] Schaeffer also produces SchaefferSeal Tire Sealant, which seals tires to help keep them inflated for maximum fuel economy, and a bed release agent[ clarification needed ] that is biodegradable. The company was the first major lubricant supplier to the global mining industry to introduce solvent free technology for open gear compounds.[ citation needed ]

Schaeffer manufactures biodegradable lubricants and cleaners, [8] designed to dissipate rapidly when spilled into environmentally-sensitive areas.

In 1991, Schaeffer donated lubricants specially designed for high contamination environments to the U.S. military for use in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. Following the Gulf War, Schaeffer was awarded a commendation from U.S. President George H. W. Bush [9] [ better source needed ] and Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney for “support of the troops.” [10] [ better source needed ] In 2005, the company established a General Services Administration (GSA) contract with the U.S. Federal government to supply products to federal facilities, including post offices, prisons, federal law enforcement, national parks and the U.S. military. [11]

Schaeffer products are primarily marketed directly to end users by their factory direct sales force. The company limits retailers, distributors and resellers to focus on bulk and commercial business. Consumer and automotive business is not a primary focus of the marketing effort of the company. Schaeffer provides oil for the automobile racing industry, and offers a line of oils that are designed specifically for racing. Automobile racers including Charles “Red” Farmer, Scott Bloomquist, Gregg Dalman of Dalman Racing, & Jared Andretti Racing use Schaeffer products.[ citation needed ]

Company structure

Schaeffer markets its products through factory trained, independent representatives that sell in particular areas around the United States and Canada. The domestic sales force is divided into 15 divisions supported by 12 warehouses that ship to end users. Sales representatives are paid on commission. Schaeffer has 53 Certified Lubrication Specialists (CLS). The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers certifies members of the technical society as “certified” once they have passed an examination. There are fewer than 1,000 CLS worldwide. [12]

International sales are directed through independent distributors, who are trained and supported by the company. Several of Schaeffer's international distributors also hold the CLS designation, including distributors in New Zealand and Mexico.

All manufacturing is done at the St. Louis facility.

Related Research Articles

A lubricant is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. It may also have the function of transmitting forces, transporting foreign particles, or heating or cooling the surfaces. The property of reducing friction is known as lubricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soap</span> Substance used for cleaning

Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are used as thickeners, components of some lubricants, and precursors to catalysts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tallow</span> Rendered form of beef or mutton fat

Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton suet, primarily made up of triglycerides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stearic acid</span> Eighteen-carbon straight-chain fatty acid

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain. The IUPAC name is octadecanoic acid. It is a soft waxy solid with the formula CH3(CH2)16CO2H. The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin. Stearic acid is a prevalent fatty-acid in nature, found in many animal and vegetable fats, but is usually higher in animal fat than vegetable fat. It has a melting point of 69.4 °C (156.9 °F) °C and a pKa of 4.50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthetic oil</span> Lubricant consisting of artificially made chemical compounds

Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds that are artificially modified or synthesised. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically. The actual synthesis process and composition of additives is generally a commercial trade secret and will vary among producers.

Timken OK Load is a standardized measurement that indicates the possible performance of extreme pressure (EP) additives in a lubricating grease or oil. The units of measurement are pounds-force or kilograms-force. This measurement is performed using a special test machine and standard block and ring test specimens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petroleum product</span> Products ultimately derived from crude oil

Petroleum products are materials derived from crude oil (petroleum) as it is processed in oil refineries. Unlike petrochemicals, which are a collection of well-defined usually pure organic compounds, petroleum products are complex mixtures. Most petroleum is converted into petroleum products, which include several classes of fuels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amsoil</span> American multi-level marketing company

AMSOIL Inc. is an American corporation based in Superior, Wisconsin that primarily formulates and packages synthetic lubricants, fuel additives, and filters. Company founder Albert J. Amatuzio developed several synthetic motor oil formulations throughout the mid-to-late 1960s. He was commercially selling synthetic motor oil by 1968. In 1972, AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil became the world's first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute requirements, which prompted the company to adopt "The First in Synthetics®" as its tagline. The company introduced several other synthetic lubricants that represented industry firsts throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It distributes products in North America via a network of independent dealers paid commissions on sales.

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. is a publicly traded U.S.-based company that was incorporated in 1919. It specializes in the manufacture of lubricating oils, solvents, waxes, packaged and synthetic specialty products, fuels and fuel-related products. The company operates 12 production, blending, and packaging facilities across North America. This includes locations in Princeton, Cotton Valley, and Shreveport, Louisiana; Burnham, Illinois; Dickinson, Texas; Muncie, Indiana; Karns City, Pennsylvania; and Great Falls, Montana. Calumet's specialized hydrocarbon products are distributed around the world to approximately 2,700 global customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobil 1</span> Brand of synthetic motor oil

Mobil 1 is a brand of synthetic motor oil and other automotive lubrication products. Originally developed by the Mobil oil company, it is now globally marketed and sold by ExxonMobil.

Grease is a solid or semisolid lubricant formed as a dispersion of thickening agents in a liquid lubricant. Grease generally consists of a soap emulsified with mineral or vegetable oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Price's Candles</span> Candle supply company in England

Price's Candles, founded in 1830, is an importer and retailer of candles. The firm is headquartered in Bedford, England, and holds the royal warrant of appointment for the supply of candles. It is one of the largest candle suppliers in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Industrial</span>

Lincoln Industrial Corporation (Lincoln) is a manufacturer of automated lubrication systems, manual lubrication equipment and industrial pumping systems, and subsidiary of Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB (SKF). Founded in 1910, the company has been responsible for many of the inventions that established modern lubrication practices in automotive maintenance and industry.

Dry lubricants or solid lubricants are materials that, despite being in the solid phase, are able to reduce friction between two surfaces sliding against each other without the need for a liquid oil medium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic lubrication system</span>

Automatic lubrication systems (ALS), also occasionally called centralized lubrication systems (CLS), are devices that deliver controlled amounts of lubricant to multiple locations in a machine as it is operating. While these systems are usually fully automated, systems that require manual pump or button activation are still identified as centralized lubrication systems. These systems can be classified into two different categories. These are Oil systems that are primarily used for stationary equipment, such as CNC mills, and Grease systems which are mainly used on mobile equipment such as trucks, mining and construction equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nye Lubricants</span> Manufacturer of industrial lubricants

Nye Lubricants, Inc. is a manufacturer of industrial lubricants. It formulates, manufactures, and sells synthetic lubricants, thermal coupling compounds, index-matching optical gels, and fluids. Nye supplies the automotive, computer printer, disc drive, mobile appliance, aerospace, defense, and HB-LED OEM markets. The company also manufactures industrial maintenance lubricants for incidental food contact, high temperature, and other extreme environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petromin Corporation</span> Saudi Arabian lubricants and automotive services company

The Petromin Corporation is a Saudi Arabian lubricants and automotive services company, operating in lubricant oils including manufacturer, industrial, and automotive oils and lubricants, car servicing, fuel retailing and car dealerships. The company is one of the "Major Leading Players" of the lubricating grease Industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Behran Oil Company</span>

Behran Oil Company is an oil refining company with headquarters in Tehran. Its products are exported to more than 40 countries.

Afton Chemical Corporation develops and manufactures petroleum additives, including driveline, engine oil, fuel and industrial additives. Afton Chemical Corporation is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and has operations around the world. The company is a subsidiary of NewMarket Corporation, a corporation specializing in performance specialty chemicals.

Nicholas Schaeffer (1814-1880) was an American industrialist. He is noted as one of the founders of the American company, Schaeffer Oil. He was also known as the one of the largest and most prosperous soap manufacturers in the West during his time.

References

  1. ↑ "Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants website".
  2. 1 2 3 Reavis, L.U. "Saint Louis: the future great city of the world". Nabu Press, 2010. ISBN   1-178-06898-6
  3. 1 2 3 Perman, Stacey. "Learning from the Great Depression". Bloomberg Business Week, Oct 17, 2008. http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2008/sb20081016_825689.htm
  4. 1 2 Poe, William "Some Family Businesses Have Left the Family Corner Store Far Behind." St. Louis Commerce Magazine. November 2003. http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/november2003/family.html
  5. ↑ Kargau, Ernst D. (2001). The German Element in St. Louis: A Translation from German of Ernst D. Kargau's St. Louis in Former Years : a Commemorative History of the German Element. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 146. ISBN   0-8063-4950-6.
  6. ↑ Peterson, Leslie Perry. The Bertrand Stores. Midwest Interpretive Association, 1997.
  7. ↑ Switzer, Ronald R. (2013). The Steamboat Bertrand and Missouri River Commerce. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 216. ISBN   978-0-87062-426-1.
  8. ↑ Gager, Russ. "Cooking Oil." Exploration & Processing. Spring 2010. Web. <http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/businessmedia/ep_2010spring/index.php>
  9. ↑ Bush, George. Letter to Schaeffer Manufacturing Company. Mar. 1991. MS. The White House, Washington.
  10. ↑ Cheney, Dick. "Certificate of Appreciation in Support of Operations in the Persian Gulf." Letter to John S. Shields, Schaeffer Manufacturing Company. Apr. 1991. MS.
  11. ↑ GSA Contract. 2005. Contract number GS21F0012T.
  12. ↑ "CLS Certification Directory. Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers website. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010..
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