C.C. WAKEFIELD & Co came into being in March 1899 after its founder Charles Cheers Wakefield had resigned from the Vacuum Oil Company. He set up business in the heart of London and traded under the name C.C. Wakefield & Co. 10 years later in 1909 the company launched a new product called "Castrol" which was made from Castor Oil. The new product was aimed at the new and developing automotive industry and variable grades were produced for motor cars, motor cycles and aeroplanes. In 1918 C.C. Wakefield & Co Ltd was formed and acquired the interests of C.C. Wakefield& Co for a consideration of £249, 997.

Charles Cheers Wakefield was to have a massive impact upon the motor industry and to quote the company itself, and as provided by Castrol Motor Oil and Lubricants; "Charles Wakefield played a major role in the rapidly developing transport industry, placing his faith in the potential of the internal combustion engine as the power source of the future. Working hand in hand with pioneering aviators and motorists of the day as aircraft, the motorcycle and the motorcar were emerging, he aimed to create the highest quality engine oils - and then to improve them. In doing so, he contributed to exciting record achievements. It was natural that Castrol was the chosen motor oil for breaking world speed and endurance records, on land, on sea and in the air. The Land Speed Record alone has been broken an amazing 21 times by cars using Castrol automotive lubricants." To find out more about the history of Castrol visit their site by clicking this link Castrol Limited.

Further changes took place in the years to come and a visit to the Castrol web site will help to clarify what those changes were and when. It should be noted that other variations of the logo exist particularly those that were specifically designed for non British markets, examples of which can also be seen on this site.

Advertisement dated 1927

Period Castrol oil tins and signage are highly collectable. The distinctive green cans with black and red lettering were also produced in a variety of shapes - cans with detachable oil funnels, square caddy cans introduced in 1927, and so on. The brand still lives on but for many it is the 1920's and 1930's that Wakefield Castrol will be remembered for - an era of development, speed and endurance.

The vehicle below, now in private hands, is a 1980's Ford rebuilt in style and livery of the 1920's which was previously used for marketing purposes by the Castrol company. In its day a company vehicle with this livery would have stood well out from the competition.

          

The series of illustrations below give the chance to study the evolving branding styles of the company. The first adverts dated 1909 and 1910 make no mention of "Castrol" the product is just "Wakefield Oil". By 1914 Castrol is clearly promoted but the very rare tin depicted in the advert promotes "Wakefield" much more prominently. The 1917 war time advert says it all but notice the style of Castrol on the oil tin - another rare version. The next illustrated tin with a suggested date of 1918 shows the well known early Castrol style but without the later red lettering which was introduced in 1919. A new style was adopted in 1929 without a line running through the "O" of Castrol and in 1936 the style became "Wakefield Patent Castrol". Click the images for details.