Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company) Ceramic Coffee Mug
11oz
$12.99
Sale price
$12.99
Regular price
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Start the day with a reminder of Otasco and its place in Oklahoma retail history. Founded by the Sanditen brothers in 1918, the company grew from its first Okmulgee store into a multistate chain known for auto parts, appliances, and credit-based shopping. Employees bought the company in 1984, before company-operated outlets closed in 1989. This ceramic coffee mug suits collectors, former customers, and anyone interested in the businesses that shaped everyday life in Oklahoma and across the region.
Otasco, short for Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company, was a Tulsa-based retail chain specializing in auto parts and appliances. Sam, Maurice, and Herman Sanditen, three Jewish Lithuanian immigrant brothers, established the business in 1918 and opened its first store in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The company moved its headquarters to Tulsa in 1925 and built its business around offering products on credit. In 1960, the McCrory Corporation bought Otasco while retaining the Sanditen brothers. By 1968, the chain had 455 stores in 12 states. Employees bought the company from McCrory in 1984, making it one of the largest employee-owned companies in America. During the 1980s, struggling sales prompted a new logo and advertising campaign, but these drew little attention. Otasco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1988; 171 stores closed across 11 states, with 1,600 jobs lost. On March 30, 1989, 43 stores reopened in an effort to keep profitable locations operating, but the attempt failed. All outlets were ordered to close permanently at the end of business on June 3, 1989. A source cited in the article says franchisees received 99-year licenses to use the Otasco name. As of 2014, two Oklahoma stores remained in Beaver and Marlow, and a locally owned Otasco Associate store continued in Many, Louisiana.
Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company) Ceramic Coffee Mug
$12.99
Sale price
$12.99
Regular price
Start the day with a reminder of Otasco and its place in Oklahoma retail history. Founded by the Sanditen brothers in 1918, the company grew from its first Okmulgee store into a multistate chain known for auto parts, appliances, and credit-based shopping. Employees bought the company in 1984, before company-operated outlets closed in 1989. This ceramic coffee mug suits collectors, former customers, and anyone interested in the businesses that shaped everyday life in Oklahoma and across the region.
Otasco, short for Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company, was a Tulsa-based retail chain specializing in auto parts and appliances. Sam, Maurice, and Herman Sanditen, three Jewish Lithuanian immigrant brothers, established the business in 1918 and opened its first store in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The company moved its headquarters to Tulsa in 1925 and built its business around offering products on credit. In 1960, the McCrory Corporation bought Otasco while retaining the Sanditen brothers. By 1968, the chain had 455 stores in 12 states. Employees bought the company from McCrory in 1984, making it one of the largest employee-owned companies in America. During the 1980s, struggling sales prompted a new logo and advertising campaign, but these drew little attention. Otasco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1988; 171 stores closed across 11 states, with 1,600 jobs lost. On March 30, 1989, 43 stores reopened in an effort to keep profitable locations operating, but the attempt failed. All outlets were ordered to close permanently at the end of business on June 3, 1989. A source cited in the article says franchisees received 99-year licenses to use the Otasco name. As of 2014, two Oklahoma stores remained in Beaver and Marlow, and a locally owned Otasco Associate store continued in Many, Louisiana.
| 11oz | 15oz | |
| Height, in | 3.74 | 4.61 |
| Diameter, in | 3.15 | 3.43 |
Product features
- Microwave-safe for quick reheats
- Dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup
- Available in 11oz and 15oz sizes
- Glossy white ceramic with vibrant, long-lasting print
- Lead- and BPA-free, comfortable C-handle
Care instructions
- Clean in dishwasher or wash by hand with warm water and dish soap