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GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Celebrate the story of Paragon Oil, a family-founded New York company established in 1925 by the Schwartz brothers. The business first made patented oil heaters for residential buildings, then grew into fuel distribution, serving New York City-run buildings and later supporting postwar reconstruction in Europe. Its trucks and tankers carried the company’s reach across the Northeast. This sign offers collectors a focused reminder of regional energy history and the rise of a local operation into a significant mid-century supplier.
Paragon Oil was founded in New York City in 1925 by brothers Henry, Irving, Robert, Benjamin, and Arnold Schwartz. The family first built and sold oil heaters designed for residential buildings, earning several patents for their designs, then shifted toward distributing fuel oil to buildings using the heaters. In the early 1930s, the company won a contract to supply fuel to New York City-run buildings. It remained largely a local New York-area business until after World War II, when its location near the docks and five-gallon packaging helped it secure a U.S. government contract to supply fuel oil to Europe during postwar reconstruction. The business later supplied oil to U.S. submarines during the early Cold War and operated delivery trucks across the Northeast, as well as oil tankers. The Schwartz brothers sold the company to Texaco in the late 1950s; the sale became final in the early 1960s. Most of the brothers later used proceeds to help establish the Brookdale Foundation and support charitable and educational institutions, especially in the New York metropolitan area. The company is unrelated to a present-day Brooklyn business with a similar name.
Paragon Oil Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Celebrate the story of Paragon Oil, a family-founded New York company established in 1925 by the Schwartz brothers. The business first made patented oil heaters for residential buildings, then grew into fuel distribution, serving New York City-run buildings and later supporting postwar reconstruction in Europe. Its trucks and tankers carried the company’s reach across the Northeast. This sign offers collectors a focused reminder of regional energy history and the rise of a local operation into a significant mid-century supplier.
Paragon Oil was founded in New York City in 1925 by brothers Henry, Irving, Robert, Benjamin, and Arnold Schwartz. The family first built and sold oil heaters designed for residential buildings, earning several patents for their designs, then shifted toward distributing fuel oil to buildings using the heaters. In the early 1930s, the company won a contract to supply fuel to New York City-run buildings. It remained largely a local New York-area business until after World War II, when its location near the docks and five-gallon packaging helped it secure a U.S. government contract to supply fuel oil to Europe during postwar reconstruction. The business later supplied oil to U.S. submarines during the early Cold War and operated delivery trucks across the Northeast, as well as oil tankers. The Schwartz brothers sold the company to Texaco in the late 1950s; the sale became final in the early 1960s. Most of the brothers later used proceeds to help establish the Brookdale Foundation and support charitable and educational institutions, especially in the New York metropolitan area. The company is unrelated to a present-day Brooklyn business with a similar name.
| 7" x 5" (Horizontal) | |
| Width, in | 7.00 |
| Height, in | 5.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.12 |
Product features
- 100% white aluminum composite — strong, rigid, and lightweight
- Matte full-color print on one side for crisp, non-reflective finish
- Eleven sizes available; horizontal, vertical, and square orientations
- Includes one mounting block, metal plate, and double-sided tape; customer assembly required
- Indoor use only — durable for interior displays
Care instructions
- Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.