Paragon Oil Vanity License Plate
12" × 6"
$17.99
Sale price
$17.99
Regular price
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Give a vehicle a nod to New York’s industrial past with this Paragon Oil vanity license plate. Founded in 1925 by the Schwartz brothers, the company grew from residential heater design into fuel distribution for city buildings and customers across the Northeast. Its trucks and tankers became part of a wider business story that included postwar government supply work and a later sale to Texaco. This distinctive piece suits collectors who enjoy regional company history and memorable mid-century names.
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 Vanity License Plate
$17.99
Sale price
$17.99
Regular price
Give a vehicle a nod to New York’s industrial past with this Paragon Oil vanity license plate. Founded in 1925 by the Schwartz brothers, the company grew from residential heater design into fuel distribution for city buildings and customers across the Northeast. Its trucks and tankers became part of a wider business story that included postwar government supply work and a later sale to Texaco. This distinctive piece suits collectors who enjoy regional company history and memorable mid-century names.
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.
| 12" × 6" | |
| Width, in | 12.00 |
| Height , in | 6.00 |
Product features
- Durable 100% aluminum construction with silver backing
- High-definition, vibrant color printing on white front
- Standard size 12" × 6" (30.5 × 15.2 cm)
- Four pre-drilled holes for easy hanging or mounting
- Assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts (mounting hardware not included)
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth