Pratt’s Perfection Motor Spirit was the premier fuel brand of the Anglo-American Oil Company. Founded in London in 1888, the firm operated as the British marketing arm of John D. Rockefeller's legendary Standard Oil trust. It originally imported American kerosene for domestic lighting before pivoting to the automotive market.
When British motoring laws relaxed in 1896, the company launched Pratt's Motor Spirit, named after American petroleum pioneer Charles Pratt. Following the 1911 antitrust breakup of Standard Oil, Anglo-American became an independent British corporate entity. In the 1920s, it rebranded its premium fuel to "Pratt’s Perfection Motor Spirit" and introduced the Pratt’s Golden Pump—Britain's very first roadside petrol pump.
The name "Perfection" was a critical marketing tool designed to assure early motorists, who were wary of new mechanical pumps, that the fuel was highly refined and free of engine-damaging impurities. In 1935, the parent company rebranded its filling stations to Esso, completely phasing out the beloved Pratt’s name by 1937.
Here we’ve taken an image of a worn enamel sign, digitally corrected it and reproduced it as a decorative reverse glass mirrored sign.
Pratt’s Perfection Motor Spirit was the premier fuel brand of the Anglo-American Oil Company. Founded in London in 1888, the firm operated as the British marketing arm of John D. Rockefeller's legendary Standard Oil trust. It originally imported American kerosene for domestic lighting before pivoting to the automotive market.
When British motoring laws relaxed in 1896, the company launched Pratt's Motor Spirit, named after American petroleum pioneer Charles Pratt. Following the 1911 antitrust breakup of Standard Oil, Anglo-American became an independent British corporate entity. In the 1920s, it rebranded its premium fuel to "Pratt’s Perfection Motor Spirit" and introduced the Pratt’s Golden Pump—Britain's very first roadside petrol pump.
The name "Perfection" was a critical marketing tool designed to assure early motorists, who were wary of new mechanical pumps, that the fuel was highly refined and free of engine-damaging impurities. In 1935, the parent company rebranded its filling stations to Esso, completely phasing out the beloved Pratt’s name by 1937.
Here we’ve taken an image of a worn enamel sign, digitally corrected it and reproduced it as a decorative reverse glass mirrored sign.
