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Petrol, Garages and the Pattern of Distribution

In: The British Motor Industry 1896–1939

Author

Listed:
  • Kenneth Richardson

    (Lanchester Polytechnic)

Abstract

Petrol was discovered almost by accident, as part of the great rush forward in hydrocarbon technology which took place in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Long before, in Mesopotamia, Palestine and elsewhere, a traditional body of local knowledge had been built up concerning oil seepages and the mysterious black deposits which were to be found on or near the surface in those regions. Babylonians had made from them a bitumen which could be used for bonding and cement. Greeks in Alexandria had studied them, producing a weapon of war which was later to be known as Greek Fire. They, and the Arabs later, had worked out a process of distillation which produced small quantities of highly valuable aromatics, illuminants and medicinal oils. As part of this process, which involved boiling and subsequent condensation, certain light volatile fractions were first given off. This spirit was in fact petrol but, until the coming of the internal combustion engine, to men who were busily looking for something else it seemed to have no obvious practical value.1

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth Richardson, 1977. "Petrol, Garages and the Pattern of Distribution," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The British Motor Industry 1896–1939, chapter 8, pages 198-224, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-03388-1_8
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-03388-1_8
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