Pennsylvania Stereos

Penn3. [R. Newell], although no label. Girard College, Philadelphia. E. $45

Penn4. Geo. Barker. The Johnstown Calamity. Valley of the Conemaugh-From South Fork. Copyright 1889. VG. $45

Penn6. J.R. Riddle, Fairview, Pa. R.R. Street, Petrolia, Pa. Sign for "John H. Sink Centennial Hotel." G. $85

Penn13. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. No. 49. Loading Tank Cars. G. $30

Penn15. Purviance's Stereoscopic Views on the line of the Penna. Railroad. No. 108. Union Depot, Pittsburgh. VG. $200

Penn25. [Detlor & Waddell, Name covered by "Clark's Variety Store" label]. Stereoview with extensive title listing on verso, showing an oil well disaster, blown away trees and wood, smoke pouring from the scene. VG. $35

Penn28. F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia. Penn'a RR Tunnel. VG. $35

Penn33. E. Anthony. No. 508. Logan's Spring, at Tyrone City, Pa. The water from Sinking Run, after sinking in the rocks and disappearing entirely for 3/4 of a mile, reappears and forms this spring, eighty feet in depth. It was on the banks of this spring that the Indian Chief Logan built his hunting cabin. From The Picturesque on the Pennsylvania Central R.R. Series. VG. $30

Penn39. No ID. Centennial Views. Philadelphia and Fairmont Park. 208. Pipe Aquaduct. VG. $45

Penn45. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. No. 82. Burning of the Imperial Refinery. VG. $65

Penn47. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. No. 53. Refining Oil. VG. $65

Penn48. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. No. 54. Refining Oil. The Agitator, or Treating Tank. VG. $65

Penn60. M.A. Kleckner, Mauch Chunk. 120. Coal Chutes: Screening Coal. G. $75

Penn64. No ID. No. 50. Dunham's Rollway, Penn. Oil Regions. VG. $75

Penn67. A.M. Allen, Pottsville, Pa. View of large wooden railroad trestle from Views in Catawissa Valley, Schuylkill County. VG. $35

Penn69. R. Newell, Philadelphia. Chestnut St. East of Custom House, Philada. VG. $50

Penn70. J.A. Mather, Titusville, Pa. Untitled view from Mather's Stereoscopic Views of the Pennsylvania Oil Regions. VG. $65

Penn73. J.A. Mather, Titusville, Penn. Mather's Celebrated Views of the Pennsylvania Oil Regions--New Series. View on West Pithole Creek. VG. $30

Penn75. J.A. Mather, Titusville, Penn. Mather's Celebrated Views of the Pennsylvania Oil Regions--New Series. West Pit Hole Creek Scene. VG. $85

Penn79. J.A. Mather, Titusville, Penn. Mather's Celebrated Views of the Pennsylvania Oil Regions--New Series. West Pit Hole Creek ?? VG. $100

Penn84. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 83. Burning of the Imperial Refinery, near Oil City, Pa., Sept. 10th, 1875. Explosion of the Benzine Tank. During this conflagration, a Tank of Benzine ignited and almost immediately exploded, pouring a torrent of liquid fire down the side of the hill; and throwing a fearful mass of dense smoke, and a shaft of flame, several hundred feet into the air. VG. $50

Penn86. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 15. The United States Well at Pithole was struck Jan. 8th, 1865 and flowed 800 bbls per day. This will originated the famous Pithole excitement which must ever stand prominent in the history of the oil region. Within six months several large flowing wells were struck, and the dense forest was transformed into a bustling city with all the conveniency and appliances of old established towns. Before the end of September the population was estimated at 10,000 to 16,000. The Post Office required seven clerks to transact a volume of business that ranked third in the state, Philad'a, and Pittsburg alone surpassing it. But the wells declined rapidly and two destructive fires hastened the final disaster, and with the close of the same year 1865, the glory and life of Pithole forever departed. But few buildings remain to mark the spot of this "Oil Bubble." At the last election but 15 votes were thrown; at the first election in 1865 over 3000 ballots were cast. G. $50

Penn87. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 16. Drake Well. The Oil Well. The Commercial History of Petroleum commences with the Drake Well which was struck near Titusville, Pa., in the year 1859, at a depth of only 69 feet, and produced 25 bbls of oil per day. The Well is located near Oil Creek, and in the vicinity are the remains of pits, dug in the ground for the apparent purpose of collecting petroleum that oozed to the Earth's surface; Trees two or three centuries old (as is proven by the concentric circles of the wood) are found growing in many of these excavations, proving such to be of ancient construction. From this point the tide of development swept rapidly down Oil Creek to its mouth, a distance of 18 miles. VG. $75

Penn88. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 30. East Side of Triumph Hill, near Tidioute, Pa. Situated on the Allegheny River, 40 miles above Oil City. Here is presented one of the most enterprising and busy scenes in the Oil Regions. In this view, and No. 21 (the west side of same hill), are shown over 150 producing Wells. These Wells were drilled to an average depth of 800 feet, and through a very porous sand rock over 120 feet thick. All petroleum is produced from this sand rock; the thicker and more porous it is, the longer the Well lasts. The average thickness in good districts is but 25 feet. This magnificent stratum of oil bearing rock, was but two miles long, less than one in width, and though pierced at intervals of but few rods, it furnished each of its tappers on the average, 25 bbls of oil daily, for a period of a year. VG. $85

Penn89. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 90. Lady Hunter Well Flowing 100 feet high. This gigantic spouter was struck Oct. 9th, 1874, 2 1/2 miles from Petrolia City, Butler Co., Pa. and produces its oil from a fourth layer of sand rock which is found in that locality. A Slight show of iol was found in the 3rd sand rock; bu the great vein of oil was struck on pentrating 10 feet into the 4th sand at a depth of 1,475 feet. The first days production was 3,000 bbls. It has produced 145,000 bbls of oil prior to March 1st, 1876, and was still flowing 150 bbls daily up to date. Nearly all flowing wells are intermittent, spouting at regular intervals. After a silence of a half-hour, a heavy rumbling sound is heard from the depths of the well, accompanied by puffs of gas, the oil comes off at first only in spray; but rapidly increases until it belches forth with terrible force and power. These discharges decrease in violence after a few minutes, and all is quiet again, until the regular hour for another flow. VG. $85

Penn90. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 88. Gas Well, Butler Co., Pa. In a new tract of oil territory the first wells struck generally flow; but as other wells pentrated the oil bearing rock, the pressure of gas is soon relieved and pumping is then resorted to. On penetrating a vein of gas, the upward flow is so strong as to prevent drilling; the drilling tools weighing 2,000 lbs. are tossed about in the well as lightly as a cork. And on lowering the sand pump (which is a sheet-iron tube 6 feet long provided with piston and valves to remove the debris from the well) is sometimes forcibly shot out as if from a cannon. The roar of escaping gas has been heard a distance of ten miles. Gas is found in all oil wells; some wells producing enough to illuminate a city of 10,000 inhabitants. From one well the gas is conveyed through 40 miles of pipe to Sharpsburg, (near Pittsburg), where it is used for smelting iron. The Newton gas well near Titusville, Pa. produced 4,000,000 cubic feet of gas per day, which was conveyed through 4 miles of 3 1/2 inch pipe to the city, and supplied 250 firms and families with light and fuel. This well produced no oil. VG. $75

Penn91. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 55. Refining Oil. The Bleaching Tanks. After the crude oil is distilled, washed, and cleaned, it is placed in the Bleaching Tanks; which are large shallow basins covered with glass houses, so as to admit all possible sunlight. In these tanks there is an Apparatus, by which the oil can be atomized, or sprayed. By this means evaporation is quickened, and the more inflammable parts of the oil removed, until the liquid stands the required fire test, that is to say, that it must not ignite when heated to a less temperature than 110 degrees F. VG. $75

Penn92. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 31. West side of Triumph Hill, near Tidioute, Pa. This, and No. 30, are companion views of the most magnificent oil belt (as oil men call a strip of producing land) ever yet discovered. On this "belt," which is but two miles long, and less than on mile wide--were over 150 producing wells, nearly every one of which was in operation at once. These wells at an average depth of 680 feet, (varying only as they were higher or lower on the hill) touched a porous sand rock, which proved to be 120 feet thick. This is the oil bearing rock; and when found of a thickness of 25 feet, a paying well is almost a certainty. On this hill the wells produced an average of 26 bbls each, per day, over a year. VG. $85

Penn94. Frank Robbins, Oil City, Pa. Views of the Penna. Oil Regions. No. 35. Oil City form Cottage Hill. VG. $45

Penn96. No ID. Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Gerais Hotel. E. $150

Penn97. No ID. Exchange, Post Office & Girard Bank, Philadelphia. E. $150

Penn98. Wilt Brothers, Franklin, Pa. Stereoscopic Views of the Oil Region. Pleasantville. G. $50

Penn100. No ID. The Drake Well, 1 mile below Titusville, was the first Oil Well in the United States. "Kaywoodie Remembers When" info about the well pasted on back of card. Trimmed around top as shown. G-. $35

Penn101. A.M. Allen, Pottsville, Penn'a. Pottsville, Pa., Schuylkill County. VG. $45

Penn103. [Lufkin's Photographic Views]. Wild Cat Hollow. Note the man seated on the roof at center strumming a guitar. G. $95

Penn104. Lufkin's Photographic Views of the Oil Regions of Pennsylvania. The Stone Cutter. G. $95

Penn105. Lufkin's Photographic Views of the Oil Regions of Pennsylvania. R.R. Abutment. G. $125

Penn106. Rippel Bros., Milton and Sunbury, Pa. Summit Hill Depot. G. $95

[Buy][Categories][Home][Books, etc.] [CDVs & Cabs] [Boudoirs] [Tintypes] [Daguerreotypes] [Ambrotypes] [Cases]

This page was last revised on 07/24/10.