CO-OP Motor Oil 5-Gallon Can, Farmland Industries, Kansas City

Five-gallon steel service can in the familiar CO-OP livery — interlocking orange and blue rings flanking the black block lettering, set against a white ground with the orange band wrapping the base. Manufactured by Farmland Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, the can carries the wire bail handle, threaded pour spout, and secondary fill cap typical of farm-cooperative bulk oil packaging from the mid-twentieth century. The face still reads "Motor Oil — 5 U.S. Gallons — 18.925 Liters," with partial A.P.I. Service ratings (SB-SC-SD-SE) visible below the worn specification block.

Farmland Industries grew out of the Union Oil Company cooperative founded in 1929 and became one of the largest agricultural co-ops in the country before its 2002 dissolution. CO-OP-branded petroleum products were a staple in rural America — sold through local farmer-owned cooperatives across the Plains and Midwest. Cans like this one rode the running boards of pickup trucks and lived on the shelves of barn workshops, and they remain sought after by petroliana collectors for the bold mid-century graphics and clear co-op identification.

CONDITION

Good with heavy age-appropriate wear. Surface shows scratching, denting to the shoulder and top, paint chipping, and oxidation across the body with rust blooms and pitting concentrated around the logo and shoulder. Specification panel is partially abraded. Empty.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Approx. 16" H × 11.5" Diameter
• Capacity: 5 U.S. Gallons (18.925 Liters)
• Material: Steel
• Manufacturer: Farmland Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri 64116
• A.P.I. Service Ratings (partial): SB-SC-SD-SE
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale — Not Included