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OilemFirchen

(7,286 posts)
18. Start here:
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 08:41 PM
Jul 30
Shell Oil Company history

In 1833, Marcus Samuel decided to expand his London business. He already sold antiques but decided to try selling oriental seashells as well, capitalising on their popularity in the interior design industry at that time. The demand was so great that he began importing the shells from the Far East, laying the foundations for an import-export business that would ultimately become one of the world’s leading energy companies.

When Marcus Samuel senior died in 1870 he passed the business on to his two sons, Marcus junior and Samuel, who began to expand it. In the 1880s they became particularly interested in the oil exporting business but shipping still posed a problem as oil was carried in barrels which could leak and took up a lot of space. To solve the problem, they commissioned a fleet of steamers to carry oil in bulk, including the Murex which, in 1892, became the first oil tanker to pass through the Suez Canal.

... more of what you'd expect at the link, but no answer as to what happened to Samuel Samuel...

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Supply and demand. She gathered all the shells, then sold them because they were hard to find. cayugafalls Jul 30 #1
Thank you cayugafalls. that is one way of looking at it. But I am throwing my money away. debm55 Jul 30 #2
because the seashells she sold justaprogressive Jul 30 #3
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH. Thank you justaprogressive. debm55 Jul 30 #4
trying to keep my spirits up justaprogressive Jul 30 #5
Me too. Remember justaprogressive, you are loved. debm55 Jul 30 #8
She Had REALLY Nice Seashells ProfessorGAC Jul 30 #6
HAHAHHAHHHAHHAHAHHA. Thank you ProfessorGAC debm55 Jul 30 #7
You need to swim justaprogressive Jul 30 #9
Now those I buy, Thank you the information. I thought they washed on the beach. Thanks justaprogressive. debm55 Jul 30 #10
I Bought One As A Kid ProfessorGAC Jul 30 #11
My didn't have the tip ground off. I couldn't use a trumpet, just decorations. I still have it in the family room. Thank debm55 Jul 30 #12
She did it for the same reason Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Solly Mack Jul 30 #13
HAHAHAHAHAHH. I already used that one here in the Lounge. Thanks Solly Mack. debm55 Jul 30 #14
Does the woodchuck know? Solly Mack Jul 30 #15
HAHAHHAHAH Woodchuck had his own thread. Thank you Solly Mack. debm55 Jul 30 #16
Your tongue must be exhausted. :) Solly Mack Jul 30 #17
Start here: OilemFirchen Jul 30 #18
Very interesting. Thank you OilemFirchen. debm55 Jul 31 #19
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