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Displaying 461 - 480 of 653
Type Title Date Coordinates Originating Location Description
Drilling Techniques Jerker Lines 1862 Latitude: 42° 46' 16.46" N
Longitude: 82° 7' 2.021" W

In 1863, John H. Fairbank encountered a dilemma in one of his oil fields. Two wells were located at such a distance that only one steam engine could be placed between the two pumps, the steam engine and its pumping outfit being quite large.
Drilling Techniques Spring-Pole Method 1861 Latitude: 42° 46' 21.691" N
Longitude: 82° 7' 15.578" W

When James Miller Williams dug the first commercial oil well in Oil Springs in 1858, he dug by hand through the mud and top soil and oil seeped from the bedrock into the well.
Story James Brown 1891 to 1960 Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Iran

James "Jim" Brown spent 14 years of his career drilling in the international oil fields in Iran, Sumatra, and Burma (modern Myanmar) and in that time, he certainly experienced the adventure and danger for which the International Drillers were known.
Artifact
The handle of a wooden camel whip. It is curved like a cane. There is a piece of metal at each end of the handle.
Camel Whip
1903
Latitude: 9° 28' 13.811" N
Longitude: 46° 46' 42.283" E
Africa
  • Handle portion of a camel whip made from wood with two pieces of metal affixed to either end. 
  • Handle is curved at one end. 
Artifact
A red Persian rug with black, navy blue, dark yellow, moss green, and white details. There is a geometric design in the centre surrounded by four borders.
Persian Rug
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Red Persian rug with details in black, navy blue, dark yellow, moss green, and white. 
  • Four borders surround a geometric pattern in the centre. 
Artifact
The front of a brass sugar bowl showing three medallions with the faces of bearded sultans. The handles are curved and there is a bird on top of the lid.
Brass Sugar Bowl
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Two-handled brass sugar bowl with lid.
  • Bowl has a floral background dividing the space into six medallions depicting the portraits of six different men, possibly sultans of Persia (modern Iran).
Artifact
The front of a cylindrical brass pyxis with a design of robed figures and a floral pattern. It has a brass lid that is also patterned.
Brass Pyxis
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Small brass cylindrical container with lid, called a pyxis.
Story George Rawlings 1884 to 1969 Latitude: 12° 2' 47.962" S
Longitude: 77° 2' 34.325" W
Egypt

George Rawlings had the opportunity to work in the international oil fields when his sister married an Englishman and got Rawlings a contract with the Deep Well Tool and Boring Company.
Artifact
Two tea cups side by side with their class inserts, one showing two profile heads of kings
Silver Tea Cups
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Two small silver tea cups with handles and small glass inserts. 
  • Each tea cup has three figures engraved in a vignette: two profile heads of kings and a female figure portrayed to the waist. 
Artifact
Front view of a silver goblet decorated with bands of flowers which frame a main offering scene.
Silver Goblet
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Small silver goblet with decorative patterns and figures
  • Central decorative panels shows an offering scene. This is bordered on the top and bottom by a floral band.
  • The foot is decorated with flowers and birds.
  • The foot was made seperately. 
Artifact
A silver napkin ring showing two figures stabbing a deer with daggers.
Silver Napkin Rings
1889 to 1959
Latitude: 31° 56' 13.823" N
Longitude: 49° 18' 5.335" E
Asia
  • Silver napkin rings with raised decoration
  • Depicts hunting scenes with figures on horses chasing deer, and slaughtering a deer with a dagger. 
  • Opposite side depicts offerings given to a king. 
Story Harry Smith 1889 to 1950 Latitude: 10° 9' 42.88" N
Longitude: 61° 35' 54.28" W
Asia

While many International Drillers brought exotic treasures back to Canada, Harry Smith was the only man to return home with an ocelot. One day while working in the jungles of Venezuela, Smith was attacked by an ocelot (a medium-sized jungle cat).
Artifact
The front of a carved wooden spoon. The spoon is smooth while the handle has nine alternating rows of diagonal stripes and diamonds. There is a stem at the top of the handle.
Wooden Spoon
1903 to 1921
Latitude: 9° 28' 13.811" N
Longitude: 46° 46' 42.283" E
Africa
  • Wooden carved spoon
  • Spoon handle is decorated with incised diagonal hatching and bands of diamonds. 
  • Handle of spoon is rounded with a stem. 
Artifact
The front of a wooden carved spoon decorated with diagonal hatching on the handle. There is a triangular hole in the middle of the handle and a stem at the top.
Wooden Spoon
1903 to 1921
Latitude: 9° 28' 13.811" N
Longitude: 46° 46' 42.283" E
Africa
  • Wooden carved spoon
  • Spoon handle is decorated with incised diagonal hatching. 
  • Handle of spoon is rounded with a stem and a hole in the centre. 
Artifact
A carved wooden spoon decorated with hatching and dots on the handle. There is a hole carved into the handle, as well.
Wooden Spoon
1903 to 1921
Latitude: 9° 28' 13.811" N
Longitude: 46° 46' 42.283" E
Africa
  • Wooden carved spoon
  • Spoon handle is decorated with incised hatching and dots. 
  • Handle of spoon is rounded with a stem and a hole in the centre. 
Artifact
The front of a carved wooden spoon. It has line etched into the handle and a piece sticking out of the top. There is a hole carved into the handle.
Wooden Spoon
1903 to 1921
Latitude: 9° 28' 13.811" N
Longitude: 46° 46' 42.283" E
Africa
  • Wooden carved spoon
  • Spoon handle is decorated with incised hatching.
  • Handle of spoon is rounded with a stem and a hole in the centre. 
Story Cecil Coutts 1888 to 1934 Latitude: 20° 28' 20.636" N
Longitude: 94° 52' 55.25" E
Myanmar

Not all International Drillers made it home. While International Drillers faced a variety of exotic dangers, some men, like Cecil Coutts, simply passed away overseas.
Artifact
The front cover of a British Passport issued to Frederick Thomas Webb. It is navy with gold writing and a crest. There are two light-coloured stickers with handwritten titles.
Passport
1925 to 1930
Latitude: 2° 10' 16.064" S
Longitude: 79° 55' 24.208" W
South America
  • British Passport issued on April 3, 1925 at Guayaquil, Ecuador to Frederick Thomas Webb.
  • Includes visas to Ecuador, Peru, and Panama. 
Artifact
Front of the passport issued in Singapore with a red cover and coat of arms of the United Kingdom.
Passport
1918 to 1925
Latitude: 1° 17' 12.7" N
Longitude: 103° 51' 10.048" E
Asia
  • British Passport issued in Singapore to Frederick Thomas Webb on May 7, 1918 and renewed until 1925. 
  • Includes stamps from Singapore, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Sarawak, Hong Kong, Canada, New York, and San Francisco. 
Artifact
A pre-printed form filled out with a typewriter. It includes a photograph of Fred Webb and is a declaration that he is about to leave for Columbia.
Declaration of Departure for Colombia
1923
Latitude: 40° 45' 19.53" N
Longitude: 73° 58' 42.233" W
North America
  • Declaration of alien about to depart for Colombia.
  • Completed for Frederick Thomas Webb and his wife Eliza Ann Webb.
  • Purpose of their trip to Colombia was for commercial businesses in the interest of the Tropical Oil Company.

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