Shell metropolitan map Detroit and
vicinity. Chicago:
H.M. Gousha, 1932.
Shell Auto Map
Michigan. Chicago: H.M. Gousha, 1933.
Sinclair Road
Map Michigan. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally, 1936.
Sinclair Road
Map Michigan. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally, 1937.
|
With the
standardization of route markings,
oil companies,
such as Shell, now became the principal distributor of free road maps
during
this period, contracting with companies such as Rand McNally and Gousha
who
would produce them.
The
covers of these maps were interesting in their own
right as well. During the 1930s, recognized commercial
artists of the time were engaged to produce oil map covers. Robert Lee
created
Shell’s widely acclaimed license plate map covers of 1933 and 1934,
while Peter Helck, the dean of American automotive artists, produced
Sinclair’s
five-panel
covers of 1936 and 1937.
|
 
Details
from Shell map of Michigan. Chicago: Gousha, 1962. Note
interstate highways under construction.
Downloading these images is prohibited.
|
The
Federal
Highway Act of 1955 (Dwight
Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways) provided the
basis for
the Interstate Highway System. Design specifications of these
“freeways”
included that there should be a minimum of four 12 foot wide lanes. The
first
interstates, with their characteristic symbols, began to appear in
Michigan
maps in 1959 |
Shell oil maps from 1941, 1962, and 1957
|
After
the oil
crisis of 1973, the oil companies
began to withdraw from the business of distributing free oil company
maps. Cost
of producing maps had increased substantially and the oil companies did
not
care to continue aggressive promotions and advertising. By 1990, free
oil maps
had completely disappeared |
