CALTEX CORPORATION.

The 1936 logo used the star present in Texaco’s trademark since 1903. C583 is attributed to Australian Oil Refining by The Log and to the UK, French and Dutch tanker companies by Brown and Wyt’s. Mitchell’s unlettered funnel is considered likely a consequence of the small image rather than proof that lettering was absent.

Constituent companies used the Star of Texas in a different colour scheme, often unchanged. Both Overseas Tankship companies are recorded using it; Balbao Transport used the funnel but its own flag. A Caltex Greenwich photograph confirms the funnel without distinguishing the version. Marinart edges black star lettering white and attributes the funnel to Balboa Transport, Caltex Oil (Australia) and Caltex Oil (SA). Op de Lange Deining gives O151 for Nederlandsche Pacific Tankvaart.

A china-pattern photograph appears to show the emblem on green, but lighting or fading may explain the difference. The Dutch flag-chart and Wyt’s versions show a black outline around the circle. Rosanoski disputes that edging, considering it a draughting convention separating colours rather than part of the flag.

Caltex began in 1936 as a Standard Oil of California–Texaco joint venture for Persian Gulf exploration, production and refining. California Texas Oil Co. became California Texas Corporation in 1946, California Texas Oil Corporation in 1959, Caltex Petroleum Corporation in 1968 and Caltex Corporation in 1999. Chevron and Texaco’s 2001 merger made it a Chevrontexaco subsidiary; the parent later reverted to Chevron Corporation.

In the early 1950s the fleet was divided among Overseas Tankship Corporation under Panama flag, Overseas Tankship (UK), Nederlandsche Pacific Tankvaart and Outremer de Navigation Petrolière under British, Dutch and French flags respectively. In 1967 Texaco took over the European interests, renaming the UK company Texaco Overseas Tankship. Caltex ship-name prefixes changed to Texaco or Chevron; Overseas Tankship Corporation adopted Chevron names.

Shipping interests extended through Australian Oil Refining, Balbao Transport and Caltex companies in Ceylon, Egypt, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Zambia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the Phillipines and Hong Kong. Australian Tankships was sold to Teekay effective 15 June 1998. Caltex New Zealand participated in the New Zealand Oil Consortium and jointly owned Coastal Tankers. The Zambia business had Zambesi River Transport Services as a subsidiary. Ceylon Petroleum’s subsidiary status is assumed in the source, which lists it as manager for Caltex Shipping.

Joint ventures included Tokyo Tankers with Nippon Sekiyu from 1951 and LG-Caltex Oil at Seoul from 1966. The latter’s split is written “505/50”; LG transferred its holding to GS Holdings in July 2004. Caltex’s H.C. Sleigh holding reached 31.3% before falling to about 23% by 1972.

USA, Irving TX.