Old Oil Stocks – in progress J

For those seeking financial information here at Old Oil Stocks – in progress J, chances are you will not find lost riches – see Not a Millionaire from Old Oil Stock. The American Oil & Gas Historical Society, which depends on donations,does not have resources to research all oil corporate histories of an industry that began in 1859.

AOGHS continues to look into a limited number of forum queries as part of its energy education mission. Some investigations have revealed little-known stories like Buffalo Bill’s Shoshone Oil Company; many others have found questionable dealings during booms and epidemics of “black gold” fever like Arctic Explorer turns Oil Promoter

Old Oil Stocks - in progress JView company updates regularly added to the A-to-Z listing at Is my Old Oil Stock worth Anything? AOGHS will continue to look into forum queries, including these “in progress.”

Johnson Oil Company

Johnson Oil Company was one of many fraudulent ventures for which Gilbert S. Johnson was ultimately convicted and imprisoned (see Admiral Oil Company for one example).

Court documents regarding Johnson Oil noted, “all money received from the persons intended to be defrauded for stock of the Johnson Oil Company was not used for drilling operations, but large sums were appropriated by the said defendant to his own use and benefit.”

Accusing Johnson of fraud throughout the years following World War I, the court documents condemned his latest oil venture, noting that “no honest or economical effort had been made by the defendant to develop new production; that the company did not continue to make progress, but at that time was on the verge of bankruptcy and did make a financial failure; that these statements were made by the defendant for the purpose of deception and of inducing the persons to be defrauded to part with their money and property without receiving anything of value therefore.”

Justheim Petroleum Company

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Justheim Petroleum Company incorporated in Nevada in 1952 to acquire, hold and sell oil and natural gas leases while retaining overriding royalty rights.

On December 31, 1986, a company by the name of C.E.C. Management Corporation merged into Justheim Petroleum. C.E.C. Management was in the minerals processing business, including engineering consulting as well as designing and marketing custom systems and equipment. The newly merged companies were renamed as C.E.C. Industries Corporation with an OTC (over the counter) symbol of CECC.

In 2001, the SEC charged C.E.C. Industries Corporation with fraud, falsifying books and records and accounting violations in 1996 and 1997.

In 2004, C.E.C. Industries Corporation dismissed all its officers and the entire board of directors to reform itself as a business development company, changing its name to Advantage Capital Development. At that time there were more than 58.7 million shares outstanding and 1,500 shareholders.

The stories of exploration and production companies joining petroleum booms (and avoiding busts) can be found updated in Is my Old Oil Stock worth Anything? The American Oil & Gas Historical Society preserves U.S. petroleum history. Please support this AOGHS.ORG energy education website. For membership information, contact bawells@aoghs.org. © 2020 Bruce A. Wells.

John P. Mills Company

John P. Mills Company

The Signal Hill oil discovery helped make California the source of one-quarter of the world’s entire oil output. “Porcupine Hill” was producing 260,000 barrels of oil a day by 1923 – and attracting a few shady characters.

In the summer of 1921, the Alamitos No. 1 oil exploratory well brought another spectacular California discovery – and the Signal Hill Oil Boom. As oil fever spreads, a wealthy real estate developer will take advantage of unwary investors.

Signal Hill soon became known as “Porcupine Hill” as exploration companies scrambled to the Long Beach field, 20 miles south of Los Angeles. By 1923, Long Beach was producing almost 260,000 barrels of oil every day. Investors looked for opportunities.

Successful Los Angeles real-estate developer John P. Mills formed his company in 1922. He incorporated it with three trusts and a charter for financing acquisition of properties in Long Beach and developing any oil and natural gas discovered on those properties. John P. Mills Company sold large numbers of $400 units over the next two years.

But there was no oil. Subsequent court documents would reveal it was ultimately “determined that the land was nonproductive of oil.” Then the struggle and litigation began.

The property was to be sold under the provisions of the trust agreement but with the consent of about 3,000 unit holders. The proceeds were to then be divided among the holders of the various units – but agreement proved impossible.

Although litigation and appeals dragged on until 1939, the John P. Mills Organization’s pursuit of oil had long since been abandoned. By then, Mills was far more notorious for his role in Los Angeles’ scandalous “Love Mart” affair of 1931 – in which local millionaires paid for underage girls, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Read more about California oil history in First California Oil Well, Discovering Los Angeles Oilfields and California Oil Seeps.

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The stories of exploration and production companies joining petroleum booms (and avoiding busts) can be found updated in Is my Old Oil Stock worth Anything? The American Oil & Gas Historical Society preserves U.S. petroleum history. Please support this AOGHS.ORG energy education website. For membership information, contact bawells@aoghs.org. © 2018 Bruce A. Wells.

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