Visual Materials

Oil field, Torrance. April 17, 1923

Description: A panoramic view of an oil field in Torrance. There are about a dozen oil wells in the foreground, and another two dozen in the distance on the right. There is a shed at the base of each well, and a few houses scattered across the landscape. The major road in the photograph is labeled "Torrence [sic] & Redondo Rd." Writing in white at bottom of image reads "Torrance Oil Field ; looking So & West from Torrance #1 'CCMO'." More writing to the right of that reads "Phot no 252 ; The C.C. Pierce Co. ; 1512 W. Pico, L.A. ; 4-17-1923".
Type: Visual Materials(Opens in new tab)
Date: April 17, 1923
Call number: photCL 470 (088)
Find out more: View in the Huntington Digital Library

Tobin #2, Signal Hill oil field. 1923

Visual Materials

A panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill. There are about two dozen oil rigs, or derricks, in the foreground, with many more visible on the far right. There is a small reservoir of water in the bottom left corner, and clouds of smoke or steam coming out of the oil rig to the right of it. A large tent is on the right, with sheds to its right and left. There is a large group of people in suits and dresses posing in front of the shed at the foot of Tobin #2. There are streets of houses in among the derricks, and a few buses parked on the nearest street. Many of the rigs in the foreground are labeled with their names and a number that represents their output, by the barrel. Writing in white below the posed crowd reads "Tobin No. 2 "Signal Hill" - Long Beach, Calif." Writing in white in the bottom left reads "Photo. No. 280 ; The Aerograph Co. ; 5880 Moneta ; L.A. - Calif."

photCL 470 (172)

Tobin #2, Signal Hill oil field. July 11, 1923

Visual Materials

A panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill. There are about two dozen oil rigs, or derricks, in the foreground, with many more visible on the far right. There is a small reservoir of water in the bottom left corner, and a spray of smoke or steam coming out of the oil rig to the right of it. A large tent is on the right, with sheds to its right and left. There are streets of houses in among the derricks, and a few buses parked on the nearest street. Many of the rigs in the foreground are labeled with their names and a number that represents their output, by the barrel. Writing in white in the bottom center reads "Tobin # 2 "Signal Hill" Long Beach, Cal.", while a small note just left of that reads "No 264".

photCL 470 (171)

Signal Hill oil field, facing north and east. April 5, 1923

Visual Materials

A very wide, slightly elevated panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill, facing north and east. There are hundreds of oil rigs, or derricks, across the landscape. Among the oil rigs there are streets of houses, as well as numerous vacant lots. There are railroad tracks on the far right side of the image, and in the center, where the last seven tanker cars of a train are visible. Beyond the railroad tracks on the right there is a neighborhood of closely spaced houses without any oil rigs. Writing in white in the bottom center reads "Photo no. 367 ; The Aerograph Co. ; 5880 Moneta ; Los Angeles Cal."

photCL 470 (167)

Signal Hill oil field, facing north and east. January 3, 1923

Visual Materials

A very wide, slightly elevated panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill, facing north and east. There are hundreds of oil rigs, or derricks, across the landscape. Among the oil rigs there are streets of houses, as well as large fields, some of which are planted with row crops. The street on the right is labeled "Hill Street", and one of the derricks directly above it is labeled "Old Colony No. 1." Writing in white in the bottom center reads "The Aerograph Co. ; 5880 Moneta ; L-A Cal. ; Photo no. 368". Writing in white on the right reads "Long Beach (Signal Hill) Calif."

photCL 470 (168)

Ryder Well No. 1 flowing wild, Signal Hill oil field. February 26, 1923

Visual Materials

A panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill, focusing on Ryder Well No. 1 (the one on the right?). There is a low earth wall around the derrick on the right which is filled with some liquid, while a cloud of smoke or steam emerges from the ground. A group of men in suits stand on the far left. Writing in white in the bottom center reads "Ryder Well No. 1 ; Flowing Wild at Rate of 12,000 Bbls. [i.e. barrels] Per Day - 2-26-23, Signal Hill, Long Beach, Cal. ; Petroleum Midway Company, Ltd. ; Subsidiary of the ; California Petroleum Corporation". Writing in white in the bottom left reads "The Aerograph Co."

photCL 470 (173)

Signal Hill oil field, facing north and east. November 5, 1923

Visual Materials

A very wide, slightly elevated panoramic view of the oil field of Signal Hill, facing north and east. There are hundreds of oil rigs, or derricks, across the landscape. Among the oil rigs there are streets of houses, as well as large fields and open lots. Clouds of smoke or steam are coming out of the ground near the bases of some of the oil rigs. Writing in white in the bottom center reads "The Aerograph Co."

photCL 470 (169)

Oil field, Torrance. April 17, 1923

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Tobin #2, Signal Hill oil field. 1923

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Signal Hill oil field, facing north and east. November 5, 1923