C.C. Snowdon’s Numidian Cylinder Oil
Geared to the motoring elite
A rare C.C. Snowdon Numidian Automobile Cylinder Oil Imperial Gallon Tin comes to auction on September 13 at Miller & Miller.
Most grease and oil tins at the turn of the 20th century were as visually mundane as the product itself. Most were made for utility, lithographed in black script with the brand name and a trademark logo featured, if any at all. With its ornate graphics and thoughtful design, you’ll quickly appreciate the difference in this early C.C. Snowdon Numidian automotive cylinder oil imperial gallon tin. The graphic is striking and many collectors will consider it a work of art. One of only two known examples, the tin is slated for sale at Miller & Miller’s September 13th Petroliana & Advertising auction.
Campbell Camillus Snowdon, the man behind C.C. Snowdon, makers of the Numidian brand, was among the first oil refiners in Western Canada. After beginning his career with Imperial Oil in Montreal, he moved to Calgary in 1901. Personal transportation changed dramatically during this time period. Dominance of the human-powered bicycle went up in smoke as the new form of transport came into the spotlight: the automobile. Snowdon quickly recognized the growing demand for automotive products. By 1908, he founded C.C. Snowdon Ltd., a company that produced, refined, and distributed oil to serve the fast-expanding motoring public. As the lucrative automotive market expanded, so did the diversity of Snowdon’s product offering. Snowdon began construction of his new manufacturing plant in 1911 - the same year as the first Indianapolis 500 race. Soon the firm was making products like Numidian Automotive Cylinder Oil. The product was targeted at the automotive enthusiasts that were growing by the day. Snowdon commissioned Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Company from his old stomping grounds in Montreal to design and manufacture the tin. Thomas Davidson was one of Canada’s two “tin Gods” of the day producing lithographed tin products. The result was arguably one of the most graphically pleasing tins ever produced in Canada.
The Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Company, one of Canada’s two “tin gods” of the era, created this letterbox advertisement to showcase their skill in tin lithography. It sold at Miller & Miller in March 2025.
Through the subtlety and strength of its graphics, C.C. Snowdon’s Numidian Automotive Cylinder Oil tin implies the desirable qualities of the oil within. The ram’s head image, obviously hearkening to the “ram-tough” qualities of Numidian oil, resembles a Barbary sheep; a species of goat native to the mountainous regions of North Africa such as the region of Numidia (located in what is now Algeria, Tunisia, parts of Morocco and Libya). The image also bears a striking resemblance to the bighorn sheep that climbed the Western Canadian Rockies near Snowdon’s headquarters in Calgary.
The main subject, a race car in motion exaggerated by tires kicking back tufts of roadway, resembled the race cars seen at the then newly launched Indianapolis 500. The image was an answer to the racing sentiment pulsating through the brains of new motorists everywhere.
The race car depicted on the Numidian tin (left) closely resembles the program cover from the inaugural Indianapolis 500 race in 1911.
Unlike the five gallon square tins that preceded it, the imperial gallon Numidian tin is shaped like a lunch box. This more slender, rectangular form of tin was designed to easily slide underneath the seats of most pre-World-War I era vehicles (spout side up to prevent leakage). This feature made oil top-ups on longer trips more convenient. Unpaved roads, combined with primitive suspension systems caused vibration, resulting in natural wear to the side facing the floor. As expected, this example is nearly flawless on the spout side (facing up), with appropriate wear to the side facing the floor.
Unpaved roads, combined with primitive suspension systems caused vibration, resulting in the natural wear to the floor-side of the tin.
The upper side, on the other hand, is in nearly flawless condition.
The Numidian Automotive Cylinder Oil not only represents art - it connects us to a chapter in the book of early automobilia. It also represents the evolution of Western Canada’s illustrious oil history. While a known variation of this tin features exclusively a ram’s head, this example also features a race car that puts it into a category of its own. Rarity aside, it is guaranteed to enthuse automobilia and advertising collectors alike. No seat belt required.
Research by Christine Blaus
With contributions from Don Cooper
Sale Information:
General Store Advertising | Featuring the Terry Henderson Collection
September 13, 2025 | 9am EST | Live Webcast
Additional online-only segment to take place at 6pm EST.
Bidding is now open.
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