The Beginning
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1939 -
Chestien Wynn, a 70 year old retired attorney with an interest in lubrication chemistry, discovered a formula he named "Wynn's Friction Proofing" Oil. This surface treatment for metal actually changed the chemistry of the metal, making it softer and better able to withstand friction and wear.
Chestien Wynn would mix a batch of his product in his one car garage workshop, fill and label glass bottles with it and sell them to the local service stations and garages. Motorists, who used the products once, wanted another bottle of it. |
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1940's-
It wasn't long before Chestien was forced to hire a salesman so he could devote his time to producing and bottling. However, just as business was beginning to pick up, World War II began. The Salesman went into the Navy and Chestien Wynn could no longer get the chemicals and lubricants to make his product. |
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1946-
But, Chestien and his one salesman started over in 1946.
1947-
Son Carl E. Wynn joins the company and moves production into his two car garage. On May 28, 1947 the company was incorporated under the name Wynn Oil Company at 1222 Duarte Road, San Gabriel, California. An average of 40 cases of products per day was produced.
Wynn sponsors the first of many race cars and drivers. |
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1948-
April 1, 1948, Fire destroyed the two car garage. Within a few short weeks Wynn's actually flew in equipment and machinery to resume operation in a temporary location at Azusa, California.
A flight was made in a Luscombe Silvaire airplane with NO OIL IN THE CRANKCASE. The plane flew seven minutes without oil (the engine had been treated with Wynn's Friction Proofing, illustrating that it penetrates the surfaces of moving metal parts and forms a protective film of lubrication).
Unusual office building & manufacturing plant of Wynn's Oil Company, designed by the Austin Company.
Carl Wynn speaking to the designer, said, "I think it would be stimulating to be able to pause in our work and have an unobstructed view of the Sierra Madre Range"..."I have collected many cacti...we love the desert, you know". The unique design reflects Mr. Wynn's desires. |
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1949-
"The Deep Sea Test" was run in Newport Beach, CA in June. Two motors were immersed into salt water and left for fourteen days. One of the motors was treated with Wynn's Friction Proofing Oil and the other was not. |
| RESULTS: While still wet, the motor treated with Friction Proofing started without difficulty, the other did not. |
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Progression
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1950's-
Johnny Parsons, driving the Friction Proofing Special, won the Indianapolis 500 race |
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1954-
Year long Twin Car tests were conducted to demonstrate that the product reduces wear and fuel consumption over a 100,000 mile test period. Independent consultants certified the accuracy of the test which showed that Wynn's Friction Proofing products were responsible for 10.1% better gas mileage and 44.7% less bearing damage and 21.6% less starting friction. |
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1957- The establishment of a new world's land speed record on the Bonnevillle Salt Flats by the Wynn's Friction Proofing "Streamliner" continued the company's high performance publicity. Driven by Roy Leslie (a distributor) the sleek car, powered by three tandem engines, traveled more than 270 mph to reach the best one-mile land speed ever obtained. |
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1958-
Wynn's Friction Proofing received the Car Life "Seal of Merit." |
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1958-1959:-
Two new records for light plane endurance flights are set. The first at 1200 hours and the second at 1650 hours, were set consecutively in aircraft protected by Wynn's Friction Proofing. "Old Scotchman", a Cessna based in Dallas, Texas, set the 50-day, 1200 hour mark. The "Hacienda" of Las Vegas, Nevada, set a new record of 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes. Federal aviation authorities certified Wynn's products for use in light aircraft. |
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Towards the future...
"The only way to predict the future is to invent it!"
T Research Director
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