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THE PHILLIPS 66 NAME
Attention is the stuff that memory is made of, and memory is accumulated genius.
J. R. Lowell
Most companies want to have a catchy name and a trademark people will notice. However, some trademarks come about in strange ways. Take Phillips 66, for example. Over the years, Phillips Petroleum has been deluged with inquiries about its choice of 66. Some believed that one of the companys founders was sixty-six years old (he was really forty-four). Another fable alleges that co-founders Frank and L. E. Phillips had just $66 in their pockets when they first struck oil. One lady even protested that the 66 referred to the number of books in the Bible, which in her opinion was bad taste commercialism.
With all of the erroneous stories floating around, surely there must be a logical reason the company chose 66. The truth is that Phillips was seeking a trademark for its first gasoline, which was to go on sale November 19, 1927. Like all businesses, the company wanted something catchy and descriptive, something that would arouse curiosity. Some of the scientists suggested 66 because that was the specific gravity of the new fuel. However, this was rejected since future gasolines might have different specific gravities. Then someone mentioned that Phillips first refinery was located on Highway 66. But that seemed to limit the gasoline to a regional area. On the evening of the meeting to select a trademark, a Phillips official hurrying to arrive on time exclaimed to the driver of his speeding vehicle, This car goes like sixty on our new gas! Sixty, nothing, answered the driver, were doing sixty-six! Where did this happen? he was asked at the meeting. On Highway 66. That settled it. The trademark became Phillips 66.
CONSIDER THIS: If youre looking for a catchy phrase, see what catches on.
Submitted by Richard
Attention is the stuff that memory is made of, and memory is accumulated genius.
J. R. Lowell
Most companies want to have a catchy name and a trademark people will notice. However, some trademarks come about in strange ways. Take Phillips 66, for example. Over the years, Phillips Petroleum has been deluged with inquiries about its choice of 66. Some believed that one of the companys founders was sixty-six years old (he was really forty-four). Another fable alleges that co-founders Frank and L. E. Phillips had just $66 in their pockets when they first struck oil. One lady even protested that the 66 referred to the number of books in the Bible, which in her opinion was bad taste commercialism.
With all of the erroneous stories floating around, surely there must be a logical reason the company chose 66. The truth is that Phillips was seeking a trademark for its first gasoline, which was to go on sale November 19, 1927. Like all businesses, the company wanted something catchy and descriptive, something that would arouse curiosity. Some of the scientists suggested 66 because that was the specific gravity of the new fuel. However, this was rejected since future gasolines might have different specific gravities. Then someone mentioned that Phillips first refinery was located on Highway 66. But that seemed to limit the gasoline to a regional area. On the evening of the meeting to select a trademark, a Phillips official hurrying to arrive on time exclaimed to the driver of his speeding vehicle, This car goes like sixty on our new gas! Sixty, nothing, answered the driver, were doing sixty-six! Where did this happen? he was asked at the meeting. On Highway 66. That settled it. The trademark became Phillips 66.
CONSIDER THIS: If youre looking for a catchy phrase, see what catches on.
Submitted by Richard
