The Mobil Pegasus is iconic. But before it was the recognizable symbol of Mobil, it was the mark for SOCONY, and Magnolia Petroleum of Dallas as well (acquired in 1925). Today a neon lit Pegasus still sits on top of the Magnolia Building in downtown Dallas, and another – the original from 1934, sits across from the Omni hotel.
But the origin of the Pegasus in oil and gas advertising starts with Vacuum Oil Company, which trademarked the logo in 1911. When SOCONY merged with Vacuum, SOCONY – which would become Mobil, took on the Pegasus as its corporate symbol…and the rest is history. The American Oil & Gas Historical Society is a great resource for learning about these and other stories from the early days of the oil biz.
As for my designs, the following tributes look at how the Pegasus (drawn from photos I took on trips to Dallas) has appeared over the years starting with the neon “Flying Horse” study, an early Vacuum retail sign, a reimagined graphics celebrating SOCONY’s Pegasus, plus a pop art study. I have always been a fan of this winged icon!
Motorsport Art 
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