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Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!pyuxll!pmk
From: pmk@pyuxll.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: Direct Translations
Message-ID: <362@pyuxll.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-Jun-83 09:51:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxll.362
Posted: Thu Jun 30 09:51:39 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Jul-83 01:06:24 EDT
References: utcsstat.721, <841@burdvax.UUCP>
Organization: American Bell, South Plainfield NJ
Lines: 24

The actual reason that ESSO became EXXON was because Uncle Sam told them
(Standard Oil of New Jersey) they could not use this name any more.
It seems that there are more Standard Oils than Just NJ.  These other 
Standard Oil companies used to belong to Standard Oil of NJ but in an
anti-trust suit ESSO was forced to split up (that sounds familiar).
I speculate that these other Standard Oil companies brought Standard Oil
of NJ to court in order to bar them from using the ESSO logo. These 
companies were forced to use other names, such as SOHIO, STANDARD, and
others.  This is how it was explained by my father, an employee of EXXON
Research and Engineering.  I remember when I was young he brought home a
small metal dish with the EXXON logo on it.  This was at least a year or 
two before the change was made.  The US ruling did not bar Standard Oil
of New Jersey from using the ESSO name overseas so the name wasn't 
changed.  From a marketing standpoint this is a wise choice.  Remember
when Datsun was making the change to its real name, NISSAN?  They
made it a point to associate the name Nissan with Datsun.  EXXON thought
it would be easier to leave well enough alone.  I don't know if ESSO
means anythihg in any other language; I just thiught I would set the 
record straight. 
				Pat Kelliher
				American Bell 
				S. Plainfield, NJ
.