The Great Depression
WRR employees weathered the hard times better than those in many other factories. They formed a recreation organization and a credit union (now Midwest Members Credit Union). The Shell Review employee newsletter began publication. The first pension check was awarded. With the encouragement of Major Jimmy Doolittle (then head of Shell’s aviation department) the first shipment ever of 100 octane gasoline was delivered by WRR to the Army Air Corps. Lubricants were a major product and in 1937 a record 10,417 cases of motor oil were packaged in one week, and a record 7,708 drums (55 gallon barrels) of lubricating oils in another week. A new Research Laboratory was built for Shell’s fuels and lubricants research. The first Mileage Marathon was held by Engine Research Laboratory employees during their second annual picnic. The winning car, driven by Research Laboratory Manager R. J. Greenshields, achieved 49.7 miles per gallon.
