Mendenhall, W H Toby 1985-02-05

W. H. Mendenhall discusses his career, as well as that of his father, in the well-shooting business.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: W.H. (Toby) Mendenhall

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: February 05, 1985

Location: Wichita Falls, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 2 hours 50 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: W. H. Mendenhall, background, Father: Thomas Mendenhall, Born: 1869 in Washington County, Ohio, Background, Employment, Marietta Torpedo Co., Shooting nitroglycerine, Method of blasting, Transporting, Manufacture, Storage, Manufacture, Illinois Torpedo Company, Nitroglycerine plant, Electra, Texas (1910), Production capacity, Description of photographs, Father (again), Personality, Learning nitroglycerine business, Death at age 73, in 1953, Shooting first well in Texas, Personality (again), Shooting an oil well (process).

Tape 1, Side 2: Shooting an oil well process (continued), Benefits, Mother: Nevada Maven Mendenhall, Fears with sons in well shooting business, Marriage, Helping husband with business, Father (again), Close calls in well shooting business, Personality and professionalism, Early day shooters, Personality required, Individuals who worked for him, Oil well shooters of America, Exclusivity, Competition, Shooters resign from occupation, Anecdote: Problems unloading glycerin cans, Early day shooters (again).

Tape 2, Side 1: Early day shooters (continued), Competency required, Qualities of a good shooter, Training, Illinois Torpedo Company (again), Work force employed, Operation, Equipment used, Team and wagon, Thomas Medenhall’s metal skills, Glycerin cans, Cost of well shooting, Effect of petroleum on nation, Meeting Grant Emory, Oilfields brought in by glycerin, Transporting glycerin (again), Volatility of glycerin.

Tape 2, Side 2: Volatility of glycerin (continued), Mechanics of well shooting, Legacy of nitroglycerine, West Texas oil production, Mechanics of well shooting (again), Duties of a well shooter, Mechanics of well shooting (again), Calibration, Timing mechanism, (Tape stops after 20 minutes).

Tape 3, Side 1: Mechanics of well shooting (continued), Safety precautions, Illinois Torpedo Co. (again), Texas factories, Other torpedo factories in Texas, Texas Torpedo Company, Changes over the years (1930s-1960s), Torpedo companies in other states, U. S. Torpedo Company (1918-1932), Fire fighting, Beginning involvement, Blasting slush pits, Fire fighting (again), Use of explosives on oil well fires.

Tape 3, Side 2: Fire fighting (continued), Use of explosives on oil well fires (continued), Mechanics of well shooting (again), Lowering torpedoes, Torpedo construction and operation, Set-up process, Explosion near Monahans, Texas (1935), "Fishing" tools, Tex Thornton, Story about catching shell, Torpedo construction (again).

Range Dates: 1869-1985

Bulk Dates: 1930s

Access Information

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