Putty, Durant 1981-10-29
Durant Putty discusses the early day oil industry in West Texas and his life in Desdemona, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Durant Putty
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: October 29, 1981
Location: Stephenville, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 3 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Steam engines,
Steel pipeline,
Desdemona, Texas,
Discovery well (1917),
Natural gas,
Plugging crews,
Wells,
Spacing (1920s),
Depth,
Cable tool rigs,
Tool dressers,
Duties,
Cable tool rigs,
Parts,
Comparison to rotary rig,
Dangers,
Oil transport,
Horse teams,
Oxen,
Desdemona and Hogtown, Texas,
"Twin cities",
Locations,
Cuttings,
Rigs,
Height,
Derricks.
Tape 1, Side 2: Big Lake Well,
Deep oil,
World War II,
Gasoline supply,
Rat holes,
Desdemona (1920s),
Drillers,
Companies,
Independents,
Fraudulent stock deals,
Drilling costs,
Present day,
1920s,
Work force,
Teaming contractors,
Oil boom,
Salaries,
Transportation,
Wagons,
Pipeline,
Lay tongs,
Jobs (1930s),
Drought (1917).
Tape 2, Side 1: Drought of 1917 (continued),
Depression,
Job scarcity,
Salaries,
Bank loans,
Hoover administration,
Education,
Odessa Junior College,
Warren Burnett, lawyer,
Tom Seeley,
Midland/Odessa rivalry,
Roads,
Warren Burnett.
Tape 2, Side 2: Ranger, Texas,
Crime,
Bootleggers,
Jake L. Hamon,
Railroad,
Frank Hale (?),
Desdemona Gusher,
Dr. Samuel Snodgrass,
Desdemona,
Japanese balloon anecdote,
Old timers,
Windfall profits tax,
Coal mines,
Land leasing,
Oil boom days,
Business hours.
Tape 3, Side 1: Alameda, Texas,
Maps discussed,
Well locations pinpointed,
Oil,
Qualities,
Formations,
Appearance,
Oil wells,
Nitroglycerin,
Natural pressure drive,
Ownership problems,
Secondary recovery,
Anecdotes,
Fishing.
Tape 3, Side 2: Oil wells (continued),
Fishing (continued),
Social Security System,
Oil wells,
Bits,
"Hurry up" sand,
Automobiles (1900s),
Studebaker,
Model T Ford,
Walter Greenhaw,
Floyd Moore.
Range Dates: 1917-1981
Bulk Dates: 1917-1940s
Access Information
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Transcript:
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