Borger in Hutchinson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Nitro Storage Safe & Do-It-Yourself Drilling Rig
Photographed By James Hulse, June 7, 2022
1. Nitro Storage Safe & Do-It-Yourself Drilling Rig Marker
This do-it-yourself drilling rig was built on a Diamond Reo truck frame by an oilfield entrepreneur who couldn't afford a factory-built rig. Early oilmen often couldn't go to a local oilfield equipment store and buy a rig because the field was remote and equipment and supplies were scarce. The unit shown here was fabricated from available parts so its owner could drill an oil well.High-explosive nitroglycerin was used by oil men to perforate the geological formations at the bottom of a well bore so oil could flow into the cavity created by the explosion and could then be pumped to the surface. Displayed here is a nitro storage safe where nitro could be stored safely in a remote area until it was needed to "shoot" and complete an oil well.
Captions
Lower Left: Nitro storage safe was donated by local oil man Gary Alexander.
Lower Right: This rig was stabilized, repaired and made ready for display by museum volunteer Don Thompson.
Erected by Hutchinson County Historical Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list:
Photographed By James Hulse, June 7, 2022
2. Nitro Storage Safe (right) & Do-It-Yourself Drilling Rig (left) and Marker
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Location. 35° 40.357′ N, 101° 23.371′ W. Marker is in Borger, Texas, in Hutchinson County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Main Street and East 7th Street. The marker is located in the courtyard north of the Hutchinson County Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 618 North Main Street, Borger TX 79007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Panhandle Oil Boom & the Borger Field (here, next to this marker); LeRoi Motor-Generator Set (here, next to this marker); 1950 GMC Winch Truck (here, next to this marker); Bessemer Gas Engine (here, next to this marker); Auxiliary Equipment from the Early Borger Oil Field (here, next to this marker); Allis-Chalmers/Cooper Winch Tractor (here, next to this marker); The Huber Paraffin Scraper (a few steps from this marker); Boomtown (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Borger.
Photographed By James Hulse, June 7, 2022
3. Nitro Storage Safe (right) & Do-It-Yourself Drilling Rig (left)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 42 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
