The Anglo-Indian Oil Company (India) Limited stands as an interesting chapter in India’s early industrial and corporate history. Incorporated on February 17, 1928, the company operated for nearly a century before eventually being dissolved through liquidation. Its long existence of 97 years reflects a time when the oil and petroleum products industry was still taking shape in the Indian subcontinent, and several pioneering enterprises were beginning to establish their presence.
One of the notable assets associated with the company is Trademark No. 140670 under Class 1, filed on October 8, 1949, for the mark “COMPROX.” This trademark suggests that the company was involved in producing or dealing with chemical, industrial, or scientific substances—categories commonly covered under Class 1 of the trademark classification system. The registration of COMPROX just two years after India’s independence indicates the company’s attempt to safeguard its brand identity and strengthen its market presence during a period of rapid economic transition.
The official corporate records list the company under the name Anglo Indian Oil Company Limited, registered with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) Mumbai. It was categorized as a public company limited by guarantee, a structure that typically signifies an organization where members’ liabilities are restricted to the amount they agree to contribute if the company is wound up. Unlike companies limited by shares, these entities often operate with a different internal framework and may sometimes serve specialized or restricted operational purposes.
Interestingly, the company’s NIC Code is recorded as 99, which corresponds to “Extra Territorial Organizations and Bodies.” This classification is unusual for a petroleum-related enterprise, indicating that the company may have operated under a unique structure, possibly involving foreign affiliations, international operations, or activities not easily categorized under conventional industrial classifications.
The company was unlisted on any stock exchange, suggesting that its operations were likely private, specialized, or limited in scope. Its registered office address is listed as NA at Post Deul Galli, Loha, Maharashtra 431708, though the “NA” in the address block indicates the possibility of incomplete or outdated records usually seen in historical companies that have ceased operations.
Over its long lifespan, Anglo Indian Oil Company Limited likely played a role in supplying or distributing petroleum or chemical products, particularly during an era when industrialization in India was influenced heavily by colonial-era enterprises. The existence of a trademark such as COMPROX further suggests a focus on branded industrial goods or chemical formulations.
Today, the company’s status is marked as Dissolved (Liquidated), signaling the end of its legal and operational presence. However, with nearly a century of historical footprint—from its pre-independence establishment to post-independence industrial activity—the company stands as a reminder of the early corporate structures and foreign-linked enterprises that shaped India’s industrial foundation.
The fragmentary details that remain—its incorporation date, trademark filings, company status, and classification—collectively highlight the evolution and eventual closure of a business that operated through significant economic and political transformations in India’s history.
