National Linseed Oil Trust

The National Linseed Oil Trust of St. Louis, Missouri was a major company trust formed in 1885 to protect linseed interests in the United States. Once used extensively in painting, linseed oil today is known almost exclusively as flax. The Trust was dissolved in 1920 after the U.S. Department of Justice charged they broke the Sherman Antitrust Act. Omaha millionaire Clark Woodman was an influential director on the board.

History

Viewed today as one of many imitators of the Standard Oil Company, the Linseed Oil Trust's peers included the Cotton Oil Trust, Lead Smeltering Trust and the Whiskey Trust. At a peak in 1898 the Trust held $6,000,000 in assets over liabilities. An early report by one of the founders stated that the Trust was initially founded for the social benefit of the members.

Lawsuit

The US Department of Justice brought suit against the Trust for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. Several co-defendants were named, including the National Lead Company, Archer-Daniels Manufacturing Company, William O. Goodrich Company and the Sherwin-Williams Company. The suit alleged all of these companies were acting in collusion to raise prices, citing a spike in linseed oil costs between 1916 and 1918, when the price rose from $.50 per gallon to $1.80.

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