As I understand it they supplied the buttons for the button industry from top
shells. When plastics came about there went their business, but before that
oil was discovered in the Orient and the only fleet of ships that was
available to start shipping the oil (in barrels in those days) was the shell
oil companies. Now I think I read that someplace, but as I get older my
memory isn't always what it use to be, so it may just be another urban
legend. Or is it?

Frank Walker