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Indiana Oxygen


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Eight years after commercial production of oxygen began in the United States in 1907, Indiana Oxygen Company became one of the first producers of the gas in central Indiana.  Formed in 1915 by brothers Walter and John Brant, Indiana Oxygen  remains a family-run operation today.  Now in it's third generation, Walter L. Brant II is the president of the company.

In 1911, the year of the first Indianapolis 500, Walter and John Brant--owners of the Indianapolis-based Lozier car agency and future company founders--sponsored two cars in the race.  One of the cars, driven by Ralph Mulford, was first runner-up to the winner, a Marmon Wasp, driven by Ray Harroun.

After founding the company in 1915, the Brant brothers continued their interest in racing.  In the 1920's, Walter and John Brant served on Otis Porter's technical scoring staff, assisting with timing and pit stop data.  The methods and technical procedures of inflating race car tires with Indiana Oxygen compressed air became a subject of particular interest to the racing teams--primarily because the use of compressed air decreased pit times.  A short time later, as more sophisticated methods of manufacturing became known, Indiana Oxygen began to play a significant role in the development of advanced technologies through its production of nitrogen gas.  Nitrogen was first substituted for compressed air in the late 1920's by Firestone, for inflating tires.  Indiana Oxygen, seeking new uses for gas, pioneered the use of nitrogen for refueling under pressure.  From 1937 to 1964, when pressurized refueling was eliminated from the race, Indiana Oxygen continued to provide gases and welding services to the race teams.

Today, Indiana Oxygen Company's Garage #63(N-15) at the Indianapolis Speedway, still provides race teams with nitrogen for tires, pneumatic tools, and pneumatic jack equipment.  With the myriad of new alloy metals used in the production of engines, manifolds, and racing parts; Indiana Oxygen has lent its expertise, as well as its garage, to the repair and testing of a host of new  racing technologies.