Our History
1921
Architectural engineer Eben Robison opens a small office in downtown Hartsdale. His wife runs the gas station and auto parts store, and he runs a side business drafting building plans. Living above his shop, he was ready all hours of the night to help anyone in need. His initiative, dependability, thoughtfulness, and nothing-is-too-much-trouble attitude allowed his two-person business to flourish.
MID 1920s
Extensions were added to accommodate the hardware shop, gas station, and auto shop. With the help of his wife and with his customer-oriented mindset, his business grew and eventually expanded to delivering home heating oil to homes in Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Edgemont, Ardsley and White Plains.
1928
Original Oil is founded by Harry Singer and delivers oil to the five Boroughs of New York.
1929
Robison’s Gas station number 2 opens at 100 East Hartsdale Ave. Hartsdale.
1940
A large expansion took place including: an auto parts and storage garage next to the oil plant, gas stations, as well as the opening of a second hardware store in Scarsdale.
1945-7
Wanting to reward the employees who helped him grow the business, Eben Robison, through a series of outright gifts, transferred a total of 49 percent of Robison’s stock into the hands of seven of his most trusted and valued employees. He did this to make sure that the people who helped build the company were the ones to inherit it.
1951
On the company’s 30th Anniversary, Eben Robison announces a stock purchase plan for employees with the ultimate goal of an employee -owned company. More than 300 employees gathered for a celebration, where Robison announced that not only would top managers be eligible, but all employees would be allowed to purchase stock in the company.
Robison at this point is serving more than 9,000 customers through a combination of retail enterprises, including its oil burner and fuel oil businesses, automobile repair service employing more than 30 mechanics, three filling stations with full lines of auto supplies, two large garages and two retail hardware stores. The company was also operating a fleet of 61 delivery, service, and tank trucks.
1970s
The stock plan does end in managers/employees taking over the company, but they do not survive the volatility of the oil business during the OPEC oil wars of those years and the company was taken over by Mobil Oil.
1980s
The Singer Family which had owned and operated Original Oil for three generations, makes a bid to purchase Robison from Mobil Oil and succeeds against larger competitors. The two companies which had similar origins and similar credos: Provide Quality Products and Outstanding Service, now merge.
1983
A third generation of Singers joins the business: Michael Singer, a Boston University Graduate.
1984
The Singer Family, owners of Original, a New York Based Oil distributor, buys Robison Oil Corp. Saul Singer assumes position of CEO and Fran Singer, Saul Singer’s wife, becomes president of Robison Oil Corp. Robison recognized Teamsters 456 as representing its employees and the company embraces the change working hand in hand with the union to modernize operations and cross train its staff.
1987
A third generation of Singers joins the business: Michael Singer, a Boston University Graduate.
1984
The Singer Family, owners of Original, a New York Based Oil distributor, buys Robison Oil Corp. Saul Singer assumes position of CEO and Fran Singer, Saul Singer’s wife, becomes president of Robison Oil Corp. Robison recognized Teamsters 456 as representing its employees and the company embraces the change working hand in hand with the union to modernize operations and cross train its staff.
1990
Robison closes its iconic offices in Hartsdale and the land is later donated to Hartsdale for a pocket park in the business district. Original and Robison move to new headquarters in Elmsford.
1995
With oil losing favor to gas and electricity in New York City, Original Oil sells its operations in the five Boroughs of New York to Hess Oil.
1996
Dan Singer joins the company after an 8-year career with PepsiCo, having also graduated from Syracuse University.
1998-2001
When deregulation comes to New York State, Robison becomes one of the first companies to take advantage of this and starts providing customers with electric service. At the same time, Robison adapts its full-service customer model to the gas market, offering natural gas customers the same reliable at home service as oil customers. “We developed the full-service model for natural gas,’’ said David Robison, “Gas people never had that luxury… They never had that guy who came over twice a year and checked the house. Now they had someone.’’
2003
Robison branches out into 24-7 plumbing services.
1991-2010
Volatility in pricing creates upheaval in the oil business giving Robison the opportunity to acquire some of its largest competitors. Robison purchases 15 or more local/regional companies including CIBRO, Cerrillo Bros., Halstead Quinn, Whaleco Petroleum, Spano Fuel, Durkin Fuel and others, expanding the company’s territory from Brewster to the Bronx. The control of these territories made it easier for the company to consolidate routes and improve service to customers. When it was over Robison had 25,000 customers within a 40-mile radius covering Northern and Southern Westchester and Putnam counties. “We tried to respect all their histories so the customer had continuity in service,” said David Singer.
2010-PRESENT
Robison continues to diversify its company, moving into green energy. Adding energy efficiency products, Robison offers its customer a holistic look at serving the homes’ systems whether it’s heating, electricity, HVAC or air quality products. Whether its oil or gas, electricity or solar, Robison helps the customer to choose the best product and greenest option for their homes. Robison offers non-sulfur, bio-fuel oil products that are closest to natural gas in carbon output. The company also purchases Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) so they know that the energy contributed to the grid is sourced 100 percent green. “We do a full analysis: air quality, humidity level, temperature check, programable thermostats,’’ said David Singer. “Every home we touch, we make energy efficient. We check under the hood to make sure it’s running right.”
2017
During the 2017 Philanthropy Awards Breakfast, then Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino declared March 8th, 2017 to be Robison Oil Recognition Day in Westchester County. He also honored Robison Oil with the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award for raising public awareness and interest in philanthropy and its selfless commitment to the Westchester community.
2020 & BEYOND
When the pandemic struck in March of 2020, Robison was perfectly poised to respond to its customers, offering the latest in air quality products to filter out viruses and other impurities. “About 5 years ago we began getting into indoor air quality. Asthma, allergy sufferers, pet dander were growing areas of concern. Now with the pandemic this is no longer a luxury item,’’ said David Singer. With smart homes and new products on the horizon, Robison stands ready to serve its customers in the future. “We need to be that guy/gal who you call when that new widget comes out that you are interested in. We will be there for you,’’ said David Singer.