Look for a Sign...

[Jive-Bomber]

Nowadays, we don't have too many choices when it comes to big gas stations in the US: We've got Chevron(& Texaco), Shell, Exxon (&Mobil), Union 76, and the like. We've got independent gas shacks, but they're pretty much just a name out front... There...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[Joshua Shaw]

Excellent! I was lucky to have grown up in a family that collected Gas and Oil signs and pumps on a LARGE scale.. We still have them. My Dad and I both are hand lettering guys, and advertising "fans" if you will...

The old stations new how to slow ya down and take a look!

Thanks for posting.

J Shaw

[Stutz]

I run a station in Sheridan, wyo that is independently owned by my father. Even though we really don't have any other options then to have our fuel be supplied by a major company, we try really hard to have a quality and service above and beyond the modern standard of fueling stations. This blog today was interesting because I always feel like we are the balance between the quality of old and the modern speed and convienence of today... and we have a kickass hand made wood sign.

[Jive-Bomber]

Originally Posted by Stutz

I run a station in Sheridan, wyo that is independently owned by my father. Even though we really don't have any other options then to have our fuel be supplied by a major company, we try really hard to have a quality and service above and beyond the modern standard of fueling stations. This blog today was interesting because I always feel like we are the balance between the quality of old and the modern speed and convienence of today... and we have a kickass hand made wood sign.

That's what I like to hear... If I lived in your town I would go out of my way to support your station!

[Engine Pro 5X]

Oh man what a time this was !! I particularly liked the GAS WARS !!!! I lived in a small town that was highly populated with Full Service Gas Stations and Liquor Stores galore !!! The signage was plentiful and very creative to say the least. Certain stations had the lolipop signs out front and these would keep getting closer to the street as bussiness heated up !!! >>>>.

[KEITHMAN]

I remember my folks collecting "Blue Chip" and "S&H Green" stamps. There were little books you pasted them in. You could redeem them for merchandise. We always went to the stations that gave stamps. COOL Blog!

[Gigantor]

Ever since I was a kid I have sworn that one day, when I build my Garage Majal, I will have a big old green Sinclair dino out front in the yard.

[Tman]

I miss Green Stamps and good ol Gas stations! There are still a few here, very few. We haul to many of the big and little ones. In reality all the gas is the same with each company having slightly different additives. Other than Exxon in our area you really don't know what brand gas you are pumping, regardless of the sign out front!

[Slick Willy]

My parents had a lobster pound(seafood shop) up here in New England, It had a Gulf gas dock out back. Ive still got alot of gulf stuff. Much of it is targeted for the mariner, but I also saw alot of stuff geared for kids. I will see if I can dig some up....
Its too bad they had to sell it in the early 70s when you could barely sell gas and you couldnt give away lobster and fish!
The store became a gift/antique shop that was used in The Witches of Eastwick, it was Chers' store. I believe the porcelain gulf sign is still on the back overlooking the water.
Oh well, whats an inheritance worth anyway...

[1950ChevySuburban]

I miss all the fun stuff - Bazooka bubble gum for the kids, glasses / mugs, good service..... All gone, but not forgotten.
I miss the smell of leaded gas, good old Fire Chief, Ethyl, etc....
And being 45 years old, I caught the tail end of the era of Burma-Shave signs.
Hose operated driveway bells....

[49ratfink]

there is a 20's Chevron sign on a pole as well as the old gas pump still in place at an old gas station- post office - general store about 200 yards from my brothers place. he refers to this building as "down town" as there is nothing else out there other than sheep.

[Mr. Jean]

Well after the Green Stamps days, I owned a Texaco station in Reno, Nevada back in the mid 80's. Great links, thanks for sharing.

[HEMI32]

Jive-Bomber Jay - That's a cool website ... thanks for sharing.

__________________________________________________

Most every cool old Filling Station in the Bay Area has been bull-dosed and/or rebuilt to "modern" standards & code compliance ... However, there's a small independent station on Main St. in Pleasanton, California that is still in operation toady ... Here's a "'50s reenactment" photo shot at
that station (circa 1973):


click thumbnail to enlarge

__________________________________________________

Originally Posted by Joshua Shaw

... I was lucky to have grown up in a family that collected Gas and Oil signs and pumps on a LARGE scale.. We still have them...

Joshua Shaw -

I have a very small scale collection of Petroliana:


click thumbnail to open link

Your LARGE scale collection of Gas & Oil signs and pumps sounds very cool ... please share some pics here ... or better yet, in the Gas pump pics thread.

[Jive-Bomber]

Originally Posted by HEMI32

Jive-Bomber Jay - That's a cool website ... thanks for sharing.

Here's a "50’s reenactment" photo shot at that station (circa 1973):

Attachment 1095684
click thumbnail to enlarge

Could you get my bicycle tire off the roof when you get a minute?

[Joshua Shaw]

Joshua Shaw -

I have a very small scale collection of Petroliana:

Attachment 1095674
click thumbnail to open link

Your LARGE scale collection of Gas & Oil signs and pumps sounds very cool ... please share some pics here ... or better yet, in the Gas pump pics thread.[/QUOTE]

Didn't even know there was a thread! I'll post some pics when I get back in Cincinnati next week.

Good looking pumps guys!

J Shaw

[shoveled71]

I grew up in a small New Mexico town on Rt 66 in the 60s and 70s, worked at a Texaco and Standard Oil thru high school, down the road was a Sinclair gas station that had a big fiberglass dinosoar out front that stood about 15 ft high and about 20 ft long, biggest one I ever seen, dont know what ever happened to it.

[Johnny Gee]

Ya good times then. Look at what became of one old station. www.tacostation.com ........click on location history.

[hotrd32]

Yeah loved working at "Barney's Mobil"... "wash the windows,check the oil,check the tires...a dollar gas!"...Chuck Berry got it right!

[devilleish]

The first shop I worked in was an old Marathon with two pumps outside, one service bay with an ancient drive-on lift, a tire changer, and a waiting area that was wide open to the service area and cash register. The pumps were taken out in 1992 and I left for greener pastures in 1993, but the old codger I worked for is still going strong in that building.

[34dodgehemi]

Old gas signs are great, today’s signage is crap! With all the great production technology we have today we could make some fantastic graphics. Advertising agencies of the teens to the 50’s were on top of their game. With so many commentators most companies had to work just that much harder to sell their product.
Here are a few killer signs from the 30’s; these are 100% original in a friend’s collection. I will post some more cool gas signs when I get home. Enjoy