Vintage shots from days gone by!

Hancock Oil fire 1958
“On Saturday, May 24, 2008, the City of Signal Hill will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Hancock Oil Refinery Fire.”

“The fire, which occurred on May 22, 1958, was one of the largest fires in California history and was one of the first instances of mutual aid among fire departments, with units from the Signal Hill Fire Department, Long Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Vernon Fire Department responding. The fire burned for 72 hours, and the smoke cloud could be seen for several miles.”

“We are looking forward to honoring the firefighters who saved our community, many of whom were not recognized for their bravery 50 years ago,” said Signal Hill Mayor Michael Noll. “Many people throughout our region vividly remember the fire and the damage caused miles around from ash and petroleum falling from the sky,” said Noll."


Hello,
The fire in Signal Hill could be seen for miles, since Signal Hill is the highest peak in all of the Long Beach/Wilmington/Lakewood/Orange County surrounding area. It drew thousands of people interested in fires. It was a road traffic nightmare. Luckily, we could see the smoke from our house in the Westside of Long Beach.

We could smell the smoke in the morning. But, lucky for us, in the early afternoon and night, the prevailing West winds blew the smoke to the East and Orange County. What oil smell we were getting at our house were the usual ones from the nearby, Wilmington oil refineries, just a few blocks to the West of us.

That West wind is famous in the San Pedro, Terminal Island, Westside of Long Beach areas. Part of that West wind is so strong on a daily basis that it is called "Hurricane Gulch" in the San Pedro Channel near the marinas. Then it swirls and joins the West winds from the South Bay to hit the Long Beach areas.

The interesting thing is for those HAMB folks looking for the 50s-early 60s style of car that most teenagers drove and could afford, look at the lower left of the photo. There is even a car club plaque on the rear of the sedan. No fancy rims or paint, just whitewalls, stock rims and just a good looking cruiser big enough for 4/5 teenagers. (2 people were usually, the driver and passenger.) But, other times two more were in the back seat. In an emergency, there were times for the 5th person in the middle of the back seat.

Jnaki
It was a good thing that those people on the hill overlooking the huge fire were up wind from the destruction. (poor Lakewood and West Orange County.) As far as the 50's-60s look sedans were concerned, a lot of them did not have the SBC or SBF motor swaps. They had the stock 6 cylinder motors like the ones from the factory. Remembering those exhaust sounds was really something, compared to a rumbling, heavy duty, big V8 motor.

One of the car clubs in Long Beach at the time.
Could it be the same car club plaque during the same time period? A great example of a 1950’s or early 1960’s cruiser for the locals.

 

1919 Duesenberg land speed record car

 

Edsel Ford model 40 special speedster 1934

 

yeah right

 

Excalibur Cars 1964-1990, 3500 cars produced, Milwaukee Wisconsin (Wikipedia)

 

I have the model kit of the blue Catalina.....

 

They fell off a trailer.....

 

Evidence!.....

 

How many of you senior citizens remember "pencil tip" tail pipes?

 

Jnaki, you are right, there is nothing like the sound of a chevy 6 cylinder with dual exhaust. it still is music to my ears at 78 years old.

 

They are still around today

 

Lone gone now but used to be on the west side Butte, MT on old highway 10 which is now I15/I-90.

 

Art Malone




Where is the exhaust pipes?
B&M Torkmaster owned by Bob & Don Spar Don Prudehomme's first solo fuel effort



Beaver Bros

 

1940 Michigan State Police



1956 Kansas State Highway Patrol



LAPD



1935 Ohio State Patrol