Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Sinclair Mileage Meter

Hello to all. I wanted to see if anyone out there had ever seen this Sinclair mileage meter? I have the Coke and Shell one just like it, but this one looks suspicious and I am pretty sure that the seller has sold reproductions in the past, especially soda memorabilia. I have never seen this one and if someone has seen it before or has one then I would love to add it to the collection. Thanks for your time, this website is definitely addictive. http://cgi.ebay.com/SINCLAIR-MILEAGE-MET...1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd find it hard to believe anyone would go to the trouble to repop this item. Too much work and too few buyers. Just my 2 cents

The unit looks in exc. cond. while the decal looks beat. Not familiar with sinclair logo in oval. I say fake decal on old meter. Ed

I agree. If it's truly made of celluloid, there's no way it's repro - that stuff doesn't even exist anymore.

The decal logo is bizarre, I agree. I would also guess that it is probably fake.

Wes

Looks like an old water transfer decal that has yellowed or a new one that was artificially aged.
I wouldn't say its a fake because of the logo.
I've got several lube guides, mileage charts, etc with that logo. It was used in the mid to late 1950's.

I stand corrected - Thanks Bob!

Wes

I agree with Metropetro. I think decal is fake. This guy sells fakes all the time!!

I'm not saying its not a fake, just that I wouldn't consider it a fake based on the logo.
Jamison, how about posting a picture of your Shell mileage meter.

Here is the coke and the shell one

Does it seem strange that the drum would be exposed in the area above the decal? I would think that would be an area that shouldn't be visible.

Do any other mileage meters have clear panels here?

Wes

I also noticed that the knob on the Sinclair version is different than the other two.

I'm not familiar with these. Like Wes, I'd like to know if others have a clear panel on the front?
Do these usually have painted or printed advertising like the Coke and Shell examples pictured?
Was there a generic version that was meant to be decaled or left without advertising?
What do these normally sell for?

Its kinda' strange, how pristine the green area is, and how yellow the SINCLAIR decal is. The typing on the roll looks original (old) though. I cant speak of its authenticity, or lack of, but it just doesn't look right to me.

There is only 1 more mileage meter than I know of and that is a Holiday Inn one. I had heard that there was a Pure Oil one but I have never been able to confirm it. It does seem strange that the Sinclair one has the large window exposing the wheel inside and then just that little advertisement. The last Shell one that I saw sell went for I believe $1700 and the Coke one normally goes for around $2500 when they are in near mint to mint condition.

Don't know if it's fake or not but it seems like sinclair would have their logo and lettering painted on like the shell and coke versions. I lean toward the meter being real but the decal sure looks shakey. paper and decals do yellow with age so who knows.