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Posted By: Dave Rowlison Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 02:42 PM
Gas Station Trading Stamps are a collectible that are often overlooked.
These trading stamps were given with the purchase of gas & oil only usually.
They are stamps that were given out most often by discount stations & sometimes just a single dealer, jobber, or distributor.
Dealer associations often opposed them & wanted legislation banning or limiting them.
From a 1961 Retail Gas Dealers News;
Opposing Trading Stamps
A 1916 US Supreme Court ruled that trading stamps could be regulated.
A 1959 Wyoming bill banning trading stamps was upheld by there State Supreme Court.
While 13 other states since 1937 have had there bills banding them overturned.
Even the Wyoming bill as did as others allowed stamps that merchants gave & redeemed themselves lawful.
So if a dealer or company gave there own stamps & redeemed them the legislation didn't apply.
Some states only allowed stamps to be redeemed for cash or products.
In 1955, fifty bills were introduced in 24 states attempting to penalize stamps in one way or another.
I have a collection of about 100 stamp books covering 75 different brands or locations.
Since I worked nearly 45 years for a jobber my collection started with ones I was familiar with.

Speedway 79 was founded by the Sucher Brothers in 1919 in Detroit, Mi. There 1st stations were combination coal yards- gas stations.
Sometime after Aurora was founded in the early 1930's, Aurora became half owner of Speedway until 1947 when Aurora became full owner.
Note the "Earl's" on one of the Speedway stamp books, Earl was a dealer at the newest Marathon station the jobber I worked for in late 1960's
He took over a Marathon station when his Speedway was closed down after the street it was on was changed to one-way.
Forgot to mention that when Marathon bought out Aurora in 1959, Aurora was a part owner of Gold Bell stamps
More to come.

Dave


Attached picture Speedway 79 stampbooks 2.jpg
Attached picture Speedway 79 stampbooks 3.jpg
Attached picture Speedway 79-Gold Bell.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 02:51 PM

Duro was a Detroit based tank car operation starting in the mid 1920's
Tulsa also a Detroit based discounter that was founded when one of the Sucher Brothers left Speedway & founded Tulsa in the mid 1950's.
Shortly after that Tulsa acquired the Duro stations & re branded them Tulsa

Attached picture Tulsa & Duro stampbooks.jpg
Attached picture Duro catalog.jpg
Attached picture Duro Catalog tank car storage.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 03:13 PM
Best brand was created when Leonard Refineries bought the Cavalier brand of Flint & re branded Best in 1968.
The Lakeside Refineries of Kalamazoo had a small number company operated stations.
Interesting the address on this book later became a Crystal Flash station & today it is a Speedway.
PBS was a company that took over stations when self serve became legal in Michigan & the jobber I worked for couldn't keep dealers in the stations they owned because of lower margins.
White Fire was owned by Tank Car Stations Inc of Buffalo, NY.
Note the Jackson, MI location as I delivered that station in the late 1960's
This same location was branded Red Flash in the mid 1920's, Jolly Tar in 1929, White Fire from 1936 to 1943, Speedway 79 in the 1950's & finally Marathon in the 1960's.
Gastown was based in Cleveland, Ohio & had 90 stations, bought by Marathon in 1972.
Crystal Flash was Grand Rapids based operation related to the Indianapolis based fuel oil operation.
At the time of this stamp booklet they had 13 stations.
Stations bought by Marathon in the 1990's
OK Tire stores is national chain that some of there locations sold there Auto Float brand gas

Attached picture Best- Lakeside -PBS.jpg
Attached picture White Fire stamp book.jpg
Attached picture Gas Town-Crystal Flash-OK Tire.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 03:50 PM
Monarch was a tank car operation based in Bay City, MI with 5 stations & used a punch card rather than stamps
Red Head was based in Wooster, Ohio & bought by Ashland.
Wareco was based in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Zephyr was marketed by Naph-Sol Refining of Muskegon, MI & had stations in Michigan & Wisconsin.


Attached picture Monarch.jpg
Attached picture Red Head-Wareco-Zephyr.jpg
Attached picture Zephyr stamp &  gift books.jpg
Attached picture Red Head catalog.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 04:03 PM
Super Par based in South Bend, Indiana had 30 stations in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, & Iowa.
Pacer was related to Super Par & had stations Michigan,Illinois, Indiana, & Oklahoma.
Gem has a Kansas City, MO address.
Aller Oil of Fostoria, Ohio sold the Hy-Flash brand & had about 6 stations.
Derby Wichita, Kansas
Save Way,Merit, Giant based in Philadelphia, PA
Site based in St Louis, MO

Attached picture Super Par - Pacer.jpg
Attached picture GEM-Aller-Derby.jpg
Attached picture Save Way, Gaint, Merit.jpg
Attached picture Site-3.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 04:39 PM
Save Stations based in Roanoke, Virginia had 15 stations.
Red Bird marketed by Southern Independent Oil & Refining of Evansville, Indiana & had 11 stations.
Mars marketed by Marine Oil Co of St Louis, MO with 40 stations in 9 states.
Liberty Oil Co of Mt Vernon, Illinois, bought by Fina.
Sav-Mart Fina had stations in 4 cities in Illinois.
Detomic of Springfield, Illinois had 2 stations
Monarca marketed by Centrill Monarca Oil Co of Matton, Illinois & had 22 stations
Note the copy cat covers on Detomic & Monarca, a common practice.
Champion Service Stations of Springfield, Illinois & had 2 stations

Attached picture Save-Red Bird- Mars.jpg
Attached picture Liberty - Sav-Mart Fina.jpg
Attached picture Detomic- Monarca.jpg
Attached picture Champion Springfield.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 05:54 PM
Harper's Oil Co Springfield, Illinois had 6 stations & recently sold out.
Hicksatomic of Aurora, Illinois had 20 stations & 18 propane bulk plants.
Wides of Murphysboro, Illinois
Wake Up J.A.Hogshire Indianapolis, Indiana in 30 cities with 20 in Indy.
Star Centralia, Illinois
Wisco Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Simonson Cut Rate Gas Inc. Grand Forks, SD still in business with 17 stations
Red Fox of Fort Wayne, Indiana bought by Linco in 1928

Attached picture Harper's-Hisksatomic-Wides.jpg
Attached picture Wake Up - Star - Wisco.jpg
Attached picture Siminson Cute Rate Gas Inc..jpg
Attached picture Red Fox Fort Wayne.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 06:53 PM
Clark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Owens of Bloomington, Illinois bought out by Clark
Big Top Stations of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin 4 locations with different brands of gas.
Burr's Gas House of Massachusetts with 9 stations

Attached picture Clark.jpg
Attached picture Owens.jpg
Attached picture Big Top - Burr's Gas House.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 07:19 PM
All these stamp books as well as several others were copyrighted by R.L.Jacoby & sold by Liberty Sales System of Chicago, Illinois.
They made a special book & stamp for each of there customers possibility to comply with various regulations.
Back Eagle of Milwaukee, Wisconsin it lists 6 stations but Black Eagle had around 50 stations with most bought by Phillips 66 in the 1950's
Merriam's Sunoco of Pulaski, NY. This is the only single station stamp book I have.
Liberty Oil Co of Pottsville, PA & they sold Richfield products.
T.O Howard's Bell with stations in 3 Texas cities

Attached picture Black Eagle stamps Milwaukee.jpg
Attached picture Merriam's Sunoco.jpg
Attached picture Liberty Oil Co. Richfield.jpg
Attached picture Bell Stamp Book.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 07:29 PM
These also are made by R.L.Jacoby, Liberty Sales System
Eastern Penn Oil Inc of York, Pennsylvania & had 4 station that sold Conoco & Blue Moon gas.
Powerine of Denver, Colorado. They gave blue stamps for oil & red stamps for gas purchases.
Penna Independent Oil Co of Allentown, Pennsylvania with 26 stations & sold Fleet Wing products
Sinclair dealers of Macon, Georgia.

Attached picture Eastern Penn Oil Inc.jpg
Attached picture Powerine stamp book.jpg
Attached picture Penna Independent Fleet-Wing Stamp book.jpg
Attached picture Sinclair dealers of Macon Georgia.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Mon Mar 16 2020 08:53 PM
Consolidated of Oshkosh, Wisconsin had 70 stations bought by Marathon in 1972.
Western of Minneapolis, MN bought by Conoco with 62 stations
Superamerica of St Paul, MN
Ziegler Tire & Supply of Canton, Ohio with 4 locations. Stamps were given for cash gas purchases only.

Attached picture Consolidated -3.jpg
Attached picture Western.jpg
Attached picture Superamerica.jpg
Attached picture Ziegler Tire & Supply.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 09:25 AM
Trackside Gasoline Stations of Birmingham, Alabama.
Spur of Nashville, Tennessee
Direct of Nashville, Tennessee
Bonanza of Ogden, Utah
R & S of Des Moines, Iowa had 6 stations
Smith Oil Co of Cedar Rapids, Iowa had 12 stations
Kean Bros of Chicago, Illinois had 14 stations
Jet of Florida
Kayo F.P.Kendall Co of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Attached picture Trackside Gasoline Stations.jpg
Attached picture Spur-Direct.jpg
Attached picture Bonanza-R&S-Smith.jpg
Attached picture Kean Jet Kayo.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 11:33 AM
The 3 Erickson companies
Erickson Oil Co. of Stevens Point, Wisconsin & had 18 stations
Erickson Oil Products Co of Hudson, Wisconsin & had 36 stations
Erickson Petroleum Corp. of Minneapolis, MN with over 160 stations change to marketing the Holiday brand in 1962
With 3 Erickson companies it would seem some stamps would end up in the wrong book.
Using the addresses from these booklets I could find only one city where 2 different Erickson's had a station.
I have heard that the Minneapolis company bought the Stevens Point company.
Note that some of these booklets are billfolds & the customer didn't have to lick'm & stick'm, just put them in the billfold.
Also note another copy cat cover with Big Top & Holiday using nearly identical covers.

Attached picture Oil Co, Oil Products,Oil Corporation.jpg
Attached picture Holiday-Erickson.jpg
Attached picture Big Top - Holiday.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 11:46 AM
Bonded Oil of Springfield, Ohio bought by Marathon in 1975
Gasteria Bonded of Indianapolis, Indiana had 34 stations
Bonded chips from the Bonded Oil & used instead of stamps.
There exists an envelope to save these chips in.
Regal of San Jose, California
World Oil Co of Carson, California & I think they are still in business.
Beacon Jetflo of Hanford, California.
There exists identical stamp books from Bonded & Gasteria Bonded.

Attached picture Bonded-Gasteria.jpg
Attached picture Bonded Treasure chips.jpg
Attached picture Regal- World Oil.jpg
Attached picture Beacon Jetflo card.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 11:55 AM
Bulko of Chicago, Illinois had 140 stations in Illinois & Wisconsin, bought by Gulf in 1968.
Great Stations Inc of Oak Lawn, Illinois
J & L Oil Co.of Vernon Hills, Illinois & had 45 stations
Chief / Road Chief of Chicago, Illinois & had 45 stations.
Note the identical station address list on the Chief & J &L.
Chief / Road Chief was one of the many brands marketed by the Small Bros over the years.

Attached picture Bulko-Gulf.jpg
Attached picture Bulko envelope.jpg
Attached picture Great, J & L , Chief.jpg
Attached picture J & L- Chief addresses.jpg
Posted By: Dave Rowlison Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 12:08 PM
Oklahoma of Chicago, Illinois used coupons instead of stamps
Lone Star of Chicago, Illinois
Note that Oklahoma also lists there Road King stations another Chicago area discounter.

I find that gas station trading stamps were used more in the mid-west than other areas..

I am sure there are numerous other brands, dealers, jobbers, distributors that had stamp programs.

That all folks,

Dave

Attached picture Oklahoma coupons.jpg
Attached picture Oklahoma Prize Book 1953.jpg
Attached picture Oklahoma inside.jpg
Attached picture Lone Star coupons.jpg
Posted By: SandPCollector Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Tue Mar 17 2020 01:27 PM
Dave, I had no idea of the extent that these stamps and coupons existed. This has been very informative and educational. Thanks very much for sharing these!
Posted By: Gaspedler Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Sun Mar 29 2020 01:14 PM
Dave;
Nice collection, didn't realize you had THAT many. I have two Blue and one Red GasTown books.
See the note in the back of the Red one. Mine only have Red and Blue stamps, not the other colors mentioned.
Note it also has Dates.
Chuck


Description: Red Book
Attached picture Gas Town Stampbook RED001.jpg

Description: Inside back cover, no stamps in this book
Attached picture Gas Town Stampbook RED002.jpg
Attached picture Gas Town Stampbook001.jpg
Posted By: Gaspedler Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Sun Mar 29 2020 01:16 PM
One of my Blue books with both colors.

Attached picture Gas Town Stampbook002.jpg
Posted By: Oldgas Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Sun Mar 29 2020 04:13 PM
Here is a scan of my 1953 Mars Gas Saving Stamps booklet. Mars was based in the St. Louis, Missouri area. If you see any Mars stuff, please let me know by PM or email.

[Linked Image]

While we're stuck at home because of the coronavirus restrictions, I'm organizing some of my collection that hasn't seen the light of day in years. I think I have other gas station stamp books somewhere. I'm enjoying this and will probably post scans and photos as well as hang some items up on the wall if I can find the space. wink

Attached picture Mars-SavingsStampBook.jpg
Posted By: Oldgas Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Sun Mar 29 2020 06:38 PM
Here is my Zephyr Gas "Profit Sharing" stamp book. The book says you get a stamp for each 25 cents you spend. There are 140 stamps in the book ($35 spent), worth "$1.15 in Trade." That may not seem like much, but it is a better return than most of the current "reward card" credit card points deals.
This Zephyr is a brand from J.D. Streett with a home office in St. Louis, MO.

Attached picture Zephyr-StampBook.jpg
Posted By: Man-Cave-Shoppe Dave Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Wed Apr 01 2020 04:30 AM
Cool thread!
The Mohawk Stamp books I had.

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Posted By: AaronG Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Fri Jan 05 2024 05:56 PM
Hi new here! I was going through some of my grandfathers stuff and ran across some bonded stamps from Gasteria. I have no idea what they are other the petro station stamps. And help with more info?

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Posted By: Oldgas Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Fri Jan 05 2024 07:27 PM
Originally Posted by AaronG
Hi new here! I was going through some of my grandfathers stuff and ran across some bonded stamps from Gasteria. I have no idea what they are other the petro station stamps. And help with more info?

Gas stations in the 1950s and 1960s offered stamps as a loyalty rebate program much like today's airline miles or credit card points. Customers would get a certain number of stamps per purchase and then redeem a booklet of saved stamps for products or services at the station. The Zephyr program that I showed a couple of posts above gave customers 4 stamps for every dollar purchase and then redeemed 140 stamps for $1.15 toward a purchase at the station.
Posted By: coltex Re: Gas Station Trading Stamps - Sun Jan 07 2024 02:33 AM
Gasteria was a little cheap gas stations in Colorado. I have a gasteria globe. Did your grandad ever live in Colorado?
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