Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Why Are You In This Hobby?

Simple question,but if you think about it that is not a simple question at all.Long term investment?Short term cash flow?Business?Ego re-enforcement?Preservation of history?Nostalgia from childhood/early adult memories?Because it goes with my car?Because I love this stuff;IMO that one can't be answered until you define your motives.

I am fully aware of the possible ramifications when I make this post because I have had to deal with them all many times.

I think an honest discussion would benefit newcomers so they know what they are getting into.Personally,I have no problem with any objective one wishes to acheive,but I think it would be helpful to know where the "mainstream"of the hobby is going.Thank you for your thoughts.

I have been into car's and old service station items since I was very young. The quality and time put into making old signs and service equipment is the main reason. I like this hobby- I sell stuff also to support this hobby because what I like is not cheap!

I like the history behind this stuff. I don't remember it as a kid I'm not a car guy at all just love collecting this stuff.

had cars and always wanted a pump.no,i dont plan on getting rich.but what i found was something that i really enjoy and also lots of great people.i just enjoy it.also love the hunt!

I was a car nut from the very earliest days and even worked part time at a Phillips 66 station in high school. I was never into the hobby until I "officially" retired and then it was because I was looking for a hobby that would interest me and one that I would be able to physically participate in! Preservation of historical items is definitely a big reason also!
Hopefully my collection will always be worth at least what I paid for it too. Too many hobbies and collections have no value after you're gone and I would like to think that there will always be some value to this stuff!

I like it...

My father is a big car guy. So I have been around old stuff my whole life. My Grandfather owned a Texaco station for 30 years and the station was sold right before I was born. I grew up listening to stories about the station, stories about the local Texaco distributor (which was a close family friend), and stories about various people that came in to the station from my Father.

I'm in this hobby to preserve a part of my family's history. Plus, I really like porcelain signs (and any type of advertizing for that matter..lol)

I guess I got into this hobby by default? I’ve been around cars and signs since I was old enough to ditch school and go to Carlisle for the day with my dad (I’m 28 now). Lots of other interests have come and gone but collecting has always been a constant. I have been fortunate to meet many great people through the years, that’s one of the reasons I have stayed active in the hobby. After years of going to shows and seeing some great collections it was only natural that I start buying items that I was attracted to. Hence the start of my collection……

I worked in the oil business for 30 years. Plus, it keeps me out of the bars during the day.....mostly.

Richard

I got into the hobby because my husband (thermactor) was, and I wanted to be able to enjoy it with him. I stay in it because I just love looking at this stuff and because of the great friends we've made because of it.

& She can make a GREAT pie from Scratch in a Motel Room!

I love old cars and trucks, so it is only natural for me to love old stuff that would have been at a service station.

I've always enjoyed history. I appreciate old things and marvel at the simplicity of design,ingenuity, or just the craftsmanship in a time when building something meant something to people and building it to last was paramount, not profit. By nature I'm a collector of things. Put those things together and lost interest in other collecting areas and eventually I found my true interest. Great history, great people, and a wide variety of items to always keep things interesting have kept me here.

It's a sickness with no known cure..

The Graphics,
The History,
and The Hunt...