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#163871 Tue Dec 08 2009 03:36 PM
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In case you hadn't noticed, I have a very strong interest in history in general and more particulary in the known history of the pieces that we collect.

I, and a few friends of mine,have several pieces in our collections that we know the exact origin of those pieces.In some cases,the buildings where the pieces were used are still standing but have obviously been converted to other uses.

Some of us could actually do it. We could post a picture of pieces in our collections along with pictures of those pieces in actual use in an old station or pictures of the old stations where they were used as they appear today.

In some cases it would take a lot of work,as in driving a lot of miles to take pictures of the old stations,still standing, where we found stuff. A couple of us would do it if there is enough interest.

Howevere, my original question to the forum remains: How important is it to you that you know the origin and/or the history of the pieces in your collections?

Please use For Sale forums to sell

Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category

Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
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i think it would be great.love to know about the old stations and the pumps.i always wondered ,wouldnt it be cool if you could hear some of the stories that happend around these old stations!! if only the pumps could talk!!

Last edited by oldnfuelish; Tue Dec 08 2009 03:42 PM.

Looking for gas,oil related clocks,especially neon and spinners .clock repair available. Mick
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That is great. I have had only a couple pumps that I have known where they started & ended up before I got them smile


Wanted Owens Motor Oil & Mobiloil Gargoyle.
Brad Ralston & my website is
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If you have a story to go with an item, they always seem to be much better. Not only to you, but anyone that you tell the story to.

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I actually have 4 pumps that I know the station they were used at. However only one of the buildings still stands and is currently being used as a restaurant. They are the favorites of my collection because they were used here locally. I really enjoy knowing where they came from.

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I try to get all the info I can on any piece I have.
I feel extremely fortunate to have actually talked to the guy who designed the one globe I have.
I would guess he has retired from Triangle Refineries by now, and I would imagine I would never be able to find him again...if he is still with us.
That is how I KNOW how many were made.
Anyone 100% sure they have seen one besides the pic of this one in the first globe book???
it looks better in color cool

SPARKS OIL CO. LINCOLN AL.....100 made
Sparks Bought from Triangle
Triangle = Kerr-McGee
This is a DEEP-ROCK cousin.
To the best of my knowledge so is the orange HIOTANE globe, and COASTAL W/ SEAGULLS globe.
"AS NEW AS TOMORROW" was TRIANGLE'S slogan
There are some GENERIC lenses Triangle used too.
Sound like I did my homework?????
This MAY be the only one in a collection or the last one.


Veeder Root Rebuilds.....since 1987
Veeder Root Identification CD
Gas Pump Clock Repair
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Kinda related to your question. I'm planning on building a outdoor model railroad, based on the line that ran through this area. I plan on using, ballast, from the actual line, as well as wood, for the bridges from the actual bridges. I've even gone as far as building a house, from its own wood. Whatever buildings are still standing, are measured and photographed, then filed away for later. When they are built, they will be located, in there actual compass alignment, so that the sun, and shadows are correct.


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I guess we are all different. Knowing what era my stuff came from is enough for me. I've honestly never even given it a thought as to where it might have been used at.

Now..the stuff in my collection that came from my station has a lot of sentimental value to me. Every time I go out to my shop I look at the Eco that was bolted to my station and it brings back many memories. I suppose what I'm saying is that if it didn't have any direct connection to my past I really don't think about it much.

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As you can easily guess I have really concentrated on the history of this hobby. I now have 41 files drawers filled with service station related literature, of which 14 are for gas pumps only and two are for air meters.

Bought another piece of G&B literature today.

Jack Sim


Author, 1st & 2nd editions of Gas Pump ID book, 3rd edition is now available at www.gaspumpbible.com
Air Meter ID book also available
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Your not addicted Jack, obsessed is a better term ! LOL

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The history and nostalgia have always gone hand in hand for me. Anything I can learn about what I collect or individual stories behind pieces is priceless. For me, without the history, it all seems kind of empty and meaningless.


........Dave
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...VERY interested in the history...as much as possible...


Looking for better Gulf items: signs, globes, cans and paper - especially porcelain Gulf flanges, and Gulf A-38 & A-62 ad glass...
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I also like to be able to know the history of what I have. One thing we (well, it actually belongs to Wes, but you know how that goes!) have is a toy Shell truck. Wes' grandfather played with it as a child, then it was passed down to his uncle who also played with it. Wes received it as a Christmas gift a few years ago. It's not in the greatest shape, but very cool to know that it was played with by 2 generations before ending up in our showcase. Wish I had more stuff that had a story with it!

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Enjoy it while you have it.... remember....were only the caretakers....sometimes I wish this stuff could talk,
I think we would hear some good stories-


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I enjoy researching the history of many of the old collectables I have. For much of my collection of station small's, it is more about learning what year they were given out.

One day when in the office of our Transportation Maintenance Manger, he showed me a photo given to him from an employee of Fruehauf Trailer Corp. It was a picture of one of our trucks from the 1920's he found when cleaning out old files. He let me take it home and copy it.
A couple years later I found a copy of the actual add the photo was taken for.
I love putting pieces of the puzzle together of old items I have found.
I know the origin of a couple of my old signs, but with the exception of one, do not have photos of them in use.

1920s-FRUEHAUF trailer=640.jpg Fruehauf Ad-640.jpg
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It means more to you, I think if you know were it actuality came from. Especially if its your home town or state and you have before and after pictures of when you found something like a pump sitting in front of a station. And you have the actual black and white photo of 1937 with the Wayne 60 sitting out front still in service. and then fully restored in my living room. Ill try get some pictures of it up.

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Go for it highoctane!! Your Wayne 60 is a "poster child" for this post. ALL the pictures and an explanation of how you got it home; I'm suprised you made it! LOL.

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I enjoy the history as well. I went to buy a pump in my old hometown and I asked the guy where he got it. He mentioned the station and it turned out he bought it from my friend's dad when the station changed out the pumps. The pump was now rusted beyond repair. I told him I was friends with the former owner's son and that it would have ben fun to resotre it back tot he original. He went into the shed and came back with the original pump plates and asked if I was interested in them. I said I would buy them and give them to my freend. He said to take them. So for Xmas I sent my friend the pump plates. You would have thought I gave him a million dollars.


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Iron , every time I post a picture of a pump or a station I really do try to give as much information as I can share . I a couple of cases here in Richmond Va. the streets were re- named and addresses were changed as well . Sometimes information was transcribed incorrectly into commercial directories . Such is the case of two greek revival stations , one on Lombardy street . it was listed as a Sunoco when I know for a fact that it was indeed an Atlantic as a search throught rthe state library confermed it .
In my case , Im doing models of these former stations and then having to " Backwards engineer " the buildings to their former apperence . I would have to say having the facts and a way to conferm such things are very important as I exibit these models to some very detail minded people on occasion . Ed Shaver


see ya on the road folks !
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Hi All,

There appears to be more interest in the "stories" behind pieces in our collections than I thought. I was afraid that too much commentary on when? where? how? why? would be of little interest. Now I'll go to work on that Deep Rock station here in ABQ. I actually pumped gas from those pumps in the late 50's and have a globe and pump plates that are very probaly in the picture. For sure I have the wringer barrel and towel box in the picture and I'll assure you I used them!!

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the picture of Miss RCA Victor from the late 50's with that station as a backdrop in there. The stories those pumps could tell? Oh yeah; that one would do.

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I always feel lucky whenever I can get the history on any of my old stuff. At this point in time, most of the stuff we buy, the origin has already been lost.

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I'm just as much interested in the history of the items I collect as the items themselves -- sometimes even moreso. I do everything I can to dig up information on the company and the specific items I collect, and I usually ask the seller where the piece I'm buying came from. Sometimes I even look through old phone books at the library to figure out what certain buildings in town used to be, and browse through old pictures in local history books and archives. Through researching the items I've bought, I've been led off on tangents that have gotten me interested in other subsets of collecting -- examples include road signs, maps, and route guides.

Wes

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Part of the appeal of maps is the history (hence my nick). Whenever I get a batch, such as an auction lot, I note the source they came from. It's so much fun to see that Clarence Jones took a vacation to Yellowstone, and took a totally different route back. Often there's notes on gas prices and the car's gas mileage on petro maps. When there's a station stamp on the cover, I try to find out where it was, but I haven't hit the point of visiting these sites--yet!
My other hobby is collecting postcards, and I really enjoy reading the reverse, too.

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Hi All,

I also consider maps an irreplacable document recording history. I have a 1935 Texaco Tourguide map of ABQ that refers to Tingly Beach as a "municipal bathing beach". That won't mean anything to anyone not familiar with ABQ, but in 1935 that area was simply a part of the Rio Grande river!!

Take a bath in the Rio Grande river? In 1935 in ABQ, when that "municipal bathing beach" was only a few blocks from pre 1937 Route 66 and auto courts were few and far between,a family on the move just might!! Makes one wonder what it was like to travel 66 in 1935.

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Even in 1965, on a trip to Texas from northern Illinois, it was rough--no A/C. underpowered station wagon, iffy motels. I wouldn't think twice about trying to make it to the same destination in one shot today--I think it took my family 4 days in '65.
I found most of the maps my parents used on our vacations in a box when we cleared out the house a couple of years ago. No value to anyone else, but a big prize for me.

Picked up a 1940 touring guide Texaco map today, complete with routes and the "current" detours marked. Fun reading!

Last edited by Maps for the memories; Sat Dec 12 2009 07:26 PM. Reason: spelling
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Hi Maps,

You might find this interesting. I'm working on a piece to post on FATW about an old gas station (20's or 30's) here in NM that is located in the middle of nowhere. I'm using old maps from those years to try to find out if the highway was even paved when that thing was built. It may have been on a dirt road!! Maps are the only reliable documentation of the condition of that road in those years that I can find.

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