Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Petroliana Value Questions Pan-am Purple sign

Hi all,

I am new, but already have a question ;-)

I recently stumbled on a Purple Pan-Am Gasoline Sign on a flea market. Because I had never seen one (I only knew about the flamed ones) I bought it with little research. I am looking for any info on this sign. Date, was it official, is it rare, value etc. Who can help me?

Unfortunately only one side is ok, the other side has three layers of paint over it, so I have to clean that side, but I think it will come out nice.

The good side looks as in the picture. Scuffed, but still nice enough.



Thanks in advance!

Paul

Paul, this much I can tell you about anything Pan- Am. First , Pan-Am was a company that was owned by the American Oil company then in Baltimore Maryland . prior to being the American Oil company, they were Lord Baltimore Filling Stations . They were founded by real estate tycoon Lewis Blaustien . Blaustien founded Amocogas . Amoco bought the tiny new England company Pan- Am. The name resurfaced in the West AFTER a merger of Amocogas and Standard Indiana , aka Red Crown . They sold only 49% so that ownership to the Amoco name would always be used in their Eastern territory .

Now Pan- Am , Utoco, Standard , and Amoco all merged in 1959 to become the American oil company of Indiana . This same company became known as Amoco Inc later on , but's B P Amoco today . Ed Shaver

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the info, more than I knew about it. Great history.

So this is at least pre-1950's?

Paul

Check with grabber on OG he was trolling for one of these signs recently, and should have an estimate of its age and value.
The one side looks decent.Fred

Paul, I would say safely , uh yes . I don't have any specifics .

O K , dis jus in FRESH MEAT!


In the book gas Pump restoration, Wayne Henderson author , member here aka Carolina traveler and on Page 105:

PAN-AM PURPLE; 1926-1930 White Pump w/Purple Zig Zag circling pump 12 inches from base . The book also states that in 1930 former Pan-Am stations were re branded Amoco . NOW This ONLY APPLIES to CERTAIN Pan Am stations that founded originally as the Mexican Oil company of New Orleans that ALSO retailed in New England PRIOR to 1930 .

Paul, that is all the information I have on hand .........

Ed Shaver

Paul, you found a "great sign"!

In 2009, PCM magazine added an image of the Pan-AM Purple Gasoline sign in their "Gallery". The image of the sign in the gallery, IMO, is not in as good as shape as yours... PCM in the gallery notes that the sign is "Very Rare"...

Thanks Bob, unfortunately the other side is not looking good now, hopefully it will come out good though...

Have looked at the PCM listing, but wasn't sure about the authenticity of the listing.

Thanks Ed! You helped a lot!

@Gasman, found Grabber here, but could not find any topic started by him where he is looking for this sign. I'll try to PM him.

Thanks all!

Great Sign, spray the other side with Easy Off oven cleaner and spray it off, may need to lightly scrub tough spots.

Finally done with the paint removal job on the other side. Did come off good, but this side is not as good as the clean one. Too bad some of the letters are gone.

I have added two pics: one half way the paint removal and the finished job. It will get one last good rubdown trying to remove the stains and last paint rests. Pics were taken inside, so of less quality of the first posted pic.

Let me know what you think...

Paul did you use the Easy Oven cleaner as recommended or something else? That was one heck of a clean up. Nice job given the layer looked to be 2-3 mm thick. Yes it has some porcelain loss but likely 80+ years old and a far way from home, so not too bad.
Fred

Hi Fred, I tried an oven cleaner, but like you said, it was a lot of paint. Three layers... blue, grey and white. There were also traces of somekind of gridpaint, paint with pieces of grid in them. I have to do a last scrubdown, but everything comes off nicely. I used a thinned paint remover with a rough sponge and a lot of muscle power!

Only on the topright, there are bleu en yellow stains.

Also the parts where the porcelain has come of, the paint has to be scrubbed out. (of the metal)

But hey, apart from the stains, the sign is still in good conditions, looking at its age.

Paul

Welcome to old gas!
Great find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You might try toilet bowl stain remover. I have used Clorox Tough Toilet stain remover gel. It might get the rust stain off.
Good luck.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it.

BR
Paul

Is it a 30 inch?
The Oil Company Signs book list it as 1920s. Also shows a rarity of 5, extremely rare or unique. Book was published in 1995, showed a price of $750. Old book and condition of course play into value today.

Yes it is a 30 inch.

Thanks for the info Wes!

BR
Paul