Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Passing the Torch !

Some of you may remember my story about how I came to own a very rare Tokheim 36B double showcase pump and the friendship that has developed from that initial purchase!
Well that was almost 4 years ago and time has passed very quickly and my good friend Pete Benoy (aka "Petro Pete") and I have gotten to know each other fairly well with lots of visits to each others homes and countless conversations on the telephone. We have exchanged gifts and Pete even called me from an auction and did some bidding on an item for me! I'll have to say that the friendship we have formed is worth more to me than any of the collectibles that we have dealt in!
TODAY was very special to me in that Pete has sold me some items that he had previously told me were going to remain in his family and weren't for sale! He called last week and asked if I would price his collection for him as he wanted to sell a few items and that his children would have first chance with me getting second chance. When I asked which items, he wouldn't tell me and asked for me to price all of them for him. I did as asked and even threw in a bid on the single item that I really wanted the most!
Yesterday he called and said he was coming over with 4 items that he had decided that I should be the keeper of. He told me which items and I was in total shock for the next 24 hours and had a hard time believing it was really happening! He had decided to move some of his nicest treasures on to the next keeper and had chosen me for the task. He wasn't bringing everything but felt very comfortable in passing some of his best pieces on to me, as he felt very confident in the care they would get.

I only hope that when my time comes to pass on my collection, that I will be able to do it as Pete is doing and put it in the hands of someone that will care about this stuff as much as he and I do. Here are the things that Pete brought to me today---
Texaco Marine Lubricants sign that has been in the possession of the Benoy family since it was new in 1947 and has hung at their Marina all these years!
Very, Very early Quaker State neon desktop sign made by the Bildmore Sign Company of Lima, Ohio with the one year warranty attached and dated March 23, 1927.
A NOS vertical tin embossed sign from the Prestolite Battery Company, Inc.--Indianapolis, Ind and still in the original packing box with the original battery manual and papers and shipping tags labeled to Buds Super Service in Mentor, Minnesota. Shipped Railway Express and dated June of 1938
A lighted Zenith Radio lighted desktop sign, designed and built by The Photoplating Company of Minneapolis, Minn. date unknown but all design characteristics say very early!

I am very priveledged to have been selected by Petro Pete to be the caretaker of these great pieces of Gas & Oil memorabilia and they will remain in my collection for as long as I am physically able to care for them. Pete told me when he passed the torch that I was free to do as I wished with them and I wish to enjoy them for a very, very long time! Thank you PETE

Heres the rest of the pics!

Wow, very nice Kevin!! Very nice!! And great story!
The provenance on the Quaker State and battery signs is amazing!!! I love when we know the history!!!

How cool is that? Good story. I know other people sold off some of their stuff to people they knew instead of probably getting more money at an auction.

The real treasure lies in the friendship the two of you have. I dont have to tell you that these "things" will come and go, but true only friendship will last forever. OK, the signs are cool too.

Great story Kevin and great pieces! Thanks for sharing it with us.

great story Kevin - friendships like that are priceless. Very happy for you, enjoy!!!

PS - wow - great signs - I love them all but the Quaker State is my favorite!

When you said you had some special things coming your way,you weren't joking! WOW That is a good feeling when a true friend is able to do this and not a left behind loved one. He has truly measured himself and thew in some stuff to boot!Shorty

My God Kevin!!!!,I was thinking,you should write a book of stories about your life collecting..you have been blessed and you could share them with everyone in this hobby...that would be fun!!!
Alan

good story, good additions to the collection- congratulations..

Ditto,what Randy said!!

Great story and some very nice signs!

Great gesture,i did the same a no.of years ago.i had a Shell sign that a Shell collector friend of mine had NEVER SEEN before,few had seen it.He is a lot younger than me and it is now in his collection where it will be well cared for for a long time.

Fantastic story!great items!as has been said ," the friendship is worth more than all of it"

Great story, nice to see ones collected items being enjoyed by someone else.