Old gas stations

[Frunobulax]

We used to buy our fuel in gallons back then. See the price that Lizzie mentioned, in today's decimal money that equates to 30pence. Today a gallon of fuel, diesel or petrol, will cost over six pounds. And here's how they get away with it.
The UK gallon is larger than the US one, our gallon is approximately four and a half litres. So as fuel prices rose, gallons disappeared and were replaced by litres. Now it looks much cheaper. Most people who have never bought fuel in gallons couldn't tell you the difference between a gallon and a litre, the ploy worked.
We have a tax on tax situation with garage sold fuel. Fuel tax is almost 60pence per litre. (57.95p) VAT or value added tax is added to most retail products. the cost of the fuel, plus the fuel tax is added together and then twenty percent VAT is added. But although we are experiencing a sharp rise in prices, seeing fuel advertised at £1:30, well that doesn't look too bad.
If we still had gallons, that advertised price would be, about £6:10. How did they get away with it? We were told that our fuel tax was harmonised across all the European Union countries. So if we have to pay through the nose, so too do the French, Germans, Spanish, Italians. So that makes it alright then.

Yes, the economic theory that fairness can only be achieved by making everybody miserable.

 

[BobHufford]

Here’s something you don’t see often anymore, and I don’t mean the “vintage air machine!”

Our corner store has free air if you can get there before someone steals the hose.

 

[LizzieMaine]

With the closing of my neighborhood gas station/c-store earlier this year, there is now no public air pump, free or not, anywhere in this town of over 7000 people. That's insane.

 

[2jakes]

With the closing of my neighborhood gas station/c-store earlier this year, there is now no public air pump, free or not, anywhere in this town of over 7000 people. That's insane.

Well that sucks, (no pun intended) sorry to hear about the gas station.
Do you have AutoZone shops in your area ?
They provide many services that gas stations used to do.

 

[3fingers]

Our corner store has free air if you can get there before someone steals the hose.

I've never been able to understand why stealing the hose or vandalizing the machine was such great sport. I see it all of the time though. It's no great mystery why the pay compressors went from 25 cents to a dollar so quickly. GHT mentioned a correction center where you are sent to receive a beating. This might qualify.

 

[KY Gentleman]

I've never been able to understand why stealing the hose or vandalizing the machine was such great sport.

Your reply immediately brought to mind the lyric “the pump don’t work ‘cause a vandal took the handle” from Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues.
It would seem throughout time these menaces have ruined a good thing for everyone.

 

[GHT]

With the closing of my neighborhood gas station/c-store earlier this year, there is now no public air pump, free or not, anywhere in this town of over 7000 people. That's insane.

The combination of corporate Goliaths, combined with internet shopping has killed, not only the high street, but many a rural community. Our tiny Island has seen the phenomenon we euphemistically call, White Van Man, meaning the door to door delivery van, explode. There's an estimated two million more of them since internet shopping became the vogue.

 

[LizzieMaine]

AutoZone
574 Main St. Rockland, Me.

Good luck Lizzie!

Nope, air machine doesn't work.

 

[Fading Fast]

I haven't owned a car since 1989, so I admit to being out of touch (I have rented and driven though), but I thought I've seen some air pumps that charge (coins or card, I forget how one pays) - did I make that up or is that a thing?

 

[2jakes]

I haven't owned a car since 1989, so I admit to being out of touch (I have rented and driven though), but I thought I've seen some air pumps that charge (coins or card, I forget how one pays) - did I make that up or is that a thing?

The air-pumps I've seen are located at convienient stores like 7-Eleven or Stop-n-Go.
The names of these "ice house/food &
gas providers have changed and they don't service cars but air pumps are
still available for a fee.

 

[3fingers]

I haven't owned a car since 1989, so I admit to being out of touch (I have rented and driven though), but I thought I've seen some air pumps that charge (coins or card, I forget how one pays) - did I make that up or is that a thing?

Yes. Convenience stores usually have a machine of some type to put air in your tires. Many of them here used to be free, but I'm not sure there are any of those left here. The first pay ones I remember were a quarter, now I have seen them up to $2.00. The volume of air provided ranges from poor(barely able to inflate a tire) to pretty much like a garage compressor, with most being somewhere on the middle to bottom end of the scale. The newer ones I've noticed have the ability to take cards as well as cash and coins.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Yes. Convenience stores usually have a machine of some type to put air in your tires. Many of them here used to be free, but I'm not sure there are any of those left here. The first pay ones I remember were a quarter, now I have seen them up to $2.00. The volume of air provided ranges from poor(barely able to inflate a tire) to pretty much like a garage compressor, with most being somewhere on the middle to bottom end of the scale. The newer ones I've noticed have the ability to take cards as well as cash and coins.

We used to have a few of those around, but they're long gone. It was popular for the local opioid addicts to bust them open and take the quarters to buy their next fix.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

We have credit card versions where you only pay for what you need... it's like 25 cents per minute... and it only bills you for what you use.

Rob

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Rob

 

[KY Gentleman]

Let’s not forget the bathroom key fob guaranteed not to fit in your pocket!

 

[2jakes]

My Texaco key Fob!

Radiator cap

 

[Fading Fast]

Kinda think we've seen this one before, but just in case we haven't, it was too good not to post:

 

[2jakes]

Kinda think we've seen this one before, but just in case we haven't, it was too good not to post:

View attachment 119536

I haven't seen it and if I did...
it's ok!
Probably the first one is no longer available.

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Before lifts:

 

[1mach1]

I haven't seen it and if I did...
it's ok!
Probably the first one is no longer available.

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Before lifts:
View attachment 119537

View attachment 119538

View attachment 119539

View attachment 119540

Now that's hard core.

 

[Fading Fast]

Love the one: