Old gas stations

[Ghostsoldier]

Noir.

Rob

 

[Frunobulax]

Noir.

Rob

And Deco!


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[ChazfromCali]

A buddy of mine and I sometimes take long drives on Sunday so we can talk in private. We recently had an interesting conversation about Sears. His contention was Sears missed the Internet boat in a colossal way in the 90's being too stodgy to recognize the possiblities and much later once they realized the error of their ways goofed it up anyway.

 

[3fingers]

I agree with your buddy, but I think that was only one element in the slow motion train wreck that Sears has been in. Now the vultures are no longer circling, but have landed and began eating the carcass while it was gasping its last.

 

[LizzieMaine]

As I've suggested elsewhere, Sears *was* the Amazon of the early 20th century. When they went into retail stores in the 1920s, that set into motion the pattern of events that led to their eventual demise. The mail-order operation was sleek, streamlined, and hyper-efficient -- but when the company became a conglomerate built around real estate, it lost its reason for being. A dozen other companies did storefront retail as well as or better than Sears ever did -- but no one could beat their mail order operation in its prime. General Robert Wood, aside from being a fascist, was also a fool.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Rob

 

[Fading Fast]

Not a gas station, but I think our friend the Sinclair dino is always welcome here, especially accompanied by another Fedora Lounge favorite, S&H Green Stamps:

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Speaking of green dinosaurs, here's a restored station that's still in business... somewhere in Oklahoma, I believe.

Rob

 

[Fading Fast]

Speaking of green dinosaurs, here's a restored station that's still in business... somewhere in Oklahoma, I believe.

Rob

If I'm ever in Oklahoma, I know where I'll be stopping.

 

[Fading Fast]

Noir.

Rob

Outstanding architecture.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

It's even got full service, according to the article I read.

If I'm ever in Oklahoma, I know where I'll be stopping.

Rob

 

[LizzieMaine]

Why Sinclair wasn't an actual TV sponsor of "The Flintstones," I'll never know. Imagine the integrated commercials.

 

[Fading Fast]

Why Sinclair wasn't an actual TV sponsor of "The Flintstones," I'll never know. Imagine the integrated commercials.

You are spot on, he's nearly the spitting image of Dino.

 

[GHT]

Noir.

Rob

The aesthetic beauty of this building is beyond compere, clean simple yet so elegant. I just love it.
These two pumps were photographed in the 1950's at a garage in the village of Harrietsham in the county of Kent, South East England. Try as I might I cannot find a photo of the garage. Mind you, I would love to acquire these pumps.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Rob

 

[3fingers]

The little man in the Esso uniform was probably proud as he could be.

 

[Fading Fast]

Rob

Purely from memory, but this place has an echo of Lizzie's family's gas station.

 

[Fading Fast]

 

[LizzieMaine]

Purely from memory, but this place has an echo of Lizzie's family's gas station.

Yep. Our signpole was at the opposite end of the lot, but otherwise it's the same building and the same layout. Texaco was very standardized in the way they set things up. These people have a non-standardized awning over the office door, which we never had.

Look at the photo and imagine a run-down old house in the immediate background, next to the far edge of the Texaco lot, approximately where that other street is running. That would be the setup for our place, and also the setup for where my mother drove the '61 Chevy thru the side of said house when the brakes let go.

 

[LizzieMaine]

From left, Ralph Nyland, Bob Miller, Dick Byron and Mike Stewart -- the Texaco Quartet, NBC-TV, 1949.

Oh we're the men of Texaco, we work from Maine to Mexico,
There's nothing like this Texaco of ours!

Our show tonight is powerful, we'll wow you with an hourful,
Of howls from a showerful of stars.

We're the merry Texaco men, tonight we might be showmen,
Tomorrow we'll be servicing your cars!

(Byron) I wipe the pipe, I pump the gas;
I rub the hub, I scrub the glass,

(Miller) I touch the clutch, I mop the top;
I poke the choke, I sell the pop,

(Stewart) I clear the gear, I block the knock;
I jack the back, I set the clock,

(Nyland) So join the ranks of those who know,
and fill your tanks with Texaco...

(All) Sky Chief! Fill up with Sky Chief!
And you will smile at the pile of new miles you will add.

Fire Chief! Fill up with Fire Chief!
You'll find that Texaco's the finest friend your car has ever had!

(Spoken) And now ladies and gentlemen, here's America's favorite television star --

(Byron) Mister Television himself!

MILTON BERLE!

(Berle enters in ridiculous costume and chases quartet off stage)

-----

The curtain is descending and we thank you for attending,
But before we reach the ending may we add --
Remember to be loyal to our gasoline and oil
When they save you time and toil you will be glad!
Now the clock is striking nine off
But just before we sign off --

(Byron) Remember Saturdays on radio Texaco presents the Metropolitan Opera! And remember next Tuesday on television it's the Texaco Star Theatre -- presented by your Texaco dealer --

(All) The best friend your car has ever had!

(Curtain)