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Old gas stations
- Thread starter hatguy1
- Start date
LizzieMaine
Bartender
- Messages
- 33,732
- Location
- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
I was born under that sign.
That fit into the famous "banjo pole," created by the prominent industrial designer Walter Derwin Teague in 1934, and remained standard-issue for Texaco stations into the late 1960s, when it was phased out in favor of the "hexagon" logo, which was supposed to be easier to read from highways. But many stations kept this version in use until the mass conversion of Texaco stations to the red-and-grey color scheme in the early eighties. You'll still find the poles, though, outside former Texaco stations converted to body shops, small-engine-repair shops, or other applications, usually with the logo painted over with something else. Probably the most ubiquitous roadside logo of the mid-twentieth century.
The "banjo pole" in situ, outside a garage converted to a bar.
Several other companies adopted "banjo poles" of their own after the Texaco version caught on -- Gulf and Tydol the most notable examples.
That fit into the famous "banjo pole," created by the prominent industrial designer Walter Derwin Teague in 1934, and remained standard-issue for Texaco stations into the late 1960s, when it was phased out in favor of the "hexagon" logo, which was supposed to be easier to read from highways. But many stations kept this version in use until the mass conversion of Texaco stations to the red-and-grey color scheme in the early eighties. You'll still find the poles, though, outside former Texaco stations converted to body shops, small-engine-repair shops, or other applications, usually with the logo painted over with something else. Probably the most ubiquitous roadside logo of the mid-twentieth century.
The "banjo pole" in situ, outside a garage converted to a bar.
Several other companies adopted "banjo poles" of their own after the Texaco version caught on -- Gulf and Tydol the most notable examples.
DeaconKC
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,732
- Location
- Heber Springs, AR
Thanks for the picture and then also to Lizzie for the history!
- Messages
- 10,933
- Location
- My mother's basement
Was the sign visible when the storage unit was opened?
There’s precious little reality in reality television, as ought be apparent to most any competent person over age 12 or so who sat through more than a few minutes of Storage Wars and similar works of fiction. Having close familiarity with people in the antique/vintage/secondhand business, both now and in years past, I can’t help but snort at the prices suggested the contents of those storage units would fetch on resale. There is money to be made in the old-stuff enterprise, but it involves a whole lot more time and effort than most people would ever invest. As Ringo put it, it don’t come easy.
That sign is quite the score, though. It’s among the more highly sought-after these days, such that there are untold numbers of reproductions (“fakes” might be a better description) being offered for sale as originals.
Its popularity is understandable. It’s a great design, and all but ubiquitous in its day. I’d love to have an original myself, but I wouldn’t pay anything approaching what most sellers expect to get for them.
We’re of the same mind as to the desirability of signs (among other things) in less than pristine condition. It’s good for guys like us that stuff showing signs of actually having been used for their intended purposes can be had for small fractions of what “cleaner” examples bring. If I owned a NOS example of that sign, I’d probably sell it, seeing how I’d fear damaging it in any way.
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- Messages
- 10,933
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- My mother's basement
Stevens Pass, Washington, 1926
- Messages
- 10,933
- Location
- My mother's basement
Another William Erb photo. I’d love to see this place restored in a manner faithful to its original architecture.
- Messages
- 10,933
- Location
- My mother's basement
Rockwood, Maine, 1963, according to the site I lifted this from …
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- Messages
- 10,933
- Location
- My mother's basement
I’d guess the photo to be from the 1960s, although the hot rods predate that. Looks like the club got together for a bit of motoring.
Those strings of brightly colored plastic pennants were banned by municipal code in a city where I once resided. I still find that more amusing than troubling. Gaudy? You bet! That’s the point! I may go in search of some myself, to put up in the backyard during the summer.
Those strings of brightly colored plastic pennants were banned by municipal code in a city where I once resided. I still find that more amusing than troubling. Gaudy? You bet! That’s the point! I may go in search of some myself, to put up in the backyard during the summer.
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- Messages
- 13,669
- Location
- down south
It's been a long lot of years since I last saw strings of flags like that. They used to be a staple of used car lots and grand openings of anything. I don't know if they were banned around here or just fell out of favor.
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- 10,933
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- My mother's basement
^^^^^^^^
I can’t recall when I last saw them, either. It’s been quite a spell, though.
They’re readily available online.
I can’t recall when I last saw them, either. It’s been quite a spell, though.
They’re readily available online.
- Messages
- 10,933
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- My mother's basement
Pretty sure this one is staged …
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- Messages
- 13,669
- Location
- down south
Really digging the robot pumping the gas!
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- Messages
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Yeah, there's a few giveaways here.
Were visible pumps still in use post-‘57? I have zero recollection of ever seeing one in any context other than a display. The guy poking his head under the hood is a stylistic cliche, as is the women in the dress.
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LizzieMaine
Bartender
- Messages
- 33,732
- Location
- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
You could see visible pumps on farms into the 70s in some places, but most local fire codes banned them by the early 1950s.
- Messages
- 10,933
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- My mother's basement
Blackthorn
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,567
- Location
- Oroville
Still pretty cool!
- Messages
- 10,933
- Location
- My mother's basement
LizzieMaine
Bartender
- Messages
- 33,732
- Location
- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
I haven't posted this one in a while --
My mother and grandmother, 1942. (Colorized by me, 2004)
My mother and grandmother, 1942. (Colorized by me, 2004)
- Messages
- 17,197
- Location
- New York City
That's awesome. You can see your grandmother in you.
LizzieMaine
Bartender
- Messages
- 33,732
- Location
- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
And my mother at that age was a ringer for me at the same. It's often hard to tell us apart when comparing old photos.
