Old gas stations

[LizzieMaine]

I certainly recall myself those old gas stations with full service. I worked at one part time in my high school days. I worked at a PHILIPS 66 for a while and a UNION 76 ( previously PURE ) until I joined up in the USAF. Philips 66 left our area in Virginia back in the mid 70s but I dont know why they pulled out. Their still in the midwest.

Philips 66 was a GATES BELT and HOSE DISTRIBUTOR and one lazy and quiet Sunday afternoon a man pulled in and simply wanted his fluids checked in his company car before he left town. I checked everything that a 16 year old could have thought of including water, engine oil ( TropArtic brand of coarse ) transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid and checked all tires for pressure and cleaned the front glass too.. After I closed the hood, the customer informed me that if Id only checked one more thing I could have been given 2500 dollars in cash on the spot ! HUH ? What could I have possibly forgotten ? I forgot to check the condition and tightness of the engines accessory drive belts ! All of them were INTENTIONALLY CUT AND SLASHED with a razor blade. Its was a GATES COMPANY promotion and a man simply drove around the country asking for a under hood check to see if garage attendants were checking belts and hoses for possible sales. The idea was to encourage garage folks to check those belts and a GATES COMPANY innovation.

My boss about fainted when he showed up to collect money for a bank deposit. The Gates Guy was actually here ? He sure was and my boss failed to inform me about this program thinking a surprise visit was a one in a million shot.

We had a visit from the Gates Mystery Driver around 1972, but there wasn't any $2500 prize at that stage of the game. My grandfather got a wall plaque with two Eisenhower dollars and two Kennedy halves mounted in it. $3 was just about enough to buy a new fan belt.

They used to run ads promoting that program in Super Service Station magazine, which I used to read while eating my supper at my grandparents' house.

 

[SteveZ]

Lizzie, to this day Ive never forgotten the incident. LOL LIVE AND LEARN !

 

[2jakes]

Shamrock, Texas.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Autocars for 1945.

Looks like the style of truck Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) and his gang used as a Trojan Horse in White Heat!

 

[2jakes]

Looks like the style of truck Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) and his gang used as a Trojan Horse in White Heat!

Style is similar in some respects as the one used as the “trojan horse” in
"White Heat” film.

Here’s a better view.
1945 White WA 20

 

[dh66]

I've posted this place around here before somewhere, but they've recently added the hanging sign so I thought I'd share it. This is an old Pure station in my neighborhood that is now an art studio. They provide art classes for kids and adults with special needs. The place is called Studio by the Tracks (it sits right next to the train tracks). Some one made them the SBTT sign in the style of an old Pure sign. I don't know how many folks who pass through here even realize that, but I thought it was really cool.

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[1mach1]

I've posted this place around here before somewhere, but they've recently added the hanging sign so I thought I'd share it. This is an old Pure station in my neighborhood that is now an art studio. They provide art classes for kids and adults with special needs. The place is called Studio by the Tracks (it sits right next to the train tracks). Some one made them the SBTT sign in the style of an old Pure sign. I don't know how many folks who pass through here even realize that, but I thought it was really cool.

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That is super cool, Dale. Pure pulled out of here about 5 years ago.

 

[dh66]

That is super cool, Dale. Pure pulled out of here about 5 years ago.

They've been gone from 'round here a lot longer than that.

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[52Styleline]

In my home town, we had a signal station much like this one. This photo is of a restored station in Portland Oregon. Last time I was by there it housed a business called Signal Station Pizza.

 

[Fading Fast]

In my home town, we had a signal station much like this one. This photo is of a restored station in Portland Oregon. Last time I was by there it housed a business called Signal Station Pizza.
View attachment 59344

Well, at least it wasn't a pizza chain and the local business owner is giving a nod to the old name - it's something.

 

[BobHufford]

Bakersfield, MO

 

[St.Ignatz]

Gulf station on Lincoln Highway in Strafford Pa.

Gulf on Haverford Rd. Ardmore,PA The lift was outdoors where the shed stands if memory is correct. Land so dirty they don't know what to do with it.

 

[HudsonHawk]

They've been gone from 'round here a lot longer than that.

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Pure Oil was bought by Unocal in 1965. Unocal continued with Pure branded gas stations until 1970, at which point they transitioned them to Union 76 stations. Unocal continued to own the Pure brand and when they pulled out of the southeast in 1992, sold the name to a jobber co-op, who opened Pure branded stations in the vacated territory. The co-op still uses the brand name here and there, mostly in still in the southeast.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Been gone for a while (real life stuff), but I've got some more station photos to share. For some reason, I've had trouble with the forum uploading process in the past, but I see the format has changed a bit since I've been absent...I'll give it a shot tonight, and see if it works better for me.

Rob

 

[dh66]

Been gone for a while (real life stuff), but I've got some more station photos to share. For some reason, I've had trouble with the forum uploading process in the past, but I see the format has changed a bit since I've been absent...I'll give it a shot tonight, and see if it works better for me.

Rob

Glad to see you back Rob, and looking forward to the pics.



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[Ghostsoldier]

Okay, here goes.

I found this old gal off US 41 in Florida, near an old Interstate 10 interchange; she's seen better days, and I'm not sure what company she belonged to....

It looks like the new forum format is going to work for me; I'll be adding more photos on a regular basis, now that I don't have to 'fight the system' for uploading.

Rob

 

[BobHufford]

I'm not sure what company she belonged to....

Shell? Looking forward to more posts Rob.

 

[2jakes]

^^^^^
"Service is Our Business".
You got it right .... Shell.
That slant style V posts says "60s".

Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward for more.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Yep...that's her! Thanks for the ID's, guys!

Rob

 

[Fading Fast]

⇧ It was fun to see the sleuthing solve the mystery of the ghost gas station.