Old gas stations

[Fading Fast]

I can’t locate the current photo but it’s a Maroon or Burgundy color. I’m not that
fond of this color but it’s original.
Flat-head has been replaced with a 283 ci V-8. Other than that, it’s original.

I don’t believe your girlfriend will try to steal it. Besides, shooting them only
makes them angry & hungrier.

That is gorgeous. I'm with you on the color, but if it is original, that means something.

Did I mention my girlfriend is a dog whisperer too (no kidding, she's got real skills with dogs - an ability to calm and control)? That said, she's on her own with that crew.

 

[2jakes]

Autocars for 1945.

 

[Stearmen]

I love that Mobiloil cabover tanker!

 

[2jakes]

1940s

 

[2jakes]

Postcards

 

[LizzieMaine]

That giant Standard sign in St. Louis still exists, sort of -- it was replaced by the torch-and-oval logo in the sixties, and modified to say AMOCO in the mid-70s, and in that form is still in place. The station is still operating -- as a BP dealer since BP's absorption of Amoco several years ago.

 

[BobHufford]

Shannon County Missouri, 1942.

 

[2jakes]

There are 3 different gasoline brands, Sinclair, Esso and Texaco.

Washington, D.C., circa 1928. Hedges & Middleton~Sullivan & Helan Co, Service station at Sixth Street
and Rhode Island Avenue N.W.

 

[2jakes]

Casa de Petrol gas station ~ California .
In 1955, Dean, driving his Porsche, stopped at this location.
Dean was on his way to compete at a racing event in Salinas,
Calif.

Last stop for Mr. James Dean. September, 1955.

 

[Braz]

Casa de Petrol gas station ~ California ~ 1955.

Later than 1955. The car on the far left is a '59 Chevy.

 

[2jakes]

Later than 1955. The car on the far left is a '59 Chevy.

I did not mean to imply 1955 for the gas station photo.
But I can see why you misunderstood.

I was making reference that this was the gas station that James Dean stopped
prior to going to a racing event in Salinas ~ 1955.
The next photo is Dean at that location in September of 1955.
I’ve seen this photo in b&W. This photo could be a colorization.

I’ve made clarifications so as not to confuse others.

 

[Braz]

Sorry for the confusion, 2jakes. Coincidentally, I live about 20 miles from James Dean's hometown of Fairmount, IN. I am also a former (long former) sports car racer so I am very familiar with the Dean mystique.

 

[2jakes]

Sorry for the confusion, 2jakes. Coincidentally, I live about 20 miles from James Dean's hometown of Fairmount, IN. I am also a former (long former) sports car racer so I am very familiar with the Dean mystique.

Based on what I’ve read regarding Dean’s last moments or comments according to the passenger with him.
Dean assumed that the other car was going to stop.

After 20 + years of covering fatalities on the road for local TV news .
I hardly drive unless it’s required.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My hometown is Fairmount, Ind. My family was good friends with the Winslows who raised James Dean and, as a small child, I remember him visiting our house several times.
We both graduated from FHS. In fact a couple months ago my class had our 50th class reunion in Fairmount.
I now live 20 miles south.
HD

 

[2jakes]

My hometown is Fairmount, Ind. My family was good friends with the Winslows who raised James Dean and, as a small child, I remember him visiting our house several times.
We both graduated from FHS. In fact a couple months ago my class had our 50th class reunion in Fairmount.
I now live 20 miles south.
HD

HD, this is a long shot , but I thought I would ask, perhaps you can help I.D. the bike.
I have two images of Jimmy.

Appears to be around the mid to late 30s.

This photo, he's slightly older but the same bike. He has his hand by the bicycle siren on the
front wheel.

The guys on the bicycle forum were asking what was the bike brand.
I said I’d check around.

Thanks.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Sorry before my time. I agree, probably late '30s.
I met him shortly after he graduated high school (1949) around 1950 most likely. However, that bike might be in the Fairmount Museum. I'll check next time I stop by.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

JD had these bikes around the time that I remember him. They now reside at the Fairmount Museum.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

 

[SteveZ]

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.

This was 1967 ! You know how much 2500 bucks would be to a 16 year old at that time ? Man did I screw up that time. I had just bought my first car, a 55 Chev 2Dr and I could have had a bit of money for a hotter motor and other mods.

GRIN AND BEAR IT !!

 

[staggerwing]

My second job back in high school, after a short lived stint as a soda jerk, was a gas station attendant at an old Sunoco station. It was at the end of the "service station era," as we did mechanical work as well. When I wasn't pumping gas, I fixed flats, changed oil, and did other minor repairs. It was also during the Jimmy Carter inspired gas shortage. We had long lines and rationing of a sort (if your plates ended in an odd number, you could only buy gas on odd numbered days, etc.). As a high schooler, I was I bit taken aback when the owner, on my first day on the job, handed me a .380 automatic and said, "stick this in your waist band, just in case." Just in case of what I wondered silently but didn't want to sound line a newbie, so I didn't ask. Found out soon enough. The station was in a kind of rough part of town and the long lines made people testy. More then once I was threatened with bodily harm for turning away someone with the wrong numbered plates or because we ran out of gas after they'd waited in line for a couple hours. Usually, all I had to do was brush my jacket aside so they could see the .380 and they would leave. Fun times.

The owner was also in the process of being forced out by Sunoco as he was a small time operator, as others have attested to the big oil companies doing earlier in this thread. So, my other job was to run off the Sunoco rep whenever he came out to stick the tanks! Wow, brings back memories.