1935 Gas Station Resurrection

[C_F]

Joe, that's really great that it stirs up so many fond memories! I wonder if what you have done will also inspire other folks in the area who may own older buildings, to follow your lead & make them really shine again? Assuming there are other such buildings.

Anyway, the place still looks great!

 

[shortykorte]

That Facebook post is great. Well done.


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[BuickFarmer]

Haven't checked in in awhile. Awesome job! ��

 

[Bears Fan]

Awesome transformation and it only took you 11 months...It would of taken a normal person years to do...That's a really cool comment from the old timer...nothing like the good ol' days

 

[Vette60]

I really have enjoyed reading this thread. The work that you have done on the service station is top notch and really awesome. Love it.

The compliments that you get from the 'ol timers and the folks around town are fun to read as well. Thank you for sharing.

Randy

 

[HD FLHX]

My Friday morning Greenfield Iowa swap meet score...NOS, yes I said NOS 1955 Sinclair Power X winter sign pole banners in the original box with the wood mounting boards and instructions. Still can't believe I came across these. If I would have been through that section 2 mins earlier I would have never seen them. The older couple I bought them from were in the process of hanging one up to display as I walked by. The Power X instantly caught my eye and stopped me dead in my tracks.






Before the banners I was pretty stoked just to find a roached Sinclair bug sprayer for 10 bucks and a Montgomery Ward tire kit for 12 bucks

 

[xtremek]

The place is looking awesome. Just when I think it can't get any better, you up the anty.

 

[shortykorte]

Nice scores. Did the couple with the sign get an invite to the station?


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[rmalkow2]

Every time you find a new item to display I'm amazed at how many different items that Sinclair had branded. A bug sprayer! I guess that was typical of service stations and we all just took it for granted but they sold everything they could.

 

[SkywalkerCR]

Joe...Your craft and search for authentic time period items continues to amaze me. The bug sprayer find brought back memories of when I worked in a Shell station and we sold the famous "Shell No Pest Strip".

Great job for not only the station restoration but also for fueling people's fond memories of yesteryear.

 

[don long]

Hi Joe
I come here often but don't post every time.
You have done a great job recreating memories for us all.
I am being very inspired to work on my Sinclair station every time I stop in

Thanks for the great example you present

Don

 

[bad_idea]

Outstanding shop. Lots of labor. Keep up the good work.

 

[1949 caddyman]

Being that you are a Sinclair dealer I thought you would like this photo.

 

[autoclassicnut]

Nice work! great postings!...

I reworked a lubester like yours on this post...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109674

 

[tin medic]

Joe, just finished reading this thread. It's official, I have serious garage envy. The work you did on that building is totally amazing and second to none. The dino will be the icing on the cake. Now I have to go read your Morton building thread for more awesomeness. If I'm even close to your area, me and the 52 are stopping by.

 

[N72727]

Sinclair Dinosaurs here :

http://www.roadarch.com/dinos/sinclair.html

 

[Big-Red]

Thank you for taking the time to document your work. Its great what you have done here. I'm not going to lie, there was a part of me who was hoping for it to be a operating station when I started reading. Honestly I don't know how you had found the time! Back lights behind the glass of the pumps and the domes would be nice I think. You could do it in 12v so it would be safe for outdoors. Enjoy the space you have recreated.

 

[Hugo L.]

Amazing thread. Simply amazing.

 

[camarosrus69]

I blame you. And N72727. After reading the last few posts. I went back to South Dakota, to visit relatives. I knew that there were some Sinclair stations along the way. So every time I passed one, I slowed down a bit and looked for the dinosaur. My wife thought I was nuts. As it turns out, just about every station I passed in Nebraska and South Dakota had one. I'm sure I saw at least a dozen along the way. They got most of my gas business, as well. They can probably thank you for that.

P.S. I guess I should note, I'm not sure of their size.There was nothing around them for scale. They looked a lot like the ones in N72727's link. I saw the one in Pierre, SD. They seemed to all be that size.

 

[HD FLHX]

I blame you. And N72727. After reading the last few posts. I went back to South Dakota, to visit relatives. I knew that there were some Sinclair stations along the way. So every time I passed one, I slowed down a bit and looked for the dinosaur. My wife thought I was nuts. As it turns out, just about every station I passed in Nebraska and South Dakota had one. I'm sure I saw at least a dozen along the way. They got most of my gas business, as well. They can probably thank you for that.

P.S. I guess I should note, I'm not sure of their size.There was nothing around them for scale. They looked a lot like the ones in N72727's link. I saw the one in Pierre, SD. They seemed to all be that size.

Most pictured are real station ones and are the 6ft tall 12 ft long ones made out of fiberglass. Somebody is making the 4ft tall 8ft long cast aluminum ones which is why they are so prevalent. They just don't have the presence like the bigger ones do.

 

[HD FLHX]

After a bit of a delay getting the last sign, I can officially call the front done.






This oil change reminder has to be the coolest one I've ever seen, in fact it is the only one like I've ever seen. Its metal and would have been put on the oil dipstick. So cool. I was lucky to be able to buy it.



Old northwestern countertop peanut vending machine I picked up at an auction last weekend.



It will be one year ago this Tuesday I took possession of the property. Not going to lie it was a bigger project than I had originally hoped, but I also have done more both inside and out that were not in the original plans. I just felt the building deserved the best I could put forth. The old station has taken on a life of its own and continually amazes me how much interest it garners. I knew car guys would appreciate it, but never in my wildest dreams would have anticipated the amount interest and just general gratitude for breathing some life back into an old forgotten service station.

 

[txvwnut]

I don’t see a dinosaur on the roof so you ain’t done yet.

The place looks awesome makes me wish I could find one like that by me.

 

[C_F]

Those are great before & after photos, what an amazing transformation! It's also great that your hard work has been so well received in the community.

 

[jimreed2160]

Just too freekin impressive. All I can say is,

FILL 'ER UP !

 

[mhoss44]

I live about 15 miles from this station. Pretty cool part of Downtown Perry. Courthouse, town square, all old buildings. Car and motorcycle gatherings on weekends, etc.


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[mhoss44]

What did you do with the property ? The entire building includes garages ?


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[C_F]

What did you do with the property ? The entire building includes garages ?

It sounds like maybe you haven't read other pages in this thread?

 

[HD FLHX]

I don’t see a dinosaur on the roof so you ain’t done yet.

The place looks awesome makes me wish I could find one like that by me.

Very true, but its not from the lack of trying to find one. One will pop up for sale eventually. I've spent the last 4 or 5 months looking for a Sinclair lighter fluid can in good condition. While doing my daily search on ebay one day last week there it was for a pretty reasonable price. Now I'm one can closer to having the complete Sinclair line of products on display.



I was going to post a few of these security camera pics earlier, but was running low on time. It truly does humble me on the reception the station has received both locally and on here. It is very rare to have a day go by where somebody doesn't stop and take pics. Even had a young lady taking her high school senior pictures with the pumps a couple weeks ago.

 

[HD FLHX]

I live about 15 miles from this station. Pretty cool part of Downtown Perry. Courthouse, town square, all old buildings. Car and motorcycle gatherings on weekends, etc.

What did you do with the property ? The entire building includes garages ?

I think you may have the wrong Perry, this is in Iowa. We are not the Dallas county seat that would be Adel. I use the building to tinker with old junk cars.

It sounds like maybe you haven't read other pages in this thread?

 

[ambenz]

That's so "Awesome" you have captures from the security cameras....
Cruising Americas Highways and Byways is part of our culture.

You'll see my pony next to the pumps one of these days....won't be the first time!

 

[markviii]

Very nice work! I keep looking for a "Like" button, but there isn't one on gj. I sure know how much work it takes. Congratulations!

Chris

 

[Bears Fan]

Great job on the restore! Its awesome to see the before and afters! Great job on the entire project. That's a lot of work in just one year

 

[mygarageone]

I have been following your progress and have to say , you did an Awsome job with this project . Lots work for sure , but well worth it .

Thank you for sharing with all of us.

 

[tym]

Very cool. That's quite a compliment that folks are wanting to stop and take photos. A testament to a job well done!

 

[Hugo L.]

I'm just surprised that there aren't more people who come in thinking this is an actual repair shop.

 

[slik560]

The next step will likely be a wrought iron fence around the perimiter. I saw another Sinclair replica garage in Ft. Worth that had to put up a security fence just to keep it safe

 

[rmalkow2]

A lot of good work done in one year. I'm sure the town does enjoy the improvements you've made and so good that you can allow others to stop by and take those pictures. Sharing what you have with the community is a generous thing.

You still amaze me with the Sinclair products you continue to find. Incredible how many different things they sold. Those dip stick tags are very cool and I guess way before my time as this is the first I've ever seen one. Yet another nice detail.

 

[shortykorte]

Absolutely fantastic. Do miss the Easter basket. lol. A dinosaur needs to be in its spot and I hope you're able to find one.


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[Stuart in MN]

Nice to have it all wrapped up pretty well before winter, now you can concentrate on using the place for your projects.

The next step will likely be a wrought iron fence around the perimiter.

It's small town Iowa...personally I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

[hewey]

Love the security footage of everyone getting photos out the front, that's a great credit to your work.