Old Service Stations

[mickeypat]

I have several pictures of old Pure Oil stations from the Midwest. Attached are a couple of them.

 

[autoist]

have you seen this website: http://www.agilitynut.com/roadside.html

 

[mickeypat]

These were taken from the 30's thru the 50's by a friends father who worked for Pure Oil for many years.

 

[mickeypat]

How bout tires for $8.95?

 

[mickeypat]

Thanks autoist, that is a neat url. Now I'll be up all night looking at it.

 

[bmwpower]

Those picts are cool looking. Almost like you can walk into frame and pump your own gas.

 

[wilbilt]

Thanks autoist, that is a neat url. Now I'll be up all night looking at it.

That is an interesting site. I have always liked the "icebox" style stations.
They were all over So Cal where I grew up.

When I was about 7 or 8, I was in the car with my Mom. We were sitting at a stoplight when one of the gas stations on the corner erupted in flames. I don't know exactly what happened, but within a few seconds, the entire building was engulfed. We went on our way, and when we came back by the spot maybe an hour later, I remember being astounded that the building was still standing.

I didn't realize at the time that they were built entirely of metal. I worked at a Texaco several years later, and spent a lot of time looking at the way the building was put together. It was all bolted-together steel panels, and looked like a couple of guys could put one up (or take it down) in a few days.

A guy near here has one set up behind his house, and I have always thought if I could find one cheap, it would make a nice garage.

 

[Bill K]

Here's a shot of an old Shell station near me that they keep preserved. It has'nt been used in over a decade, except for photo shoots. Just a couple of weeks ago they unloaded a couple of cobras and were setting up for some shots.
Bill