After Henry Ford’s revolutionary assembly line made the automobile affordable to most American families, the world rapidly changed. The freedom of mobility meant that families were on the go. It quickly became clear that road trippers needed new businesses to keep them moving forward. Drive-thru restaurants, motels, and roadside attractions sprang up. But none of these new business endeavors were more important than the gas station.
Colorized photograph from Ray Ford gas station Cucamonga (insidesocal.com)
Gas stations of the past were quite different from today’s convenience stores. First of all, the gas pumps themselves, shown here in a colorized photograph, were works of art. With art deco designs and graphic motifs, the pumps were made to appeal to road weary travelers. Let’s take a look at some of the coolest vintage gas pumps.
The First U.S. Filling Station
A filling station in Orofino Idaho circa July 1941 (Library of Congress-Colorized)
The first business that was expressly built to be a gas station was constructed in 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri, not far from Route 66. At the time, some other area businessmen scoffed at the idea as a mere trend, yet more entrepreneurs soon followed suit. In 1907, the Standard Oil of California company, which is not called Chevron, built a gas station in Seattle, Washington. Two years later, Reighard’s Gas Station in Altoona, Pennsylvania opened. These early gas stations were called filling stations because, duh, that’s where motorists went to fill up.
Getting Gas Before There Were Gas Stations
This photograph of the gas station was taken around 1930. It was taken to promote the Kelvinator icebox which allowed people to enjoy cold drinks outdoors.-Colorized
Just because there were few gas stations doesn’t mean folks couldn’t fill up their cars. In the early days of the automobile boom, people purchased their gasoline at other locations. Grocery stores, hardware stores, Five-and-Dime stores, machine and blacksmiths shops, and even pharmacies sold gasoline by the gallon to customers. The customer had to use the gallon jug to fill their own tank.
Converting Kerosene Pumps
One of the first filling stations to use S.F. Bowser's gas pump. (orangebeanindiana.com)
In 1885, the S.F. Bowser company of Fort Wayne, Indiana, began manufacturing kerosene pumps. These devices drew the kerosene up from barrels so that the liquid could be transferred to the customer’s metal can and brought home for use in lamps, heaters, and stoves. A decade later, Bowser noticed the influx of automobiles and how car owners were filling their gas tanks from gallon jugs of gasoline. He realized that his kerosene pump technology could be transferable to serve automobiles. He added a nozzle and a hose to his pump and, voila!, a gas pump.
Adding Services for Customers
1950s photo Rigsbys Standard Oil Service Station on Route 66 in Waynesville by picclick.ca-Colorized
When stand-alone gas stations popped up across the country, particularly along major highways, business owners vied to attract customers away from their competitors. Most did this by catering to the needs of the motorists. They understood that many car owners were not mechanically inclined and needed assistance to keep their vehicles on the road. Filling stations hired mechanics and provided car maintenance and repair. They offered routine services to customers. Not only did a gas station attendant fill your gas tank for you, but they checked your oil, filled your tired, and cleaned your windshield.
Pagoda-Style Filling Stations
In Southern California during the summer of 1939 a stop for gas meant full service.-Colorized
According to the American Oil and Gas Historical Society, it was the Gulf Refining Company that first hired architects to design a functional filling station that could meet customer demands. They created the pagoda-like roof over the gas pumps to protect customers and the gas station employees from rain and snow. Motorists could drive under the roof and pull up to the pumps. They even added other features, like free air. The Gulf Refining Company was also the first gas station to print and distribute road maps to its customers.
Art Deco and Neon
Art deco-inspired gas station. (lamag.com)
With architects now designing filling stations around the country, an emphasis was placed on aesthetics. Since art deco was the hottest design trend of the 1920s and 1930s, many of the gas stations featured this look. In a nod to modern times, they also had an abundance of neon signs. Today, vintage gas station memorabilia are sought-after collectibles, from old gas pumps to retro neon signs to classic road maps. These items remind people of the carefree early days of road travel.
