Topic: The Golden Age of Service Stations

[K5 Keith]

Can anyone figure out how they get these cars down??

here's something...
Pigeon Hole Parking, 1955
Pigeon Hole Parking came to Portland with the wave of parking-lot mania that swept the city in the 1950s. This one, at SW Stark and Park, lasted until the mid-60s when it was moved two blocks south to SW 9th and Alder. Like many of these parking systems, it was plagued by bad electrics that would strand cars until repairs could be made. The Stark and Park site is still a surface parking lot.
From http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/tag/modish-building/
HOW: http://mcgovernhrc.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pigeon-hole-parking-page-2-3-2500.jpg

[Really?]

I really enjoyed those pictures! 

[azuredesign]

Excellent Alex, thanks!

I remember 5 gallons for a buck at a station around Worcester when I was a nipper, partially because I remember there was a joint called Hot Dog Annies that sold 5 dogs for the same price. I just looked and Annies still exists in Leicester!

Ben, sounds like we needs a ride out there to relive your past and grab some dogs. Probably not 5 for a buck anymore though...

I think we've actually ridden by it. Doesn't get the best reviews any more either! That does bring up the question of where does one go to get a great dog though! Funny Alex, re-living or re-visiting past experiences, at least for me, is ususally very underwhelming. Onward and upward!

[Dream750]

I couldn’t help but notice all the old cars in the gas station photos.

Find your first car or the one you drove to high school or college; hopefully your car brochure or sales ad is available as this site has a good collection:

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html

[ofreen]

[78 k550]

Can anyone figure out how they get these cars down??

I was also curious too how they did it.

Paul

[FunJimmy]

Awesome pics of yester year.
As a guy with a long family lineage in the  service station business, these pics are a welcome reminder. My grandfather opened the first Chevron station in Canada in 1934.

[dave500]

i remember when service stations carried a full range of spark plugs,hose clamps and hoses,thermostats and most gaskets for common models and a few sweet items like barley sugar coke and chocholate,now you can do your full shopping in them,get a caffe latte and a phone card recharge or even a whole phone,just dont ask to lend a wrench to fix a small leak ,they wont have a clue.

[754]

 Jimmy where was that, my shop interior is done Chevron colors.

Knew aguy that over a 10 year period, ammassed an amazing amount of petro stuff, even hada website to showpics of the collection.  Few years back he sold it, but I looked today, the site is still up...search Falvo Collectables

[Gordon]

I like the "More miles per quart" oil advertisement at that Sunoco station.  That's a real testament to the difference in machining tolerances and durability of engine parts between then and now.