Not on theme and not on Independence Day either, instead sharing some photos of unknown men, from Uncle Carl's collections of photos. I can guess that he had a new camera and was out on the town taking photos. These are all tiny originals two by three inches. All were taken in New Kensington, PA, our hometown, about 1939-1940 and apparently men Carl knew. I have no idea where in the town this was but back then there was the town itself was concentrated along the river and the family lived on Second Avenue. Wealthier folks, business owners and professional types lived up above the railroad tracks on the hills. At first glance, I thought these were local firemen colleagues and they may be but after scanning and enlarging I discovered they employees of what was a Gulf Gasoline Station. Here they hold cans of Gulf Pride!
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| Gulf Gas Station Men New Kensington, PA |
Back then I understand it was common for people to buy one or two gallons of gasoline; these photos document its price range from 18 1/2 cents to 22 cents per gallon! I wonder what coin they used for the half cent? Check out the thin man in the middle above with coin holder to make change. so I don't know that I have ever seen one of those before. Comical and yet sad to consider that back then change was useful as items were so cheap and people treasured each coin. This first photo has the gas at 18 1/2 cents, but watch that sign....
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| Gulf Station men at play |
Above the men are clowning around and enjoying themselves, but dressed warmer, longer sleeves and a sweater. There is that coin changer again and the thin man smoking a cigarette. Gas is 22 cents by the sign here.
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| In front of the old Coca Cola machine |
I am amazed at the hats and full uniform worn by the men. This man may be the same one on the right in the first photo and is possibly a young Ed Saliba, SR. He was slightly younger than my Uncle Carl, longtime fire chief and friend and still living in New Kensington. He and the firemen came to Carl's funeral. Gas above is 20 cents per gallon.
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| Gulf Station Gasoline 20cents per gallon |
Above you can see the sign showing the breakdown on the price of gasoline, 15 cents for the gas, 4 cents for Pennsylvania state tax and 1 penny for federal tax. The taxes remain the same in all these photos. It sure was a different world back then! The sign above the window on the storefront, reads Association, but in none of the photos does it show Association of what....
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Coca Cola machine for bottles
Gulfpride oil stand to the right |
This photo is darker but the one where you can clearly read the sign, "That good gulf gas..." The bell telephone sign to the far left corner reminiscent of the time when folks went to the store to use the pay telephones.
I will tie this post to my Facebook page and perhaps some from the home town can tell more about the men and the place. And they will likely be interested in the photos. As always, visit the Sepia Site where others share in our international community. I am posting later today because we had one hellacious storm with winds at 60 miles per hour and more, last night and power was off until an hour ago. But all is well around our homesite and we hope around town.
That is an interesting series of photos. I remember seeing coin changers when I was young, but I can't remember where.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about photos like this is that they record a part of everyday life that's so often forgotten. A little piece of history.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do manage to find out more.
It’s easy to dismiss these tiny photos, just because they are so small, but you’re probably right about taking the camera out and about as it was a novelty. Posing proudly with a gasoline can, made me smile.
ReplyDeleteI remember the gasoline stations in my home town in the 40s and 50s and all the men had neat uniforms. Shell and Standard Oil were the two biggies in our town then. Not a lot of cars in the 40s as I remember. They were out but not many folks could afford one. Best I remember the lawyers and professional families. great post.
ReplyDeleteQMM
Hi again Pat. In regard to my post, Dumbarton is still in Baltimore on Q street. It is a historical home and houses the Colonial Dames group, the name I can't remember since leaving the actual photo. I did find it on the internet as being a historical marker and the Google map points it out on Q street.
ReplyDeleteQMM
I've seen coin changers in use in use by bus drivers in the UK not too long ago. The other thing that struck me is now the'cans' are bigger and made of plastic.
ReplyDeleteA different time, a different place. At 16, a high school Junior, I got a job at a local gas station; Standard Stations Inc, a subsidiary of Standard oil Co. Now Chevron. They actually sent me to a training station in Stockton for a week of instruction. Subsequently, I worked for two other stations, "Flying A" during my senior year and, a year later, an independent during a RR lay off. At one of those jobs I was paid 60 cents an hour and was impressed to be making a penny a minute for the time I was there. Years later, during another lay-off, I was assistant manager for an independent station in Eureka, then for the same owner, managed the station in Arcata. tom
ReplyDeleteFunny how, in so many towns the RR tracks were the division between the poor and the better off or between the caucasian and ethnic minorities. Tracy was a classic example with "Souith Side" being the poor, and/or, ethnic minority area. Except for the ones riding a bus to West Park or Central schools, we had little to no contact with hispanic or black South Side School kids until high school. We did have a few personal friends across the tracks, mostly because some families had folks living on both sides.
ReplyDeleteTom
For some reason, old gas stations have always fascinated me since childhood. I find it interesting that they posted the tax breakdown fro the customers to see. What a different world it was and full service only too.
ReplyDeleteService station men in uniforms and tie! That seems more remarkable than 20cent gas. I thought it was gone until I went to Maine last summer and discovered that self-pump stations are not common and the phrase "Filler'er up?" is still known.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you pointed out that coin changer. I'm not sure I would have known what it was. These are such great photos.
ReplyDeletePutting these pictures in series tells a nice story. I liked all the old advertising in the backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI love the guy with the changer around his neck. My dad was a bus driver for 40 years before he retired in 1982. He used a changer on the job in the early years of his employment. I still have it stored away in my garage somewhere?
ReplyDeleteHave a great 4th of July!
~Ron
this is a great series!! they would cry if they saw the price of gas now.... the last time i saw coin changers was in cabs, a long time ago!! you now need paper money to pay for the ride, and they now take credit/debit card. awh!! technology!! that's something else that would have those guys go nuts!!
ReplyDelete:D~
HUGZ
I remember very well those coin dispensers in use when I was a lad. The largest coin was a half crown, the smallest a penny, not that I saw many of the former.
ReplyDeletePat, great series and information. Those were certainly the good old days...only folks then didn't know it, but we curely do now!
ReplyDeleteYou Can Tell A Lot About a Photographer By The Reactions Of His Subjects.Carl Looks To Have Had A Friendly Response With These Men..........But I Do Worry About The Combinations Of Cigarettes & Petrol!
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