The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I know that many members here are also "car" guys. So, although O/T, I thought some may like this story that finally came to a "happy" ending today.
Back in the 1980's I was big into service station items. Pumps were my favorite. On an Island here "Vancouver Island" I came across nice pair of pumps at a concrete yard. Here in Canada all pumps were changed "by law" when our country went metric. So, old pumps were bought up to use privately.
However, the yard had now bought newer ones and were willing to let these go. So, I bought them.
The owner then tells me he bought them from a man that had an old ESSO station in that small town and had the top globes that were on these two pumps.
Naturally I went to see the station owner. There they were.....both just sitting in the windows on either side of the station door. I told the man I had just bought his old pumps and would love to have the original globes.
He laughed and said many have wanted to buy them. "I will be taking these home when I retire" he said. That was 24 years ago. Anytime I was around that area I would stop in to ask. Then on one trip.....the station was closed and empty. I immediately found the mans home number and called him.....thank goodness for small towns.
He told me he retired after owning that station since 1947 and just closed it up.
Sure enough he took the globes home. "I thinking to install them in my driveway with a light" he said.
I told him that may not be a good idea but, that was his choice to make.
Many years pasted and out of the blue I called him. "I'm sorry. I had no way to reach you (I had moved) and decided not to mount them in my driveway" he said. "So, I decided to donate them to the local museum" he further said.
I asked if there was anyway he could retrieve them and he thought it would look bad if he was to ask. It was now up to me to deal with a museum. Not a easy task by any means... .
However, after many more years....I received an email last week asking "if" I would still like to have the two globes. "A small donation would be accepted. We just can't see displaying them as they are" they wrote.
Well, I don't need to tell you where I was today..... .
Even though I had bought "repro" globes for this pair many years ago. There is nothing like getting the originals.
I'm sorry for such a long O/T post. I just hope some like the story...

Great story, and proof that good things come to those who wait.....

Ditto. These are reminders of a time when corporate logos actually stood for real words (Esso = S.O. = Standard Oil) instead of made-up marketing gibberish (what the heck does "Exxon" mean? I know, obscene profits). Just my 1.5¢ worth.

Henry wrote:Ditto. These are reminders of a time when corporate logos actually stood for real words (Esso = S.O. = Standard Oil) instead of made-up marketing gibberish (what the heck does "Exxon" mean? I know, obscene profits). Just my 1.5¢ worth.

ESSO or "Eastern States Standard Oil" is still very big here in Canada. Exxon in the US. A little trivia for the members. In the 1930's here in Canada, ESSO came up with a great marketing scheme. At the time ESSO was still under the "Imperial" name up here. They decided to advertise at NHL hockey games by a end game "three stars" award for players that did well that night. And "Imperial Three Stars" was born. Later to become "ESSO Three Stars". As they say...."the rest is NHL history"..... .
Pump globes, regardless of brand are not easy to come by anymore. being very fragile and a great target for a kid with that brand new Red Ryder BB gun.... ...they just did not have a high survival rate... . Many that are found in decent shape were discovered NOS in an old suppliers warehouse or in a private collection for many decades.



I'm sure many already knew this piece of Canadian hockey history.

I thought everyone knew what 'Exxon' stands for! It's the sign of the double-cross!

I would like to add three more pics to this thread. First is the actual station circa 1977. It is now an empty lot. You can see the front and the windows where the two globes were displayed. You can also see the "later" pumps in use. Last, the two pumps I have from there. As you can see, they have been restored and with repro globes.

Henry wrote:Ditto. These are reminders of a time when corporate logos actually stood for real words (Esso = S.O. = Standard Oil) instead of made-up marketing gibberish (what the heck does "Exxon" mean? I know, obscene profits). Just my 1.5¢ worth.

Wasn't Exxon III the king of Persia? "My name is Exxon, King of Kings" etc.....

Add "Jeep" to the list - "GP" - "General Purpose" vehicle.

gramophone78 wrote: In the 1930's here in Canada, ESSO came up with a great marketing scheme. At the time ESSO was still under the "Imperial" name up here. They decided to advertise at NHL hockey games by a end game "three stars" award for players that did well that night. And "Imperial Three Stars" was born. Later to become "ESSO Three Stars".

And here I thought Imperial Three Stars was a cheap brand of whiskey! Omig-d, is that what I've been drinking all these years? No wonder it tastes like gasoline

That is a great story. It was until only recently I learned a few things about the old gas pumps and the globes (other than on "American Pickers" tv show). All in all, birds always come come home to roost. It's good to see the set matched up again. Congrats on pursuing it to the end.....nothing but fate happening in this situation. Great pumps you have preserved and displayed nicely.
ColoradoPhonograf

Henry wrote:

gramophone78 wrote: In the 1930's here in Canada, ESSO came up with a great marketing scheme. At the time ESSO was still under the "Imperial" name up here. They decided to advertise at NHL hockey games by a end game "three stars" award for players that did well that night. And "Imperial Three Stars" was born. Later to become "ESSO Three Stars".

And here I thought Imperial Three Stars was a cheap brand of whiskey! Omig-d, is that what I've been drinking all these years? No wonder it tastes like gasoline

Thanks for all the kind comments. Now I have to ask a silly question....is there really a "Imperial Three Star" whiskey in the US???. If so, it sounds cheap... .
The irony to this story is, I have been away from collecting "petroiana" for so long, I don't even remember much of what I learned a long the way... .
I think I will just carry on with Berliner and Gramophone's... .