Gas Pump Globes

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About Antique Gas Pump Globes

Gas globes are spherical glass signs that sat atop gas pumps in the first half of the 20th century, advertising a specific oil company or brand of gasoline. Generally made from a ring of metal with a lens mounted on either side, they were produced in various shapes (like the Shell clamshell) and innumerable designs.

The purpose of gas pump globes was brand identification for drivers at a distance. Lighting wasn’t as good on gas stations as it is today. Sometimes all a motorist could recognize driving by was the gas pump itself lit up, and the globe glowed so they'd know what brand of gas was available. Post World War II, pumps started getting smaller, and by the 1960’s, it was unusual to have a globe.

Gas pump globe designs tended to be simple, limited to a small handful of solid colors because of the silk screening process used to create them.

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Articles

An Interview With Vintage Petroliana (Oil and Gas) Collector Jim Potts

An Interview With Vintage Petroliana (Oil and Gas) Collector Jim Potts

I became interested in Petroliana in a kind of roundabout way. I’ve been in the automotive repair business …  [more]

An Interview With Vintage Ford Car, Porcelain Sign, and Petroliana Collector Sam Baker

An Interview With Vintage Ford Car, Porcelain Sign, and Petroliana Collector Sam Baker

I’ve always had an old Ford Model A or something to tinker around with or play with. It may not have been o…  [more]



Top Websites (“Hall of Fame”)

Primarily Petroliana

Primarily Petroliana

Jim Potts’ site for petroliana collectors, featuring image galleries and community features such as a discussion …  [more]

Fisogni Museum

Fisogni Museum

An amazing online gallery of petroliana from Guido Fisogni, who founded his Fisogni Museum in 1966. Start by clicki…  [more]

Petrol Maps

Petrol Maps

Ian Byrne's virtual glove compartment with almost 2,000 European petrol (gas) and oil company roadmaps. While Ameri…  [more]

Petroliana.co.uk

Petroliana.co.uk

Alan Chandler’s impressive collection of early British and European petroliana, including galleries with beautifu…  [more]

Petromobilia Switzerland

Petromobilia Switzerland

Alex Wyler’s site is mostly in German, but the collection and images speak for themselves. You’ll find old gas …  [more]

Falvo Collectables Gallery

Falvo Collectables Gallery

Ralph and Carol Falvo's excellent collection of automobiles, petroliana, jukeboxes, soda, and general store items. …  [more]


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