Petroliana, or antiques related to gas stations and the oil business, is a collecting area focused on advertising, with key subcategories being gas pumps, gas pump globes, oil cans, road maps, signs, and major names like Mobil, Texaco, Standard Oil, Phillips 66, Shell, Sinclair, and Esso.

In the early days of automobile travel, service stations were unfamiliar and often poorly lit at night. So lighted gas pump globes and other oil company signage were key to reassuring and drawing in motorists. And since pumping gas was a new experience, early pumps allowed motorists to see if the gasoline was clean (through a small glass window), and later to watch the price as the gas was pumped (a major innovation).

Collectors also seek items associated with regional oil company brands like Signal, Gilmore, and Wilshire. Not to mention an endless variety of giveaway promotional items like ice scrapers and plastic 'lollipop' thermometers featuring the names of these bygone oil and gas companies and service stations.

Interviews & Articles

Jim Potts on Vintage Petroliana

I became interested in Petroliana in a kind of roundabout way. I’ve been in the automotive repair business all my life, and have a… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Primarily Petroliana

Primarily Petroliana

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

Petroliana.co.uk

Petroliana.co.uk

Alan Chandler’s impressive collection of early British and European petroliana, including galleries with beautifu… [read review or visit site]

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 … [read review or visit site]

Falvo Collectables Gallery

Falvo Collectables Gallery

Ralph and Carol Falvo's excellent collection of automobiles, petroliana, jukeboxes, soda, and general store items. … [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations

Other Great Reference Sites

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Original Ok Used Cars Authorized Dealer Porcelain Sign Dealership Dsp ChevroletOld Porcelain Sign 48 In Johnson Gas And Oil Gas Pump Mobil Pegasus " Flying Red Horse " Gaint Porcelain Sign Oil Gas Flying LeftPorcelain Nos Flying A Truck Door Sign. Original. Never Used. 13''x8''.Vintage Original Restored Eco Air Meter TireflatorTwo Texaco T Star 72 Inch Porcelain Signs Two SidedPorcelain Mobil Gas Marine Nos Pump Plate. Original. 11''x13'' HighMobil Pegasus " Flying Red Horse " Gaint Porcelain Sign Oil Gas Flying RightMobil Pegasus " Flying Red Horse " Gaint Porcelain Sign Oil Gas No Legs Or TailOriginal Porcelain Phillips 66 Double Sided Gas Station SignPorcelain Golden Shell Motor Oil Sign. Original 13''x13''. 1930's.N.o.s. Pennsylvania Sinclair Porcelain Motor Oil Sign Gas New Old Stock Nice!!!Vintage Porcelain Texaco Sign 6ft No Reserve Gas OilExcellent Rare 100% Original Milk Glass Standard Red Crown Gas Pump Globe Sign Gulf Dealer Gas Station Sign, Porcelain, Double Sided*** Scarce 7 Foot 1940's Ford Dealership Porcelain Sign***Vintage Eco 98 Pedestal Air Meter/tireflator-nr!-garage/tire/gas StationVintage 1930's Shell Gas Station Motor Oil 24" Embossed Metal Sign~very Neat!Eco Clock Face Air Meter Original!!! Outside Restored!! Texaco RedTexaco Replica Junior Gumball Machine Gravity Gas PumpVery Rare Diamond U Air Whip Gas Pump *rare* Fisk Tires - Tubes Porcelain 2 Sided Flanged Sign Cobalt Blue & Yellow Lighted Gm Sign United Motors Sign Art Deco Sign Old SignOriginal Texaco Motor Oil Porcelain Flange Sign, Gas Pump, Rare, GlobeVintage / Antique Mobil Gas Porcelain Letter Sign Advertising / Gas / OilVintage Porcelain Richfield Oil Porcelain Sign Original Hanging Bracket Old CarVintage Survivor Eco Air Meter Model 97 Tireflator Gas Station Oil Man CaveRare Mobil Mobiloil Mobilgas Socony Wadhams Motor Oil Bottle Rack Sign MilwaukeeRocker Can Metroline Motor Oil Metropolitan Oil Co Chicago Il Gas Porcelain SignOriginal Vintage Standard Oil Co. Gas Pump "gold Crown" Glass GlobeVintage Bp Motor Oil Bottles & Ir0n Rack Energol Embossed Spouts Top Cap & ChainBennett 646 Gas Pump In Phillips 66 Theme.Mobiloil Filpruf Glass Oil ContainerAtlantic Gasoline 30" Porcelain Double Sided Sign. "very Hard To Find"Vintage Mobil Pegasus Horse (plastic) Gas / Oil / Sign / AdvertisingRocker Can Bartles Maguire Oil Co Milwaukee Wis Wi Gas Porcelain Sign WadhamsBig Vintage Porcelain Enamel Red Crown Gasoline Sign Old AuthenticVico Paraffin Oil Pep The Gas With A Punch Porcelain Station Original Sign RarePorcelain Esso Essolube Motor Oil Sign, Truck Sign.Vintage Texaco Home Lubicant Can Unopened Case Gas / Oil / Sign / AdvertisingEco Air Meter Islander 240 PumpPorcelain Sinclair Nos Truck Door Sign. Original. Excellent Condition. 8"x13"Very Rare Texaco Porcelain Flange Sign Texas Company 1920'sPorcelain Sign Texaco Outboard Blend. Original. 12''x20''. Very Good Condition.Standard Oil Company Of California Scrip 1933 Rare Rare $1. $5. $10. Last SetHuge Original 1960s/1970s Amoco Lighted Station SignMobil Pegasus SignU.s. Tire Sign- Huge 60" X 16 " Vibrant Colors 1952Antique Original 1940's Fisk Tire Gas & Oil Auto Rare Metal Sign AdvertisementOriginal Texaco Porcelain Building Star.. Rare, Globe, Gas Pump, Sign, Porcelain1960's Porcelain Blue Sunoco Pump SignVintage Stihl Chainsaw Worlds First Chainsaw Sign World Graphic Rare! Gas OilWoco Pep Porcelain Gasoline Advertising Sign Teen? Twenties?Clark Glass Gas Pump Globe W Orginal Box Mint Condition No Reserve!Vintage 1930's-40 Quaker State Advertising Summer Oil Sign Banner Baseball Rare1930's Mobil Oil Vacuum Oil Company Gargoyle Flanged Double Sided Porceiln SignVtg Sinclair Dino Gas Pump Station Metal Sign Very Clean Nm1930's Gas Station Oil Pump, Restored TexacoVintage 1940's Rislone Motor Oil Thermometer Metal Garage Advertising Gas OilVintage Mobilgas Special 1947 12" Porcelain Gas Pump Mounted Sign Great Cond.

Recent News: Petroliana

Source: Google News

Petroliana and automobilia will be featured at Matthews Auctions' June 22 ...
EcommWire (press release), May 29th

(DUBLIN, Oh.) - More than 450 lots of highly collectible examples of petroliana (gas station) and automobilia (cars) will be offered at a Check the Oil auction planned for Saturday, June 22, by Matthews Auctions, LLC, based in Nokomis, Ill. The event...Read more

Beaulieu's Best Spring Autojumble Ever
Autochannel (press release), May 24th

Another star of the show was a fully 1910 restored horse drawn fuel tanker, complete with Anglo American Oil Company stamped brass hub covers, original paintwork and sign writing, which has been lovingly restored by Petroliana standholder, Alan ...Read more