Posted on April 23, 1999 at 15:48:22:
Where did the word Petroliana come from? What does it mean?
Jerry Keyser, publisher of Check the Oil! magazine, coined the word to describe
the gas station collectibles hobby. Petroliana is similar to terms such
as breweriana and railroadiana. It encompasses anything that could be found
at a vintage filling station, from gas pumps and porcelain signs to give-away
trinkets. Many collectors also include in the hobby oil production and refining
memorabilia and auto service collectibles such as tire and auto dealer signs.
There are other spellings for the same word. We feel petroliana is the most
widely accepted version.