Before 1905, gasoline was purchased from pumps put on the curb of the street. Insurance companies and local governments did not like this situation. According to National Petroleum News the first off the street gasoline was offered by the Automobile Gasoline Company of St. Louis, MO. It was nothing but a few above ground tanks where they would dispense gasoline into a measuring can, it was then poured into the gas tank.
In 1910 a second location was opened in downtown St. Louis. Incidentally, the location of the 1st station is now a ramp to enter I-44 going east, I have been there.
In 1910 "The Auto Review" magazine has the following comments:
"Benj. Gerelman has built a fireproof building for a gasoline supply station opposite his accessory supply house. By a special pressure system an automobile tank can be filled in a few moments. It will not be necessary to stock up with gasoline as a car can stop on the way down town and stock up. The big tank will hold one thousand gallons. The Automobile Gasoline Co., of St. Louis will also open a branch supply station where cars can stop and "fill up."
In 1929 the Automobile Gasoline Co., was acquired by the Shell Petroleum Corp.
By 1915, The St. Louis Oil Company had opened a station near downtown St. Louis, also the Standard Oil Co. had four stations in St. Louis and the original Automobile Gasoline Co. had about five stations, all using a gravity feed as the way to dispense gasoline. Also in 1915 the National Petroleum News ran a country wide contest to determine the best looking stations. The Automobile Gasoline Co. of St. Louis won first prize.
Around 1948, the National Petroleum News featured a front page article about the first filling station in St. Louis. The Shell Oil Co. had a plaque made and it was attached to the original building, it commemorated the opening of the first station. After the building was torn down to make room for the ramp, the plaque disappeared. In late 1990 I found out that the plaque was in the Shell Museum at their Wood River refinery. After Shell gave up the refinery, the plaque is now on display in their museum is Texas.
Randy, your post above should read: Gulf opened up their first station in Pittsburgh in 1913.
By the way, I have included a picture of a "off the street" stationed that opened in 1910 in Flint, Mich.
Jack Sim
Old way to dispense gas & 1905 picture of first station
First station-1938 picture & 1938 article from NPN.
1910 ad for Automobile Gasoline Co. & 1910 picture of 2nd station
1910 Flint, Mich. station
