Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Globe Of The Month for March 2004

Only a few guys have been submitting pictures of their globes the past few months. We're going to do something different this month hoping to get more guys involved. I want everyone thats a member or everyone that reads the Shop Talk forums to submit a picture of their first globe (originals only please). Yes, EVERYONE!!!! Let's see, we have 1800+ members........What am I getting myself into???

Be sure to share the story behind your first globe. Include the year you got it too.

I'll post my first globe tonight.
If you can't post a picture yourself email it to me.
Lastgas15@aol.com

My first globe , I wasn't even looking for globes at that time. I was looking for signs, stopped at an old station along Hwy 33 near the Tracy area, it has been a Texaco for years. talked to the old man about the old days. asking how long he had been a Texaco. "sents 1957 he says". was a Seaside before that, asked about signs, "Ya theres one or two in the garage". so I go look can't see them , where? on the ground. dirt floor. so I'm looking and kicking stuff. Down on the floor under the old work bench there was two bundles of toe sacks.(what are TOE sacks)? ha . So I unwrap one and holy, moly, I couldn't believe it. Scott Benjamin don't even have these babies. From the mid 30ties to 1941, there was one complete globe with his name and address on it and a Silver gull with his name lens broke out.



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www.vintage-logos.com



[This message has been edited by Dwaine Buck (edited 03-15-2004).]

Dwaine,
That's a pretty good "entry level" globe.... LOL.
I think most of us started out with a much more modest globe.
Thanks for posting!
Bob

Bob:

As soon as I get my first original globe - I'll post a picture.

Later . . .

Jim

Jim,
I have a feeling you'll have an original globe soon.
Bob

I remember sitting in the back seat of my parents '59 Ford Ranch Wagon on a rainy fall night looking up at the globes lit up on the pumps as the attendant filled the tank. This would have been in '65 or before as my parents got a new car in '66. I would have been 6 or younger. That is my first recollection of gas pump globes.

In late '78- early-'79 my Dad and I built a new house for the eccentric old guy that had owned the Conoco station where I saw globes for the first time. Our customer had originally run an En-Ar-Co White Rose station. He eventually re-branded to Conoco in the early 30's. In 1936 he built a new station. My first globe was used at that station when it was first built. Its one of the globes I remember seeing back when I was a kid in the early 60's! It was supposed to be used from '33-50 but the old guy never took the globes off the pumps until the station closed in the late 60's.
In '82 the old guy hired us to paint a rental house next door to the house we had built a few years before. Behind the old house was a garage built like a barn. When I showed up to paint the owner said he had some paint he wanted me to use. He said it was in the loft of the barn. I went up to the loft to get the paint and immediately saw 4 Conoco globes on green capco bodies and a Conoco Ethyl on red capco. I started pestering him to sell one of them to me. He replied they weren't for sale. I asked him a couple of other times but the answer was always the same. The last day I was there I was up on an extension ladder and he called me down. He was just coming into sight as I was going down the ladder. I saw him carrying a globe. I just about jumped off the ladder! He handed it to me and said. "Its yours".
Here's a picture of my first globe. Its the first globe I ever remember seeing.



I just thought I'd add that it was another 9 years before I got my 2nd globe (a blue crown). The Conoco Ethyl on old style capco was my 3rd globe. I bought it at the estate auction of the guy that gave me my first globe. There were 12 years between globes one and three! I continued to buy a globe or two a year for awhile. I had started collecting about anything petro related in '95. I remember buying 3 globes one year and thinking that was really something.LOL. That was 1996. I think it was in 1999 that I decided to really focus on globes. Lonnie Hop's "Globes On A Budget" series in CTO really inspired me. I sold off most of my cans and signs at that time and started buying globes.
Bob

[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 03-16-2004).]

Oldgas member Wads sent me this picture.



Great globe! Especially for a first globe.
Thanks for sharing.
Bob

My first globe purchases stand on each side of the Metro globe. Surfing the net one day and decided to search my last name. Found all kinds of strange postings but came across Wadhams Oil Co. from Milwaukee, Wi. Met a nice gentleman who had posted the Metro globe for sale in PCM. Well the last two years have been great. The collection is starting to grow and my wallet has become much thinner. This site is the absolute best, I look forward to reading all the postings every day. Anyone out there with any Wadhams items you're about to throw out, please send me an email. Bob, thanks for posting the picture.

Aaron Hop sent me pictures of these globes. The Buffalo was Aaron's first globe and the H-C was Lonnie's first globe.



Hopefully Aaron will post the stories behind these globes.
Thanks for sharing!
Bob

Aaaaaaaaah, my first globe, they say you never forget it. Mine came via a classified ad I ran, I was just getting started and advertised for gas pumps and signs etc, I didn't even mention globes in the ad because I thought they were too rare and wouldn't have a chance of ever finding one. A fellow calls from a town about 4 hours away, he has a couple of old visibles, he wants $600ea, and if I took them both he'd throw in the glass topper that came with them. I get all excited, what a scoop, this was the deal of the century my first time out. I semi commit to the deal, and ask what is on the globe, he says its been years since he looked at it but he was sure it had an Indian on it, YAHOO! I couldn't sleep that night, the next day I head out bright and early, dreaming of a Red Indian globe and my first visible pump. I get there and get the tour, they were Boyle Dayton pumps, enough good stuff between them to make one good pump, but where was the globe? I could hardly stand it. He forgot about the globe and had to go find it, the suspense was killing me, and I was having a hard time retaining my enthusiasm. 10 minutes later here he comes with a box, I pull the lid off and all I see is ESSO He says, hmmmm I thought for sure there was an Indian on it, oh well its a freebie anyway. I loaded it all up in my Chevette hatchback, yes 2 visible pumps in a Chevette, that was site to see let me tell you. So, interesting story about a less than interesting globe, but it will always be my first



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Lance
pogogas@telus.net
www.pogogas.com

Here's my first original globe and my first original (and still current) wife. I've had the globe for several months and the wife for 27 years. I realize that this is not "Wife Of The Month" but I needed a little help taking this picture and as always she was there for me.

Regarding the globe, not much of a story, I bought it off EBAY from Louisiana. It's in darn good shape and I'm assuming it's from the late 50's. I do know for a fact that the lady in the picture is from the early 60's.
LIFE IS GOOD!
Happy Globe Hunting!!!

Neal Dunn gpf

My first globe just happened to be three. I went to the Grand Opening of the Brass Armadillo antique mall here in Kansas City in 1998-99 and found these two Phillips 66 shields and a Sinclair Dino all for $100 each in the same booth.

I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dd34b3127cceba2e98cf33200000004610[/img]

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Scott in Kansas City
quarts@mindspring.com

My first globe, a Texaco on hull body with a copper base. Bought it at a local auction for $72.50 in 1991.

First the story of how my dad, Lonnie, started collecting globes, because ultimately, it leads to my own story. It was December of '84 and my parents were in Illinois for a few days to celebrate their anniversary. My dad had at that time been collecting a few odds and ends gas pieces, some signs, cans, and oil bottles to go along with his collection of general line country store stuff. He had decided that it would be nice to have an old pump out front of the garage with an original globe on it. While in Illinois, he saw an ad for an antique mall in Ladd, Illinois that said it had some gas and oil stuff for sale, so on the 11th of December my parents drove out to look around. When he walked in he was blown away by the twenty or so globes on the wall, there was a Mobil with the horse and a Phillips Shield, but aside from that, he can't recall anything else being there, except for a single H-C globe that was in the window display. As soon as he saw the globe he knew he was going to buy it, because he remembered the Sinclair station on the corner by his house when he was a kid. He purchased that globe for $80, laid it in the trunk of the car, and drove home, no blankets or box, it was free to move around. The globe survived, and is still prominently displayed in our collection.
I got a little later start than he did, because it was about six years later before I was able to "get" my first globe. I became infatuated with globes shortly after birth in 1986, I am told that I would crawl into my dad's office and lie on a big stuffed dog and stare at the globes all lit up. Most normal children would say something like "mom" or "dad", but I said "Dino" as my first globe, and ever since I've been hooked. I attended my first flea market at age six weeks, so to say I have grown up with this stuff might be a bit of an understatement. My first globe came when I was four years old, though, when me and my Dad took a road trip up to Walt Feiger's place in Traverse City, Michigan to look at some globes he had for sale. After looking around for a while, it came time to decide what to buy, and the decision was between a pair of Kanotex Aviation lenses in the original shipping crate or a pair of Buffalo lenses. My dad was personally leaning towards the Kanotex lenses, but I was a strong advocate for the Buffalo pair. After some agonizing, he decided to be a "good dad" and go with the Buffalo globe, which I immediately laid claim to as my own. Over time it has become a gift to me from him, and it is one that I truly appreciate.
For those of you out there who do have kids, get them involved, I've been collecting aggresively now for about 15 years, and I will forever be grateful for the memories me and my dad have from going to shows and meeting people, it is just an overall experience that I would not trade the world for. Thanks to all who have posted, and to Bob for posting all our pictures. Keep 'em coming!

Aaron Hop

Great first globes everyone. There are some wonderful stories that go along with some of these globes too.

A couple of guys have emailed saying they can't remember what their first globe was. How can you forget your first?........

Keep those pictures and stories coming.
Bob

Scott Benjamin sent in this picture and story about his first globe:

This is Scott Benjamin. This is my first globe I acquired in 1973 or 1974! It's a bit worn but I never had the heart to sell it! It came on top of an old Wayne 615 visible pump here in Ohio on a farm. I really just wanted the pump! Once a saw a second globe I was hooked! The guy told me don't break the globe because I would never find another!



Scott, thanks for sharing.
Bob


[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 03-16-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 03-16-2004).]

OK..My story isnt real interesting but I want to support Globe of the Month in anyway I can. Since I focused on quart cans and used repop globes for the pumps I did I never had an original globe until a few years ago. I thought about it and I belive this is my first globe. I got it off Ebay because I wanted to do a pump with original signs and globe.

This Texaco sky Chief globe sits atop the Bennett 966 I did.

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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA



[This message has been edited by djhubba (edited 03-16-2004).]

This is Rex Benson's first globe and the story behind it.



I found 4 Richfield east globes b-hind my bulk plant in 1976 two were smashed with rocks I kept one & gave the other to a Mobil oil rep.
My son reminded me this week that he wants this globe & 2 others we had in our office he says he has memories of these globes the other globes are just globes.
Also there was a stack of blue porcelain letters that spelled RICHFIELD + other letters that I regret I left there.

I wanted to pass on a little story regarding my post of a Sinclair globe with my wife holding it. When I went to take the picture last night I couldn't find an good place in my house to sit it with a contrasting background. My wife saw me struggling and she said "I'll hold it for you, just don't let me be in the picture". Me being the troublemaker I am she was included in the picture as you can see. Tonight when she saw me perusing oldgas and saw her picture on there she was ticked!! She said "you could've at least told me to smile, all of your gas friends are gonna think I'm a prick".
My story for the day.

Neal Dunn gpf

Here is my first globe... not much about it. I got started like most with pumps and some signs and looked at globes maybe a year before i got the guts to buy one. All it took was the one and it was over, i bought about 3 more in the few months following. This one come from ebay and i can say the feeling of buying a globe is like no other. Keep'em coming!

This is a great idea Bob. Here is my first and only original globe. Kind of matches me a Dorco. Ted

Jeff Johnson sent me this picture. He's going to tell the story about it later.







[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 03-19-2004).]

Well, this is a pretty cool story, if I do say do myself. My father and I purchased our first globe at the first "big show" we decided to go to in Early 1999. For both of us, I think we thought a original globe was untouchable. We were early buyers at Peotone, Illinois (the weather was unbelievable for that this time of year- 70 degrees and sunny), walked through the doors and there it sat. We bought it pretty much on the spot as we got into a great conversation about Johnson Oil with the seller. This was our first meeting and the beginning of a great friendship with Ray and Jan May. They are wonderful people and really took us in under there wing. Turns out, this globe was a duplicate and that his favorite companies to collect was Johnson Oil. He educated us a great deal about the company we collected and the shows and people that participate in the hobby in general. Wayne Swearingin, organizer of the then once a year show, arranged to have Horton Johnson, one of five brothers that were Johnson Oil, to be at the show. He brought his son and grandson to check things out. From Left to Right in the pic, it is Woody Johnson, me, Matthew Johnson, my father and Horton. We were blown away by everything. To top the show off, after the crowd slowed in the afternoon, Ray got Jan to watch over his goodies, and Ray, my dad and I snuck off the his house the check out his collection. WE WERE SPEECHLESS. It didn't get any better than this. We flew into Chicago and had to get the globe back to Atlanta on the plane. It was a nightmare. We had it packed up in a box but didn't want it to be checked on. The box was JUST A LITTLE too big the go under the seat. After explaining ourselves and our package, we had gracious people in first class wanting to put the globe up with them, as they had room. We couldn't do that either according to the airline. Eventually, we had to put the globe in a Midway airport official trashbag with packing peanuts, and shove it in the overhead console. We were nervous wrecks the entire flight home. It made it! Probably the busiest day in that globe's life, and one of the best for my father and I. We met great true friends, got introduced to a hobby that we share a love for, and got to experience it all together, bonding like a father and son should. All because of that one globe. It is definitely worth more than we paid for it and remains a proud trophy in our collection. We'll never get rid of it.

Thanks for listening and thank you, Bob, for posting our picture and coming up with this great idea for "Globe of the Month". It is fun thinking about this stuff.

Jeff and Neil Johnson

I guess I'm one of the guilty that can't remember their first globe. Due to my work schedule, today was the first chance I had to go down to the shop. Maybe by looking around, my memory would be "jogged". Nothing happened! What about my first sign...first can...first map??? Nothing!!! Now I do remember my first pump (with repo globe) so I guess I don't have TOTAL alzheimers. LOL I was asked for help on this topic and I can't deliver. For this let down, I apologize to everyone.

HEY GARY, I THINK THEY CALL IT "OLD-TIMERS" DISEASE...OR "C.R.S."
I TOO HAVE NOTHING TO SUBMIT! I KNOW WHERE MY FIRST GLOBE IS....I JUST HAVE TO GET IT! SO WHILE THIS THREAD IS ACTIVE I WILL SHARE THIS
PRE-PURCHASE WITH YOU. PRAY FOR ME....I WANT THIS TO BE MY FIRST GLOBE!

CRAIG (flyingAman) DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THIS ONE IN HIS ALL TOO AWESOME COLLECTION....MUST BE RARE! LOL!!!

WISH ME LUCK!

DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGES

What an excellent story Jeff & Neal...........

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Scott in Kansas City
quarts@mindspring.com

great globes and super stories, love it all great job on this topic bob, really enjoying it, cheese

I do not remember my first globe. But, I wanted to share a story or two about globes that I do actually remember.
The first one is related to the "Colonial" globe (third from left) I was walking around Brimfield, Ma. (big week long antique show) about 12 years ago. The very last day, most everyone was packed up and gone, when I found five weird shaped glass pieces that I thought must have been some ad glass from a pump I didn't know about. I got a great price on all five pieces. Took them home, where they sat for a few years. One day, I called Scott Benjamin and asked if he had a clue what they fit. That's when I found out they were lens' for a globe. He told me about a guy who had reproduced the unusual shaped bodies, and suggested I call him. I did, and was able to get two bodies, in exchange for some $ and the fifth single lens, which was a "Colonial Winter". Up to that point, I hadn't a clue as to what I had. I have sense sold all but a few of my globes, so I can't get a better photo for you. Another story about a globe that I remember, was one day I was walking around the big Pomona auto swap meet, and found a texaco on glass body, with the brass base. I think I paid $75. for it and wondered if I had made a good deal. (This was quite a few years ago) I ran into Dick Bennett a few hours later at the show. He saw the globe, offered me $150. for it, and I sold it, making a killing off the old guy. Good ol' Dick, he seems to always get the last laugh. Those are my stories, and I'm sticking too it.


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Don "oltoydoc" Sherwood
Vintage Gas

AquaElvis sent me this picture of his first globe.




Thanks to those that have posted so far.
Lets see some more!

[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 03-19-2004).]

That was my first globe, I bought it right after I found this site. I got it on ebay, not much of a cool story. I just liked it and bought it.
I later found out about the the oil companies and where they were from. Now I am into the west coast stuff... maybe I'll find an original someday.
Don't think I'll ever do an Imperial pump but who knows?

My first globe....
My mom was reading the paper one night and she told me there was an auction with some pumps, I read the Ad, It said "Tok. 39 and tall glass pump". Since it was at a time I had school, I had my dad (which skipped work) go to the auction, and he told me the short tokheim went for 350$ which I thought was ridiculous. The tall pump, which I deeply wish I had bought more than about anything, was a Mae West Visible that still had good red paint, With a Standard Diesel Globe on a capco body, It also came with a box of Brass Nozzles (about twenty), and some old ad glass and all went for only 950$ !!! The auctioneer said, we got some globes in these boxes were gonna sell all of them together, and in that box was 2 (KYSO) Crown on white capco, and a very nice wide glass body, I kind of hesitate to tell what the price was because I would like to trade one of the Crown's... But I'll tell anyway, 180$ including buyers premium.


[img]http://hometown.aol.com/ethancarman/mypumps/crown[/img]

Here is my first globe. Back in 1999 I had watched my brother collect petro stuff and decided that I was going to start also. I didn't have a clue or any direction as to what I was going to collect. I just knew that globes where going to be on the top of my list. So I started searching E-bay and this globe became my first. I do not know why other than I liked it and I thought it was cheap. Which it wasn't. I gave $350.00 for it but it only had one lens at the time. Then I paid $60.00 for shipping on top of that. I have learned a few things since then.

Sinclair Joe sent in this picture and story.



My first globe came with my first pump. It was the Spring Carlisle in 1992 and my first
time there. I was blown away by the amount of collectibles I saw that weekend. On
Saturday, I made a deal with a guy selling some pumps. I didn't know anything about the
Hobby then, all I knew was I had a new garage and wanted to add some automotive
accessories! Anyway, the reason I choose the pump was because it came with an original globe!
As the years have gone by, I now know that I didn't exactly "Score" a great find, but the price was
fair, and I still enjoy the globe......Sinclair Joe.

These both came around the same time. I bet that for a lot of us one of these was our first original globe. I bought a mint set of black T lenses from Scott Benjamin around 1999 I think. I mounted them in a repop body until I was able to obtain a Hull body to put them in. The Shell clam came off of ebay around the same time. I just love those clams. You can buy them every day for under $400 and they're great globes. Can't have too many clams laying around.

Cheese sent me this picture of his first globe. He has some great plans for it!

thanks bob for posting the photo for me,the hi speed globe [above]was my 1st globe , never thought i would start collecting gas items, but i did. about 9years ago i met a man by the name of pat gilley,he came to my place with jerry keller & bernie kranz, to see what we had in gas items,after selling a few site glasses to the guys. i sat and talked to pat he was telling me if you ever find any hi speed item give me a call, well over the years i found a few things and he bought. and we became friends, i asked him "pat why the love for hi speed item" he repleied, ON the national level hi speed is a small fry in the oil business but made a big presence in northern ohio & southern michigan, and its rare that you find many of their items in collections out side of that area, well i under stood that, by the time i got off the phone with him he had sold me a hi speed globe, as years went by pat passed away. his gas collection went up for sale. to the highest bidders. ,iwas the hi bidder on his can collection & some signs,.although i sell almost every thing i get. i kept the hi speed items for myself, and still collect hi speed items. today my 1st globe, became my sons 1st globe , yes thats right i gave my son the hi speed globe today, and was proud to do so.you guys should have seen his face it was worth a million, he is 11 at age, i hope he stays interested in this awesome hobby. well i could go on with this all night, but going to wrap it up, have a great night and tell the ones you care about you love them. cheese

Great story Cheese! I hope your son stays interested in the Hobby. As the saying goes,
our children are our future, and we need all the help we can get!

right on joe you said it. hey guys lets keep them globes comming. they are just super to see, and the storys are great. cheese

Hey guys . . .

Here's my first 'original' globe. I bought it off of Bob and just got it on Saturday. It's NOS lenses on a modified CAPCO globe (the lenses are designed for a Gill Body). Absolutely mint! I've loved this shield logo for a while now and finally decided to 'bite the bullet' and get me an original globe.



Enjoy.

Later . . .

Jim

[This message has been edited by T-way (edited 03-22-2004).]

alright t-way looks great, and iam sure you will enjoy it through out the year's what does the keeper think about it. cheese

T-Way,
Glad you like the globe! Have you lit it up yet?

Here's Rod's first globe:



I remember seeing Red Crowns in use as late as 1985 or 86 at a Standard station in a little town near here.
Thanks for sharing!
Bob

Dave Parr sent me this picture.



Thats a great globe for a first globe!
Thanks to Dave for submitting this globe.

Just got home and went to post my first globe and wow brain fart............don't have it, sold it years ago...So here is my first Flying A globe. It was a keeper

Craig

Phoenix sent in this picture.

This is my first globe, basic plastic esso. This has led to over 50 more and a big hole in my pocket!!

My good friend Bud sent this picture and story:



One day I watched a man going over my motorcycle so closely I thought he
was intent on stealing it. Turned out he owned several, has a small museum
of them and drove a bulk transport truck for Martin Oil Service during the
same time I worked in their terminal for Texas Eastern pipeline. A short
time later he called me to his place of business where I met another former
Martin employee that I had gauged many a tank with. He had brought a globe,
my new friend already had one like it so it became mine for a very
reasonable price. My friend has all the Martin globes that we know of and I
had my first real globe!

i just want to say thank's for all who posted as i really enjoyed each and every globe & story . bob this is a super topic you came up with. thank's cheese

This has been a great thread and I just want to thank Bob Lastgas for helping so many of us get our stuff on here. Lots of fun, everybody! THANKS!

When I got my first gas pump it had this Skelly ad glass in it.



It came from a Catholic convent farm in the area that was being sold for development. I thought that was some cool history so I wanted to keep it Skelly. It had a crude metal patch in the globe holder and I thought that the Nuns may have not had a globe on it or never replaced the original when it was broken. But when I saw the perfect match globe for that ad glass at a swap meet in Illinois soon afterwards, well, I just had to have it. That's my first globe story and I'm stickin' to it.





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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

Fins n vtwins sent this picture and story. Cool globe! Thanks Mike.



This isn't really my first globe(that was a Sinclair Pennant--another story for another time) but it's the first REAL globe I had "access" to. Came out of the local Cities Service bulk plant that I've dipped into over the years, and nobody seems to know where it came from or anything about it. All I could verify is there is another one floating around out there with a cracked lens. I tried to buy this one several times over a period of years, but it was too high(I thought). The cracked one eluded me more than once, too. Don't know exactly why, but I like it.
On an antique shopping trip to southern KY 4 or 5 years ago, I found the matching porcelain sign, so I knew I'd have to own that globe---no matter what! Finally got a chance to trade into it last year and I doubt I'll ever let it go.
I know it's nothin' special--no graphics or historical relevance, but I think it's cool to have something DIFFERENT that (almost) nobody else has!

Here's a late arrival. Elden bought this globe at Dixie Gas.

I missed this thread last month. So here is my first and only globe. I have had it for about 14 years. My father found two of them in the attic of a building owned by my family. It had been a station years ago.