Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion 1947 prices

Can anyone tell me what the price of a gallon of gas was in 1947?

Nucklehead welcome to Old Gas. I think it was in the high 30s like 38 cents or so.

Thanks gasoildude....I'm putting a dispaly together for a 1947 motorcycle and I was wondering what the price for a gallon was back then. $.30 cent sounds high to me...If memory serves me, I can remember buying gas for the lawn mower for $.27 cent a gallon, that would have been about '72.

Before my time, but 19-23 cents might be closer.
Rex or Jack should know, they're almost
OLDER THAN DIRT !! [or PIE] LOL
DB

------------------
WTB
36B TOPS & VISI GUAGES

Thanks DB...that sounds about right...I'm trying to find out for sure''' I'm putting a little history lesson in the dispaly....In 1947 the minimum wage was $.40 cent an hour....a new car was $1500.....a home $13,000.... agallon of gas? Maybe if someone has some type of reference book or such....or a real good memory...

Try your local libary, for microfilm of 1947 newspapers. Try your local newspaper, see if they have old papers on microfilm. Ask a few OLD TYMERS around where you live, if they remember.
DB

------------------
WTB
36B TOPS & VISI GUAGES

The earliest info I have is March, 1949. If I knew what part of the country you lived in, I would be able to tell you a more exact price, but the average was about .26 for regular and .29 for premium.
Jack Sim

I live in central Va. Jack...but a national average would be great....I've been all over the federal stats page and they give the price for a barrel of crude but not a gallon at the pump......I wonder what the dirt road to paved road ratio was and if any records were kept of that?

The list I have is dated March 1, 1949. The list has about 30 cities on it with their prices. Here is what it has for Richmond, VA.:
Ethyl - 29
Reg. - 27
Dealers Margin - 5.95
Total Taxes - 7.5
Market was listed as Stable at normal level.
All prices are in cents.
Jack Sim

Hey Nuck-If you're still around why don't ya post a pic of you're bike and display in "showcase"! I know I'd like to check it out. Jim

Hi,

Here's prices from a chart for Milwaukee, Wi. at Wadhams / Mobil stations on 3-13-47.

Metro brand
15.8 cents
4.0 State Tax
1.5 Federal Tax
21.3 Total

Mobilgas
17.7 cents
same taxes as above
23.2 Total

Mobilgas Special
19.7
same taxes
25.2

The chart I have lists the total cost by gallon in 3 columns from 1 gal to 20.
20 gallons of Mobilgas Special would cost you $5.04

If you would like a picture of the chart, let me know.

[This message has been edited by wads (edited 02-26-2006).]

Thanks WADS, and thanks to everyone for all your help. Jim T., I tried to post a link to the picture of the bike. I think it will work. Thanks again everyone!

Here is the bike for ya.

Thanks GASOILDUDE!

She's a beut!

Hey yall, here's a couple of links to some data that might come in useful somewhere down the road...carries fuel prices back to 1919....and the other is general historical info back to the turn of the century....Thanks again for all your help

http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2005/fcvt_fotw364.shtml
http://www.census.gov/statab/www/minihs.html

1958 Southern California.
10 gallons of Super Shell was $3.33 or 33.9 per gallon. Regualar Shell was 25.9. We would have constant "gas wars" and would see prices at 19.9 plus we had to give out Green Stamps which could then be redemed for prizes. One of the best stories I remember about the stamps was traveling, probably in 1969 or 70 and hearing the truckers talking on their CB radios as they got close to Las Vegas talking about how many books of stamps they had collected on their cross country trip and how they could use them for "favors" from the ladies of the night in Las Vegas. Stamps started disappearing in the early '70's. I never collected enough stamps to "use" in Las Vegas. Thank God
Ray