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THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND RARE MARATHON SIGN. THERE IS 9 DAYS LEFT OF BIDDING. THE ITEM NUMBER IS 230785813835 I HAVE ATTACHED A PIC BUT THERE ARE MORE PICS ON EBAY. TAKE A LOOK YOU DONT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE.

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230785813835

RARE 1920s MARATHON GASOLINE & OIL TIN SIGN, METAL SIGN, TRANSCONTINENTAL OIL

I have this Rare One of a Kind 1922 Marathon Gas & Oil Sign. 36" x 70". This is an Amazing Sign and Next to impossible to find. PM for more info.

PM sent!

This was forseen in the oldgas crystal ball.

Wow the sign is off and running. Passing on a little info. Ive come across another great old sign. Its a large 2 sided porcealien service station sign on wheels that used to get rolled out in the mornings. More informtion to come. The Marathon sign is an awesome sign and wish I could have seen it in its prime.

Good luck. "believed to be the only one of its kind." that's a broad statement without any real basis.

LOL well lets see someone produce another one!!!

The real basis comes from the countless hours of research and phone calls taken about this sign and several collectors who have well over a combined 50 years of collecting. I kinda wish there was another one we could find so that we had something to compare it to. I might be a ditsy blond but defiantly not stupid.

Just because you researched this on the internet and could not come up with another does not mean that there is not another one like it. I highly doubt that Marathon only made that ONE sign for the HUNDREDS of stations that they had in that era. For all anybody knows, there is a collector somewhere that has a pile of them.

To state that something is one of a kind is a bold statement, period. Saying that it is the only one you could find in a two week period of searching the internet is probably a more accurate description.

definitely

Well guess I cant really argue with tht but like I said already find another one like it. From the information I recieved from a source within what is now Marathon Petroleum most of these signs were destroyed and recycled for other uses. There very well could be a collector out there with a secret room way underground that has stockpiled all the old Marathon Signs from this time period and he is just waiting to jump out and say SURPRISE but thats highly doubtful.

Then why are you?

I would venture to say that there are far more collectors that are NOT on the internet than there are that ARE on the internet. I cant tell you how many collectors I have met at various shows that do not go on the internet at all. Many of them have HUGE collections.

How do you know that one of these collectors does not have that sign?

Its real simple. I have being doing research for the past 15 years and make very good living by doing it. Trust me I wouldn't be saying what Im saying if there was such a big doubt but there is not. Prove me wrong otherwise. I realize there are collectors out there that never get on the internet and I'm sure have some wonderful collections. However I don't agree with you about one thing, I dont believe that there are more collectors not on the internet than that are. What you may not be taking into consideration is that a collector doesn't need to be online for there collections to end up there. Anytime someone uploads a picture, uses a word, face, or MECA its on the web. So its real easy for non-computer using people to end up on the internet with out ever touching a keyboard. So how do I know one of these collectors doesnt have this sign, well I dont but ask yourself the same question how do you know they do? I stand behind what Im saying and will say it just like I said it in the listing on eBay. This sign is believed to be the only one of its kind and no other example has been found that anyone can prove up to this point. Im sure many of the speculators will try to prove me wrong and I encourage anyone with knowledge of this exact sign to bring another one forward. As you said it 100's of these where probably made. So where are they then? Crazy to believe someone has gone around picking them and are keeping them in hiding.

some people just don't have a clue.

$250. shipping??? that will keep several serious buyers away.

Betting the sign won't top 1600. condition will keep most serious buyers away also.

Since google was invented now every one thinks they are educated and if they can't find it on a seach it MUST be RARE!!!

If you were to have read the complete posting you would have noticed that the shipping was based on the furthest city from my location and that for most people it will be much cheaper. What I think most people dont know is that even though the sign only weighs about 30 pounds or so, because of the size the actually billing weight changes. There are additional charges because of that and I have no control of that. Also the insurance on this sign alone is going to be 45.00 also not set by myself. I also very clearly stated that any remaining balance would be returned to the buyer. Clueless? Im well aware of what shipping rates are and will not make a dime on shipping. What you may also be clueless about is that in order for a transaction to be protected through paypal for both the buyer and seller the seller most use a priority or ups service, it has to be insured, and the seller most also purchase both delivery conformation and a signature is required as well. All those are additional services that are additional charges. If you want to see how clueless I am why dont you check it for yourself. I only ship out around 250 packages a month so Im sure I have no clue what Im doing. There is no way to figure out the actual shipping cost until you have a zip code and I dont do calculated shipping on eBay cause its never correct for items of this nature. Most serious buyers will most likely actually read the complete listing instead of just glancing at it like you obviously did.

and not to mention an expert!

It's a VERY rare sign.

She's obviously excited about it. She's started three threads about it, listed it twice on ebay, and talked with the president of Marathon about it.

Let her have fun with the whole process.

Condition is going to hold this one back though from some serious money.

Still BURNS my *** that sellers have the ***** [or Lack of *****] to Charge Buyer for the Shipping Insurance [whether included in shipping or added to], when they have NO CONTROL over how shoddy/cheap a seller will package something, AND then state that Buyer has to File the Claim!

Picture below is of a 1qt can I received in a Padded Envelope!

I know noreservegirl didn't post this to get critiqued and I passed judgment before I read her eBay auction, but after reading it I hope she takes all the constructive criticism to heart. Personally, I couldn't even read the whole ad continuously as I felt like I was trapped in a room getting sold a timeshare.

"The wait is over"
"The only time this will be offered"
"This is an amazing opportunity"
"This is an extremely rare Transcontinental Oil Co.(Marathon Oil) sign and believed to be the only one of its kind"
"The design and writing style on this just blows me away"
"a real treasure to find"
"looks amazing"
"passionate about his work"
"This is going to be an exciting ride!!"

Sorry noreservegirl, but you may want to think about toning down the jubilation over allowing others the chance to purchase the sign.
As Joe says, "just the facts ma'am".

Yes I am very excited about it Ohio and I in no way want to offend anyone. Everyone has a right to there opinion for sure and I have no problem with that but there are several who are trying to down play the sign. Yes it does have some condition issues that will hold it back. I just cant sit back and watch anyone post things and try to think I dont know what Im doing. I didnt have any clue about the sign itself and without the help of some site members I wouldnt know half as much as I do now and Im thankful for that. I am a top rated power seller for a reason. I got there by being honest, describing my listings as accurate as I can, taking good clear pictures and being very clear about the terms of sale and etc, I also go out of my way to insure that my shipping is done properly and that the rates are the actual charge meaning cost of shipping and any materials needed to insure the items is packaged properly. I do expect people to bid accordingly and most def expectt them to read the listing completely through. I dont hide anything and I dont mis lead my buyers because I dont want to have to go through a return process for anything and I want my buyers to feel like they got a deal. What I wont do is allow anyone to insult my intelligence without defending myself. This is fun, exciting, and has all the suspense of a great treasure hunt. Just want everyone to know Im not trying to sound insulting so I hope no one is offended.

Yea that is a little overboard with the wording. As I did go back and read it again this time not being n a caffene high at 3am and have to say it is a how should I put it redundant. When I found the sign I really didnt expect any attention over it at all.

I totally understand your excitement, I guess what a few of us were trying to get thru is although rare it is definately not a One of a Kind as stations all had signs. Good Luck with the sale.

I know how you feel DBennett about not having any control over how a seller packages your winning item and have seen for myself as a buyer some pretty crappy packaging. The rules of the game have to apply to evryone involved. I recently just changed my policy about this issue after having multiple issues with fraud overseas and being stuck with nothing in the end because I had a return policy. Unfortunatly there are bad buyers and sellers. I do adjust my terms for buyers who have a positive buying record and will always offer refunds when something arrives broken after I recieve the item back. One of the problems is that you can not recieve negative feedback as a buyer even if you dont pay or are a scammer or for ny reson ebay just doesnt have negative feedback for buyers. I have not once had an issue with domistic buyers regarding shipping. Not saying in the thousands of packages over the years my team and I have sent nothing as gotten damaged but it amounts to only about 2% at most. There is a lot more cost invloved in shipping than people take into consideration. And one more thing your right that oil can should have never been sent like that but Ive seen worse.

LOL now thats funny you must be talking from experience!

Where on your auction page does it say/have your Power Seller status?

ebay is giving away Gold Stars [Power Seller Ribbons] like they do in elementary school!
In the last couple of weeks WE have been told how hard it is to reach that Status & both have had less than 700 items in sales!

Exactly!!! You got it!! Maybe you should try bing next time or if you have an iphone ask siri how rare your sign is....she can even help you with a google search.

Richard Amistadi has one listed in his book, so that means that he has owned one at some time or another and he values a real good one at $900 to $2000 and his valuations are usually high. We know yours isn't the only one and I'm sure there are others but you do have a fairly rare sign in below average condition. What it will bring on ebay is anyones guess!! Good luck with it!

I was thinking the starting bid was more than the sign is worth. Only so many collectors wiling to pony up for a sign that is in such horrible condition

Exactly what I was thinking...I was quite surprised it got a bid.

You guys never got the important concept across to her that condition trumps rareity.

Maybe some decorators will step up and go for it's "Pitina"...because it's got plenty of that!

Jim

its "Patina"

O I see Ive missed out on the fun and smack talking. Now if you can stop playing grab ***** for a second with each other and put the pom poms down we can get back to business. For the one who wasnt even smart enough to operate eBay to see clear as day POWER SELLER right across the top I really cant help you out to much because I would have to wake up my 1st grader to have to explain it to you so you could understand. The sad part about it all is Im not even a collector of signs like the other 2 cheerleaders and I have a better sign than both of them put together, now thats bad. Another thing is you weren't saying that the other day when you were kissing my butt and low balling me with your 400 dollar offers. The second sad thing about it is that Ive only been studying signs for 2 weeks and know more than both of you. The most important FACT of it all is that neither one of you can prove there is another sign which just stregnths my case even more. You say its rare, yes its rare but so is a 1969 Camaro SS with Matching numbers. At least I would be able to prove there is another one. I dont argue the fact that many of these where made however if its just rare show me another one. The fact is you cant and I know you been looking and calling everyone you know all day so you could prove the stupid blond wrong. Believe me I can make you look even more like your talking from your butt if you would like. Ive said this more than once that I wish someone would produce another one so we had something to compare it to. However show me any sign in your collection and I will show you another one just like it. Being one of a kind and the only one known to excist means just that. It doesnt mean the only one ever made nor do I claim that at all. What I have said is the same thing, Its a one of a kind and believe to be the only one that is left to exist not the only one ever made. The only reason why your bringing it down is because you cant afford it and if you cant play your going to take your ball and go home. Sorry if you guys cant take what your dishing out but the least I could do is give it right back. I will be awaiting your kind response. LOL

Thank You KZ...I really wish there was spellcheck on this site (sight? )....Really!

Jim

damn did you just google that??

Wow!Old washed out tin sign.This is ridiculous.Cool but not a gold mine!Really?

my GUESS... $750.00 max !

Exactly not a million dollar sign by any means just a sign that happened to survive a long time. Is it cool? yes, is it unique? yes, does it have condition issues, yes? Who knows how much this thing will bring? No one but the last guy bidding!

Marathon Timed Gasoline was a 70 octane gas introduced in 1934.

I did come across tht information as well and it very well could be just doesnt explain the '22 thats embossed on the sign. I also discovered that Ohio Oil had been involved in numerous successful oil production ventures and found they needed even more retail outlets for their products. In 1930 Ohio Oil purchased Transcontinental Oil, a refiner/marketer that had marketed gasoline under the trademark, Marathon, the Pheidippides
(Greek Runner) trademark and the Best in the long run slogan since 1920. They had acquired the brand from a Pittsburgh operation, Riverside Oil Company that we believe to be a forerunner of Republic Oil Company. Transcontinental sold gasoline under the Marathon name across the Midwest and South. In saying that I believe that this sign was actually a Trancontinintal Sign which was sold in 1930 so not sure of the explanation of that. I dont think it had the same meaning but of coursr I could be wrong.Either way it goes Im just ready for this sign to be in the hands of someone else. I like it but it sure has struck up quite the debate. Thanks for the info becuase your right the New Timmed Gasoline Was introduced in the 30s.

noreservegirl

how would you feel if we started babbling about who should die in the next twilight movie or who slept with who on beverly 90201. you would probably tell us to shut up???

anyone looking at your sign and willing to spend money on it, already knows more about the sign than you. next time you find an unusual item, just list it on ebay for the world to see. trust me, you dont have to know what you are selling to get its close retail value on ebay. after all, thats all that matters to you....never leave a penny on the table. hope this wringer you put yourself through is worth it

next time i would not pretend to be all knowing about your item, as you are an amateur on a forum filled with educated people. you have already burned the bridges of many potential buyers already. best remedy for you is to be quiet and go away. let the sign sell itself. you have taken plenty of good pictures.

Did you read this???

What is that??? Another does exist?? Are you going to edit your ebay ad? I wouldnt want to see you lose your "Powerseller" status. That rating is hard to get!!!

BTW.. Page 33 of Amistadi's Antique Advertising book.

Thank you and God Bless "thermoman" and "Ryan Underthun" for your words of wisdom and TRUTH.

This whole deal reminds me of Suzie's snafu with the Sunset Gasoline sign...

Amen. I thought the same thing when I started reading her posts... I agree with thermoman to just list it on Feebay and let it ride.

[quote=noreservegirlTranscontinental sold gasoline under the Marathon name across the Midwest and South. In saying that I believe that this sign was actually a Trancontinintal Sign which was sold in 1930 so not sure of the explanation of that.[/quote]

It is a Transcontinetal sign.

Also...IMO....Amistadi has this sign way under valued in his book. This sign in a 9 or 10 condition would be double his price....easily.

noreserve girl has certainly given all of us some free entertainment..it's been fun reading. A little passion and excitement never hurt anybody.

its not the same sign thats in his book.

Exactly! its not the same sign has the one on pg 33, which just proves even more that the so called "EXPERT" once again doesnt know whats hes talking about. Yea I like twilight and the sad part for Thermoman is that on my worst day I could be watching twilight, do my shipping, list 20 items to eBay, return phone calls, manage employees and still have time to once again show you how much you really dont know and all this before he even wakes up. Ryan if your going to quote a page number at least know what the hell your talking about(How Embarrassing) Its the same thing as yesterday, some of you guys don't like the fact that a 5'6' 125lbs blond female can keep up with you and give you a run for your money. This isn't my first rodeo and believe me I'm used to the ***** talking and down playing but you not once have proved me wrong about anything I have said. Its not my fault that instead of turning over rocks looking for the next treasure you 2 would rather play grab ***** and cheer-lead for each other. I can guarantee that you have no chance to #1 Out Smart Me, #2 Out Think me and #3 there is not a chance in hell you could compete with me in put downs or insults, I come from a large Italian Family and being the only girl with 6 Brothers there isn't anything you could say that would hurt my feelings. I wasn't even going to say a word today but just couldn't keep my mouth shut and you leave yourself open like you did. We all know that nothing I say is going to hurt that sign. If you dont want to bid then dont! Nobody is pulling your strings. There are over 100 million active users on eBay and it only takes two of them to make an auction. As far as you calling it "FEEBAY" that tells me you either got kicked off or you had no clue what you were doing and lost your ***** as a seller. Give me a break like Im going to list something and just say "OLD UGLY SIGN" bid if you want to. Of course you want people to list like that so you can continue to underpay and run game on people. So now that your running home with your tails between your legs let me know when you actually want to shut-up long enough to learn something cause its obvious you talk to much and I need a another intern to fetch my coffee in the mornings!

The sign is defiantly not the same. I never proclaimed to be an Expert, if you can find where I said that, quote it. There only are a hand full of people that I would consider an expert. Its not the first time I have been wrong and certainly will not be the last.

I still stand my my statement that I HIGHLY doubt that the sign in question is the only one in existence due to your countless hours of searching the inter-web.

Nobody here is trying to outsmart, out think, or compete with you. Get over yourself already.

Someone posted a action figure of fellow kicking a dead horse in another highly contested post.

BRING ON THE HORSE.!

Not once have I said anything until provoked too. I am not in any way even trying to compete or think its some competition.. I joined this site after a friend of mine who collects oil cans told me about after we uncovered the sign. Its just networking and building up relationships with collectors and like minded people. You will have to forgive me if I'm a little over passionate about all this but this is my whole life. I have built a very successful business out of what is called "picking". I work 14hour days most of the time and I am constantly looking to uncover or discover the next american treasure. Of course I get excited when something like this sign turns up because believe me you spend thousands and flip over a lot of rocks in-between. I wish it was really like all the new TV shows but in reality its not at all. We all know that 80-90% of the time its the lower end things that keep you going and the money coming in. When you do find something its rare but again not unique. I like the scale bottle collectors use it ranges from common to Unique(being only 5 known to exist). Rare falls somewhere in the middle. Rare to me is still 50-100 known to exist. So finding rare things is really not that hard. Is the sign the only one left that really exist? Who Knows! However, I also stand behind what I have said. Even if its not the only one, it would still fall in the unique category but until another one turns up Im not going to believe otherwise. I have spoke with many people over the last couple weeks regarding this sign from collectors to executives and have done my best to prove my myself wrong because believe me I dont want to be misleading or overstating anything. In this business you get to where I am by having a good reputation and a person of your word. Like most any other field or profession its a male dominated thing. Nothing has ever been given to me my whole entire life i was raised to earn everything by dedication, passion and plain old hard work. So if I come across as snobby or something that's not the case. Im not full of myself or think Im right all the time, Im not a know it all and dont claim to be but dont insult my intelligence or try to in so many words make me look stupid. On my listing I dont claim it to be the only one left because there could be one in mint condition under a bail of hay waiting for someone to find it and I sure wish they would just not until after mine sells. LOL just kidding. Its all in fun too. I could not ask for a better life for myself and dont want to come across like Im some stuck up bitch because Im really just average and laid back. At the end of the day people like us are all the same. "American Treasure Hunters"!

SO,
does anyone else have a Better Blond Joke/Story?

O I cant wait to hear these? LOL

If you had a one of a kind sign, no one would give you the dignity of knowing it!! You have ruined your chance for that. You have "soured" that sign!

noreservegirl,

I think you have proven yourself well in your posts, I HONESTLY think you would be a PERFECT fit on American Pickers. I urge you to send your resume' to them and include a transcript of this forum thread and I think you will have a good shot. Good luck...you go girl!!!

Jim

New members to this site need to realize that there are many Petroleum collectors who do not post on the site or even are on the intranet; many of these collectors are older and have amassed great collections with many rare items. Due to the rarity of these pieces pictures have not been posted to prevent repops from being created. Due to the amount of art work and set up time by the sign company that printed the sign back in the 20’s or 30’s everyone can be rest assured that there was more than one of these signs produced.

I have followed this site for quite some time now, decided finally to become a member, now all people do it argue and be childish about a sign that a person is selling that not reproduction, that is in fact rare, that none of you actually own more than likely.

Why are you people talking about 90201 and Twilight, get a life and leave people alone, if you don't want to bid on it all you have to do is nothing! If you think that her description is not up to how you would do it, all you have to do is still nothing, but people would rather ***** and moan and pretend they will stop something.

There is no information being passed her, like another member said, all this is is entertaining. This site has gone way way way done hill due to its members and everyone being an expert at everything, including how to word your e-bay page, not quite the petro talk anymore on here.

Some highly intelligent person who said "Google" is not a good way to research things. May be the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If it is known, the internet will have it. if it doesn't, that is very uncommon. This is in a away one of a kind. She showed you hers, and no one can show them theirs.

Sign already has a bid, so looks like everyone can ***** and see what its worth in current world.

[quote=FF87[not quite the petro talk anymore on here[/quote];
This site use to be just Petrolania & except for your posting of Mobil China For Sale, all other posting have been to sell Ice Cream/Soda Pop signs!

I appreciate everyone comments and thread posts even the ones who criticize cause I really can take it. I want everyone to know that I think the world of collectors and enthusiast alike. We are all passionate people otherwise we wouldn't be standing in long lines, sitting at auctions for countless hours for that one item that someone out bids us on, the early mornings to hit the yard sales and flea markets and the late nights at work so we could feed the addiction that boils inside of us all. I dont take to much personal any more in this business because I really am past the prove my self stage and my actions speak way more than my words. I want to hear what everyones real predictions on the sign are. Lets just play low-high because I know the ones waiting to bid on it surely dont want to say. God am I glad I diddt send this thing off to have it restored like I do other things like Coke Machines and Stuff. That would have been really bad.

This is enough.