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Can someone I.D. the maker of this item and what went in the side pockets? My guess was a spray bottle of windshield wash fluid.

you are correct..

There were dozens of manufacturers of these units... A few had manufacturer’s "plaques" on them but most didn't..

Yes, the "side pockets" (different manufacturers used different designs) were to hold the glass cleaning spray fluid containers... Such containers, were either plastic (1950s and after) or metal 1950s and earlier...

It is my experience that most Stations used the "Ever popular" squeegee with a long handle in a bucket next to the pumps... As the metal sprayers were heavy and fragile... While the plastic sprayers, got lost and damaged easily...

The windshield service box that you have is mid to late 60's. I've seen later ones that were constructed of aluminum.

Does anyone have a pic of the washer bottle that would be kept in the side pocket? Its got a type of mounting flange on the back also.

This one is NOS and tough to find. Cheaper looking repro's are available.

I was a Shell/Phillips/Sunoco (three different stations) dealer in the early 70s and I don't remember a bottle looking like that, as a matter of fact, Shell didn't supply us with anything to clean windshields with.

That probably was something an independent company offered through a catalog or a salesman that went from station selling supplies.

Also, I don't know of any station here in St. Louis that used a squeegee. We sprayed liquid on the windshields and used the paper towels to wipe the windshield.

Jack Sim

Here is an example of a spray bottle like in Dave's image or one without the brush:...




Also images of a metal sprayer, if you aren't familiar with what they look like?.. This one is branded Mobil and has a Pegasus on it:

Interesting, Jack...

Flying A, supplied us with Windshield Stations that included both squeegees and sprayers... Hell, they even wrote a booklet and put out a short movie on the correct way to clean a windshield...

Here is an older copy of the booklet, that sold on Ebay. It is from the 50s:





Chevron, did the same thing... Of course I worked at both Stations during the 60s...

Here is the one I have. Sorry about the poor picture quality.
The paper towels are dispensed from the bottom in a carrier that 'plugs' into the bottom and the lid opens on a stopper hinge to hold it open and there are 2 side 'pockets' that have a chrome or stainless trim piece on each edge.
The only place where the paint has come off some is in the bottom of those pockets.
The second pic has it on the right with the lid propped open and the paper towel carrier is in front of it.
There are drain holes in it so I know this one was not used with a squeegee but the side pockets are water tight and the paint loss seems to be from water so I don't understand why unless it's from standing water from rain.
Your sides look like they held something by a hook type thing like the spray bottles by the pull handle compared to mine that looks like it would fit that bottle in the pockets.

oops, Bob posted while I was composing my post.
I like that training booklet.

That's what I was thinking man-cave, with the rod that's in the side pockets it almost looks like a spray bottles trigger would hook over that rod. And the bottom of those pockets are angled downward and not flat, maybe for drainage purposes?

one dolled up..

Those are nice...here's mine.

The bottle doesn't hang by the trigger.

Here's a couple pictures of a few I did up for customers.

Are those the correct style of spray bottle? Just need to know what to keep my eyes out for.

They are the "correct style".... Someone on the site, had some "Film-Fyter" sprayers for sale a couple of years back... I was able to "snag" one, at the time...

Here are my brass "air assist" sprayer and the plastic "Film-Fyter":



I tried to "recreate as closely as possible, what Tidewater "Flying A" was using in the 1950s... Using their "Customer's Viewpoint" Booklet as a reference Guide. I came pretty close:

OOPS, I was wrong, the side pockets are not water tight on mine.

Very cool examples of these guys!!

I think the one, that is the reason for this topic, would look very cool next to a 60s style chome pump. If it is alum. then it could be polished to a bright shine to match the chrome pump.

Survivor w/ Oil Dip Stick Chart [last date on cars is'53]

All the ones I've seen on here look to be the same design but they are different from mine. Mine has no side pocket that sticks out, my pocket is completely recessed and just has that rod across it to hold the bottle in place I guess.

Yours must have been made in Springfield, Mo.! LOL

LOTS of companies made & sold these to service stations & car dealerships.