Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Pennzoil Bell

never seen the 42" size in this sign, nice...

Little more confusion for you. This is a red Bell sign off a bottle rack. Has to date way back.

Hi! I've enjoyed all the posts in this thread and am hoping somebody has some insight on this porcelain sign of mine. It's the oval popsicle in it's original frame measuring 32" X 19". I've tried for about 2 years to come up with data on when this was made but have a big goose egg to show for my efforts! It has many unique characteristics that I've never seen on an oval Pennzoil before. They are: 1) The 100% pure Pennsylvania and the Safe Lubrication are horizontal and do not curve with the perimeter of the sign. 2) A true "full bell" with no separation between the lettering and the red of the bell. 3) The P and the O in Pennzoil are round without the normal straight sides with chamfered corners. 4) There's no "registered" symbol after the Property of the Pennzoil Co. written below the bell.
Any help would surely be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

^^^ I have never seen that exact Pennzoil sign..

Timeandabottle,
That is just a rare bird I would have to guess.

Not a ton of help, but here is a rectangular sign with round O & P. Maybe the car and/or pumps can date this feature a bit. Probably 20's.

Cool thing about this rectangular curb sign is it spins in the wind. Or at least that's what it looks like.

Thanks Steve, my best luck has been looking at old advertisements. I've found several bells that look very similar in those adds but no rounded P's and O's like those shown in your picture! That one in scarce but always has the round o and p. Still can't find an add or picture anywhere like this one though! Another wrinkle in the past life of Pennzoil and the multiple forms they used!

Found a 2 pics with the exact sign with the straight text. Maybe someone can date this first pic for us?

This is awesome Steve! Where did you find the picture?! I'm excited now because those pumps and cars are early which means the sign is early! You are da man! Hopefully after I respond somebody will be able to date the old cars. You made my day--THANKS!!!

Is this a 1929 Hudson Model L or Super 6?

I notice on the second photo that the wheels are spokes, and the rear door is a suicide door. Nice 35 cents quart glass oil bottles. Those pumps look like an early 1920's Hayes, possibly a Butler model 61.

there's one in this picture of CTO..

Scott,
Dont put much thought into the second picture. I put that in there just to show you that there are others out there. Maybe I'm wrong, but something makes me believe that is a modern staged picture of someones collection and not an authentic photo.
I dont recall where I got the pictures. Somewhere on the net.

Thanks Steve and Randy! You wouldn't believe how many hours I've spent trying to find an old photo showing that type of sign. Verification of dating a piece is a wonderful feeling and I'm all giddy thanks to you guys!

Pumps are Neither HAYES or BUTLER.
Pump behind sign in Steve's last pictures is a B & D #54/56 made from 1915 thru 1928.
UNION OIL adopted the 76 in Late 1931 & did a large Promotion in January 1932.

Apparantly that was the Octane rating of their gasoline at the time also. Thanks to all again, I can now close the issue as to the approximate age of that particular sign. It's been a challenge for a novice such as myself and I couldn't have done it without the wonderful help from guys like you on this site!