Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana My Saturday!

I must start by saying that this was all possible with the help of both my Dad and my son along with my wife for understanding my madness! As some of you know, my resources are limited and opportunity doesn't knock often. About 6 months ago my Dad who's an over the road truck driver mentioned a sign that he's passed by many times along I-80 in PA. He tells me it's abandoned from a food/service station that no longer exists and that the state is planning on bulldozing the area for bigger ramps at the exit. It's kind of a no mans land. At first I wasn't quick to jump on it because it is more modern being plastic. Then I noticed a sign on day when he visited while we were in the car and he tells me the sign in question is the same one peaking my interest. Then he tells me someone already removed one of the lenses and that was my sign to get busy. I'd never seen the thing mind you so based only on my fathers description I had to prepare a game plan and prepare for any situation. Car loaded with everything from a chainsaw to wrenches, chisels, screw drivers--even an axe! I grabbed my son and off we went. It wasn't the easiest to locate considering it's location and the amount of growth around it. Found it we did and to work we went. God love 'em, my father (knowing we were getting it that day) calls me about every 15 minutes and usually when it was least convenient! I think he was just as excited about this as I was. After nearly an hour and a half of climbing, hanging on for dear life while working with the other hand and answering my phone in between, it finally came down. My son was the keeper of the events with the camera and very helpful with throwing up tools to carrying it out and to the car. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as we enjoyed making memories with our BIG score. By the way, I don't have the space at home so it is proudly on display in my brother-in-laws sand blasting business.

The ride home was entertaining with looks from everyone along the way and through some deep amish country on back country roads we had 2 frights with a snapped rope and a major shift. We made it though and for the price of 3 or 4 gallons of gas it was well worth it! Thanks for sharing our day........Dave

I HAVE 2 OF THE SAME SIGN BUT WITHOUT THE TEXACO ON THE BOTTOM...THINK THEY ARE 75" SQUARE. YOURS LOOK ABOUT 18" TALLER? PLUS I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW A BIG SIGN WOULD DO ON THE ROOF OF MY OWN PT CRUISER AS WELL. IT'S ALL IN THE MODERATE SPEED AND TIE-DOWN PROCESS. HA! I WAS ON I-80 MYSELF THIS MORNING BUT IN JERSEY!

~DOC

GREAT story Dave. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it all went well for you.

Hope no big wigs from Texaco visit this site, you just documented yourself stealing. Made easy work for the Lawyers.

JUST JOKING No hate emails please!!!

Great story Dave glad you saved something from being destroyed & lost forever

There is a sign co 1/4 ml from me that has plastic signs all the time ......I have tried to get them but they all are recycled.
Shell, Texaco etc, all get ground up.
ARG !!!! The worst part is I know them good, I get my aluminum bent there, still no signage.
I stick to crawling under buildings.....it's hard to fall upwards.

Theft is theft.