Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana globes destroyed during WWII?

Hi Everyone, especially Dwaine and Jim at www.vintage-logos.com...

While visiting your site, I read that during the west coast blackouts, many globes were destroyed. I am a history junkie as well as a pump junkie and would love to know some more info on this subject from anyone who has it.

Thanks, Mobilmel

I've never heard from operators or owners, that globes were destroyed during the war. They were told by the goverment to turn out ALL lights on the west coast. Nothing was said about destroying the globes [that were used for adv. during the daylight hours.
The only times that I heard about destroying globes, was during RE-BRANDING or RE-IMAGING of the station.
Dick

Hi, Mobilmel You are right there was someone who wrote in not long ago that did say something about them breaking the globes during the dark out of the war. I would also like to know more if this is true. Any one else heard any different?
Don

I always had trouble with that story. It doesn't make any sense that owners or anyone else would run out with a hammer and start wildly smashing the globes to comply with the blackout requirement when a simple flip of the switch would accomplish the same thing. Or they could simply unscrew the bulb.

Here's the story as it was told to me by my old friend Joe Bushalecci, 95 years old , a Seaside Distributor from 1942 - 1972. in the city of Stockton Ca. he also worked for Richfield and Rio Grande for a short time before that. As I got to no this old jobber about 9 years back , we were talking about globes, how there don't seem to be any early ones. he goes into his garage and comes out with two Seaside globes with only one lens each, a silver Gull and a Ethyl. says well the Civil defense took care of these . I ask about the comment.
He says during the war, the government had the towns and cities place sirens on water tower for black outs and bombing raids , they the city had curtain nights they used for this, but the state and federal government would come in and have their drills. he said, on those nights they didn't no about the non schedule drills, he would leave his globes and night lights on at the bulk plant, station, when the siren would go off everyone would have to take cover. or they would detain you and question you about where you were going . The Checkers, as he called them would ride around in jeeps from the army with helmets and arm bands on, any lights that was left on they would break them out , globes included. they, the civil defense had more authority then the local law officers. according to him, That's why the globes on the West Coast are few. just a story. you can believe it or not.



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Dwaine
www.vintage-logos.com

Dwaine,
Thanks for the detailed explanation. It makes more sense now.
Bob

Can we try those dirty lil globe smashers for gas treason?

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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA

I've had globes that were painted black during the war,again seems strange not to just take the bulb out,I soaked mine in brake fluid to reveal them mint underneath!

Thanks for the story Dwaine. I always wondered why there are so few remnants of early west coast companies, perhaps this is one reason why. Mobilmel