Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Specific Ways of telling Repro Globes from Old

guys i have only bought several globes and lenses from trusted sellers so i dont have much experience in lenses telling repro from excellent condition NOS antique. i want to buy more globes but so weary of every one i see. this weekend i will have access to 100s of globes any pointers or specifics for me what to look out for other than measurement. i would love to get into globes but honestly havent had the experience and the trust i can spot a porcelain repro just not lenses can some experienced lens collectors give me some things to look out for. maybe post a picture or two for me. greatly appreciated
Todd Cafferty

Can't really help you on this as I do not buy old lenses. I always hear that the old ones will have more "grit in the frit" when you feel the inside paint.

Really like your avitar though. Have many Gilmore items?

I will give my two cents for what it is worth. You can start by buying the gas globe books from gasglobes.com. Those two books have been a big help. Second a repro should be marked with a date except for companies like mobil a repro will say licensed by mobil at the bottom of the lens. Some repros are not marked and thats where i have problems. Third talking to globe collecters is a big help. Jarvis has helped me a lot when it comes to globes. Lonnie Hopp is another one who definatley knows globes. Thats all i got as I am still new to globes as well. Be careful though globes are addictive.

Good topic!!!!

Like shawn said the books are great! Jim sells them here on the site which will help keep the lights on. The books that Scott Bejamin and Wayne Henderson wrote... those guys did a great job and Scott's site www.gasglobes.com has a link to known repops that are not marked that are not in the book.

Second getting to know a collector who collects globes helps a lot! When I started Bob Drake (lastgas15) helped me a bunch.

Another is when you go to shows to look at originals like when Lonnie Hop sets up, look at how they look... front and back.
When you find one on ebay... say it's a Johnson gasoline and the guy lives in Califonia and says he has had it for 40 years and it came off a gas pump from his dads farm. Well that most likely won't be true as Johnson wasn't on the west coast. That would be like seeing a Seaside gasoline in Indiana. Here but not for 40 years and off a farm. LOL The globe books tell where they are from and some where they where used. Just another tool.

I know this isn't going to help you this weekend but just learning a little every chance you get will keep you from getting burned.
Bright side is globes are a little easier than signs as far as telling the repops i think.

JJ, can't you also tell by how high they bounce once you drop one,LOL? Todd, if you have any now, place them waaaaaaayyyyyy back on their shelves. I don't keep much in the way of glass items once I started talking to JJ by email and here,I have broken a couple ad glass and I think JJ had something to do with it. Not sure how, but I'm sure he had something to do with it. Good hunting in your searches.

An experienced collector bought the repo SHELL AIR sign on ebay ! Couldn't have happened to a Better %^&. LOL

Some of the repo globes have a "whiteish" backside to them. Kind of hard to describe but if you had them side by side you could tell. Look at the backside of your original globes and get a feel for how they look.

Keith

John you just cant win. I got an idea for you though. Just tell everybody that you have insurance on your globes and when you supposedly drop and break one, in reality your upgrading.

thank you so much guys will be ordering book as advised the grit is a great pointer, story from a seller can really tell the truth location etc... Dick iam glad you are pleased about that it always feels good to kick dirt in a friendnemy. and gilmore one of the pieces that dont leave my hands is some of my oilzum and my gilmore sorry. but i will have some amazing stuff in the next month up for everybodys consideration. thanks again guys for the help.
and hello to my neighbors to the north that were supporting oldgas.com with their tee shirts at one of the best car show swap meets that i have been to at the Bay State Antique Auto Club amazing cars 1910 cadillac locomobile hupmobile open wheeled racers have some great pics will post in another forum soon.
Todd Cafferty

Wasn't looking to BUY your Gilmore, just wondered if you had many Gilmore items. Always nice to talk to/meet another collector.

SORRY gilmore i read your post quickly and misunderstood it is always nice to talk to other collectors, obviously thanks to oldgas.com we can do this. yes i do have more gilmore pieces no globes or pumps several signs including avitar or keyhole blue green graphic drums an old die cut porcelain lion that stood on top of canopy if you have any interesting pics always happy to share SORRY for the misunderstanding about selling and will not forget in the future that you are not interested in buying have a great week all.
TJ

No problem TJ. Not that I wouldn't be interested in buying anything- wouldn't make an offer though when you weren't offering. Not my style. I was just curious about/liked your avitar.

I had a thread going awhile back, showing some of the stuff I have... GILMORETOWN ... feel free to post pics of your stuff or email them directly to me if you'd like. Would love to see what you have. Always like seeing pics of stations and race cars... they are my addiction.

JR (gilmorej@comcast.net)