Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Hand Made Toy Gas Station

This collector friend I have has a handmade model of a 30s or 40s era gas station. The kind of gas station that was mostly open air with no inside stalls. He said it was a salesman sample, but I really doubt that. I can't think of any reason a salesman would need a big wooden sample building. It could have acted as a display for something I suppose, or it could have just been someone's homemade project. I doubt it was ever made for a kid to play with though because it's in near perfect shape still. It has working lights, a toilet in the bathroom, and I think a couple of pieces of furniture inside and a couple of old time crank type pumps outside. I was thinking I'd really like to have it! It would really be cool if it had a namebrand attached to it somehow, but it's just plain as far as that goes. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? What would it be worth? I have photos if someone can help me post them.

Thanks

Greg

I can help you post the photos Greg...sounds like a cool item...I dont know what it would be worth but if yo ucould get it I say do...email me the photos as attatchments and I will post them for you.

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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA

Here is the lil station...looks cool.



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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA

Greg, I found one of these several years ago at the Carlisle Auto swap meet. The vendor had made them his self, and they were smaller versions of a station that he actually owned. He made furniture for the inside, a bench and an old coke cooler that sat on the porch. I think I paid about $250. for it. Not a salesman sample, but cute. Nice for a little display.

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Don "oltoydoc" Sherwood
Vintage Gas

Thanks Hubba for posting the photos

You never know why and how some things were used. I know in the days before computer animation architects would use models like this to give the client an idea of what a building would look like before they built them….I wish I had the talent to make one myself.

I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A GREAT COPY ARTIST. IF I HAD THAT STATION AND STUDIED IT FOR A WHILE I COULD PROBABLY BUILD ONE TOO....AND IT'S VERY TEMPTING. I DID BUILD ONE OUT OF LEFTOVER FOAM CORE THAT I WILL POST LATER.

THANKS FOR SHARING THE SMALL WORLD!

DOC @ TAG/WEST
drcoke@optonline.net

[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 08-11-2004).]