It's like anything else. If you don't know about something, you have to invest the time and effort to research and learn. That's why it takes four years to go to college, takes 12 years to become a doctor. If you jump without looking, you are apt to get hurt. When I started collecting Texaco I had to learn all of the different styles of globes, fat t's, skinny t's, black outlined t's etc. Things that were made before 1940, things made after 1930. You get the drift. When I restored my Texaco Ethyl pump, I needed to find the right decal as there were a couple of varieties, etc.
Part of the fun of collecting is learning about the items. And, unfortunately, finding out what are fakes and what are not. I bought a Texaco doorstop that I thought was legit, found out two months later they were fantasy items. Not even reproductions, items that were just made up. Go look on ebay for Texaco marble bags and Scotty Terrier pinbacks. They are fantasy pieces. Some things we learn the easy way and some the hard way.
