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Posted By: buzzy56 Selloil cabinet - Mon Oct 31 2022 12:05 AM
Have a question . I removed the doors and was Examining a sel-oil cabinet i purchased . After removing the doors on one side there are two hooks (brackets) with the hooks facing downward . Circled in yellow in image attached What were they used for ? Debating to Rusteration the cabinet or restore it in Texaco brand . Kinda like the original patina and thought about keeping the finish & add a Sunoco blue 12” decal and age it on both outside doors . Thanks for any insight as i can’t find any images showing the inside of the cabinet in that lower area .

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Posted By: Cold Pizza Re: Selloil cabinet - Mon Oct 31 2022 12:13 AM
Pretty sure those 2 hook into the protective outer doors on both sides,and lock anyone out from trying to steal Oil after they all go home for the night.You need a key to lock them down though,and that's what the T Handle operates in the bottom portion..should be a key way in the center of it.
Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Mon Oct 31 2022 02:21 AM
Thank you . Having never owned one or operated one i needed guidance . Yes the handle is present with the key slot but no key so i will try to find a key and get it operational so I can get them moving . Makes sense . Again Thanks for the quick response . Tomorrow going to start tearing it down to work on it . smile
Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Mon Dec 05 2022 10:59 PM
The mystery unveiled little by little . Initially thought the dark blue paint looked like Sunoco colors . Started to wet sand and removed the signage & the front said “ May we check your oil “ which I really liked as it was hand painted by an artist . Now the reverse of the sign had “Havoline motor oils” stenciled on the inside . Cabinet welded panel had “
Zwiers Texaco service “painted on the inside factory panels both . So I decided to wash with dawn dish soap and a yellow paint line started to show on the edge this got me
excited thinking that yellow is bright and dark just like Sunoco’s scheme dark blue and yellow . So my hopes are up that there are original Sunoco signs underneath that i can
save . At present I have one sprayed with oven cleaner soaking hoping it will lift the top coating of brushed on base paint and the stenciled letter’s that were rattle cans
sprayed lightly over the top . Fingers crossed on this venture hoping for an Sunoco out come & to color sand and clear coat the whole cabinet . Hope this little story didn’t bore You but the hunt and the venture is what it is all about . Have a great day .

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Posted By: Speedracer Re: Selloil cabinet - Tue Dec 06 2022 12:32 AM
Hey Robert, Just for fun I googled Zwier's Texaco and found a few newspaper ads from back in the day. Their grand Opening was October 25, 1962, located at 520 Chicago Drive in Holland, MI. The building or some remnants still exist. I was trying to find an old picture of the station. I've always wanted to try to find a picture of an exact piece in my collection when it was in use back in the day.

-Steve

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Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Tue Dec 06 2022 01:20 AM
Thank you for the research hadn’t really gotten that far just started messing with it this afternoon . You would have thought he would have purchased a new cabinet for his grand opening or painted this one Texaco themed . Interesting history as I purchased it from an elderly man in holland that had his boy handle it and my son that lives down that way pick it up for me . I should ask him if his dad owned that station back then . If I can find his messages I am going to check it out . Thanks again
Posted By: Speedracer Re: Selloil cabinet - Tue Dec 06 2022 01:37 PM
You’re welcome. I’m sure you’ll be able to dig up a lot more.

-Steve
Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Wed Dec 07 2022 08:18 PM
A little stripper is uncovering the original signs (painted ) not porcelain:( lying underneath the brushed and stenciled paint . Trying to save them by slowly removing paint With mild Light stripper , scrape with plastic putty knife then wipe & neutralize surface . Interesting development though . Hope I can save both signs eventually .Found one other like sign a Havoline yellow oil can rack sign posted on old gas years ago . It Appears to be the same . Sure wish they hadn’t brushed the paint on the sign so heavy and then stenciled the same info with hand stencils “ Havoline Motor oils “ over the top . It doesn't make a lot of sense to rid the sign of factory lettering to turn around and hand do it ? Oh well interesting trek . Fun of the hobby

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Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Wed Dec 07 2022 08:20 PM
Suspect original sign underneath .

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Posted By: Speedracer Re: Selloil cabinet - Wed Dec 07 2022 08:22 PM
I would say that’s a match. Tedious work. Keep your eyes peeled for any for sale.
Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Thu Dec 08 2022 12:30 AM
Will do but have never seen this one before. Had blue and red dot before flange but never seen the yellow until mine and the one Tex posted years ago .
Posted By: Rabbitman Re: Selloil cabinet - Thu Dec 08 2022 03:58 PM
I just saw this thread and thought I’d chime in on the first question you posted about the two hook brackets on the lower part of one side. I have one of these I restored several years ago and I think that if you lift up and pull out on those brackets that short lower section of the rack will come out. I guess that was to allows access to the inside for cleaning or maybe more storage. They don’t hook to the outer doors. My cabinet is now on loan to the local museum so I can’t get to it right away to check but I’m pretty sure that’s how it worked. The outer doors are held on by a couple of dogs on the door edges that slide in slots in the cabinet and then the side lock twists to hold it on. Cool cabinets. Good luck uncovering the Havoline sign…GB

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Posted By: J, Micieli Re: Selloil cabinet - Thu Dec 08 2022 04:07 PM
I agree, the access was used for the empties in a pail that sits in bottom of cabinet. The sliding door above key handle is where the attendant would place empty oil cans for disposal.
Posted By: J, Micieli Re: Selloil cabinet - Thu Dec 08 2022 04:09 PM
This is my cabinet.

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Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Fri Dec 09 2022 03:46 AM
Very Nice thanks for the input . Yes the dogs allow you to take out the lower compartment to access the empty storage bin which is present . I was debating restoring it to Texaco to match my pumps but I keep pondering to Rusteration it as I like the wear and tear on it and it’s character shows it’s history . Everything else I always have totally restored except for one mobil pump Rusteration and sold . What’s a funny to do . Decisions decisions , The first sign is coming along . Tough to remove two layers of paint cautiously.

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Posted By: buzzy56 Re: Selloil cabinet - Fri Dec 09 2022 03:56 AM
Exact same model as mine . Looks great restored & very nicely done . Haven’t figured out the door locks yet . Collected keys for years 40 + for the wife’s antiques restores . Found one for the lock handle that turns it and locks the handle but not the doors . Going to tear it down to get to the inside rotary lock mechanism and find out why it is not engaging. Fun little project . Thanks for sharing .
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