Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana COTM: Frontier Refining Co.

In 1957 Frontier began its “Family Approved Rest Rooms” campaign. To be approved the stations had to meet “Frontiers 15 rigid codes” and “pass inspections by company officials at unannounced times”. Stations that were approved got these curb signs.

Here is a recent image of the sign. If anyone has one for sale I would love to have one.

Recently Scott “Powerlube” Wright posted this picture on Oldgas.

When I first saw the sign I did not know if it was Frontier or not. It had the “Rarin To Go” slogan but I had never seen a Frontier bunny! I spent some time going through some of the company newsletters I have and found this picture from a February, 1954 company newsletter. Even though it says to “Note the RTG banner” there is nothing more in this newsletter that says what the RTG promotion is. I am missing many of the newsletters before and after this issue so I may never know more than that it is a Frontier sign.



[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 11-05-2006).]

Here ya go Chris. I thought that I would add, what little bit that I know about the Frontier company. This shouldnt take long. his little station stands in Sutherland Nebraska.



Now owned by a produce company, it no longer serves the fuel needing public. The fuel island and lubrication pit, are located just out of frame, on the right side of the photo. Check out the long lost "Keyhole" sign.



Check out the details on this Cottage style station.

Although I dont know the dates of service for this station as a Frontier outlet, I do know that it was once owned by Colorado Petroleum Company, based here in Denver Colorado. They later obtained another station, just down the road, but with the construction of the freeway, that bypassed the town, both of these little stations faded into obscurity. And thats another story for another time.

[This message has been edited by Thunder II (edited 11-05-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Thunder II (edited 11-05-2006).]

R = RARIN'
T = TO
G = GO

??

JUST A HUNCH!

~DOC.TAG.EAST

Thanks for sharing that Jeff. It would be neat to be able to restore that old station. Now who took that keyhole sign! I need one!

Yea Doc. I kind of got that!
It just seems that it is part of some advertising campaign. "Sensational New RTG" "RARIN TO GO WITH RTG" What was RTG? It must have been an additive in their gas or something like that.

Sometime between 1961 and 1963 Frontier would again rename their fuel products. I know that’s a big window but that’s as close as I can narrow it down right now. Frontier began using the names GS-1000 for its gasoline and DFS-1000 for its diesel fuel. There is no more mention of the Bronze, Platinum, or Fleet Fuel Diesel in their advertising. It’s probably not a coincidence that this name change happened during the same period of time that the merger with Beeline occurred. Maybe some of you Utah guys know something about this.




[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]

[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 11-12-2006).]

As I mentioned the diesel fuel was renamed DFS-1000. I don’t have any photos of a DFS-1000 sign but they probably made one. Has anyone ever seen one. I would like one if someone knows where there is one for sale please let me know.



[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 11-12-2006).]

The last sign I have for now is the Ultra-Lube Motor Oil curb sign.

Now how about some globes?

Great job Chris. Here are a couple of Frontier items from a friends collection.



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Scott Shipers
WANTED: Quart Picture Cans
Kansas City, Missouri

Thanks Scott! Great looking pump and that thermometer is real nice too!
Oil cans next!!!

It’s time to show some cans. Sorry to blow past the globes but I really didn’t have much to add. Cans are a different topic that I can add some history about.
To get us started the earliest cans I know of use the names Frontier Lube or Frontier Penn. I have seen a few versions of the Frontier Lube can although I only have one real image to share. I have never seen a Frontier Penn can but do believe they exist because several sources say it exists. Someone must have one or have seen one! Please post a picture if you can. I have seen cans that have the earliest Frontier logo with the rider wearing the plaid shirt. I don’t have photos I can use however so I hope someone else does and will share them.
These images of cans come from a Frontier map. I have never seen any of these cans in person or in a real photo.

This one is from my collection.

The Frontier Heavy Duty Motor Oil can is also one of the companies earlier cans.

Frontier UltraLUBE was introduced in October, 1950.

The back of the can has a picture of Bud Robineau on it.

With the logo change in 1955 they changed the logo on the can and introduced Strato Lube, Econo Lube, S-3 and ATF.

Most of the metal cans came with either flat sides or a ribbed version with a single rib at the top and bottom.

Hi Chris- Great posting on frontier- Have you ever seen a 5 qt can from frontier?? also dont bet on the cans pictured on that map being for real- i have seen many times items on maps that were just an artists dream- thanks don

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Wanted 5 quart cans