Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion What is the future of the hobby?

Now this question recently came up on another forum that I visit, but they were asking about membership. I'm wondering though, WHERE this hobby is going....I'll offer a few observations, but I'd like to hear some other input....
As far as collecting the items that we collect, try to keep in mind....

Gas pumps... With all the different type of pumps, such as curbsides & previsibles, visables, clockfaces, computer pumps, (both the Art Deco style 36Bs & Wayne 60s, and the smooth body pumps, like the Tokheim 39 & G&B 96)..... What do todasy pumps have to offer? Besides those irritating credit card readers?

Cans... The old, multi colored, graphic cans. made of metal, so they could be used for other purposes when they were empty. 5 quart cans, grease cans... Today we have plastic quarts & gallons, with paper labels, that soon fade and peel off. Grease comes in little cardboard tubes, that get tossed when empty.

Gimmies... Service Stations had all sorts of stuff for their customers. S&P Shakers, Gas tank sticks, (Thank you Bob Richards) wallet and desk calenders, ash trays & matches (Probably not safe at a gas station) Trash bags, which were hung from the vent knobs. (Who remembers vent knobs?) just to name a few....

Station attendants... Snappy lookin' clean cut guys, who smiled and asked "Fill 'er up?"... Remember those guys? They'd check the oil and tire pressure, wash the windows. And if something needed to be tightened, they probably had a screw driver in their pocket for that too...

But most recently I noticed, and this is what prompted me about this..... Maps... With the new GPS Systems, Onstar, Garmin and others, whats going to happen to all the neat things that we love, and loved, about our hobby?

Any thoughts?

Thunder I will give a few thoughts since I go to a lot shows and conduct several auctions a year.

Gas Pumps-visible & pre-visible or curb pumps are dieing unless they are rare or have great aesthetic value. One more thing about these pumps is that they do not look good sitting next to a 1950's or 1960's car. People with these cars want clock face and computing pumps. The same pumps that filled the cars up.

Cans are all about graphics and rarity. I think that cans are coming back.

Gimmmies unless rare are going no where. Collect them because you love them not because they are going up in value.

Dont have a opinion on Station Attendants.

I think maps are just like gimmies.

On the rest of the hobby like signs and globes, I have new and more people registering for my auction all the time. I heard people saying that there are no new people in this hobby. I disagree with this, I have had over 300 people register online for every auction. This has been the case for the last six months.

Also if you notice that any auctioneer that comes across a sign puts it in their ads no matter how common or rare it is. The reason is that there is a demand for the them. A few years ago you never seen a sign in an ad unless it was for an advertising auction.

Just a few random thoughts.

Dan

They will continue making phone books for as long as they can sell space in the Yellow pages. There never was any money in printing White pages.

Judging by the steady increase in the number of new members here on Shop Talk, I'd say the future is strong. Popularity and value of items will always vary with time.

Take a look at the collector age poll we had in February 2011 to see the even spread of ages:

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=233509

That is why I'm keeping my old phone book for the white pages!!

Randy

We need more young people like ME! I think a lot of new people are coming into the hobby to make money. Once these fad shows go away we will see the people that are sticking with the hobby. To be honest, there are very few people I know my age into gas stuff. The rare will always be rare. The membership will correspond with what is being collected.

Sorry gentlemen, but I think that this thread is staring to drift. I'm not asking about the new collectors, or where the market is now, I'm asking about, what will be collectable in the future.

Any thoughts?

hmmmm....Pumps with tv's built into them!!

Already out there....

The title of this thread is "What is the future of the hobby?" The new collectors ARE the future of this hobby. Without them, it will disappear.

what will be collectible is the very items that we have no idea about. THAT is what always makes an item collectible, things that are discarded. If we think something will be collectible and we all start saving them now, Guess What?, IT WILL NOT BE COLLECTIBLE because of that very reason, (they were saved)

Like anything, I think people will find what they remember most when they fill up with gas. As with each generation that comes into the hobby they will invariably seek what was the norm for THEM. So the pumps of today with all the bells and whistles will be what they relate to and collect in the future. Today is the day of the convenience store so all the advertising for everything from lottery tickets to food and cigarettes along with soda and banners although plastic will probably find a place. Granted, you may not find much interest in these things of today, but not many people gave much thought of the things of yesterday at the time either.......hence why we seek them out today. Plastic signs and canopy signs are starting to get reasonable money. It's just they're time because the "plastic generation" is going to remember that as "back in the day".

I stated... "Now this question recently came up on another forum that I visit, but they were asking about membership."

I'm all for new members. I'm asking about TODAY. Is anything that we have TODAY, going to be collectable? And what IS is available TODAY? GPS systems have pretty much eliminated maps, so what will we have to collect?

Not sure about today's products, which one's will become collectible.

But, I do believe the hobby will be a strong winner for the younger collectors. As the "baby boomers" head for their last roundup there is going to be a lot of items coming on the market that has been squirreled away in people's collections.

It will be like the hobby is starting all over again. And as these items see the light of day again, the marketplace will establish their values.

I think 30 years from now the same rules will apply as they do today.

What is valuable? The things that were thrown away, because no one saved them.

You mentioned oil bottles with labels that fade and peal. In time I think those will change form. To what I don't know. But, I think they will find a collectable value in the future. If you can find a way to preserve them.

Small items like oil cans, and small signs will hold their value, because they are easy to display in Apartments and Condo's.

Working for one of the Major Oil Companies, I have stuff pass thru my hands that I couldn't get a "plug" nickle for. I toss it in a box, not for me, but for my grandsons, in the hope it may be of value for them. Even the boxes you got a plug nickle from are getting scarce....
Historically items with multiple company names demand a higher value than items with just one of the names on it. The Marathon / Ashland venture only lasted 5 years, and still so new those items don't bring much at all, but in time I think they will, maybe not my time.

The Gimme's are still out there, but getting rare. Some stores still do limited promotions. And today many are not free, but they are still promotional items put out in limited quantities.

I think 40 years from now my grandsons will say, "Hey look, my grandpa had one of those, I want that!" Just like it drives so many people to start collecting today.

To answer Thunder's question "What is available today?", the next time you go to your local C-Store (that is what the industry call them), park on the side and walk around and take a look. The pumps take up the complete island, a little too big to put next to your restored 2001 car (20 years from now); signs, besides a few up there on the canopy, there aren't any; inside, nothing, I guess you could collect Twinkie packages.

So what is this 76 year old guy trying to say? When I came into this hobby from the car collecting hobby it didn't seem much different, we collected what we remembered, and at my age I remember buying gasoline from a visible pump. I owned service stations that had attendents, sold oil at the island, put air in people's tires, but this is all gone. When it comes to Petroliana, there is nothing today I would purchase to hang on my garage wall.

Do I have any advice, I would reread Dan's post above, he pretty well hit the nail on the head, he sees more things changing hands in one year than we might see in 10 years.

One other thing, Ebay and any on-line auction has completly changed how things are exchanged. At one time if you found a 1910 National Geo. mag. you could sell it for $20.00 to $30.00, now you can't hardly get $.50 for it, why, because Ebay has emptied every basement that had NGs in it, the supply has exceded the demand. The same thing is happening with our hobby when it comes to maps, smalls and handy oilers.

Said enough,

Jack Sim

And that's the trick......everyone here has some thought or idea on what from today will be collectible but there is no unified concensus. If we knew that in advance, we'd all save the same things and to be quite honest there would be no future because everything would always be in plentiful demand. You could drive yourself nuts trying to figure out the ebb and flow of how and where things will go but it just evolves naturally on it's own with no real rhyme or reason at times. I guarantee that things will be collected---by SOMEONE! Just what is anybodies guess. And I respectfully disagree with Jack. Take a look around, use your imagination and you'd be surprised at what possibilties emerge. I think todays pumps are yes, large, but some of the big display units of yesteryear and the giant towering visibles that can't always be fit in your home are no less intimidating in size. Todays generations are into these little 4 bangers and they even have a term for them......TUNERS. Todays' little buzz mufflers all decked out in neon lighting under the car with all the latest spoilers will look quite at home with todays multi-payment option, moving screen, coupon spitting, computer ladden pumps we see and use everyday. Technology along technology.......IT'S ALL RELATIVE!

Sounds like you got it dave. Although im young, I like the stuff thats old now, but I also like old cars. It just wouldnt right to have an 01 civic with a 36b next to it. Yes the pumps now days are big, but so are some of the old coke chests ( heavy too ) yet some still collect those. And as far as signs, I think it will be hard in 30 years to find any super nice signs that are hanging now, most all will have damage since everything is plastic. As for smalls, the only thing my local mobil gives out is blanc match books.

Collect what you like and someone will see it and the way you have it presented. If they like it, they will also appreciate it and possibly remember and want it. So driving the need or want to collect and display better or just to have. Promoting the capitalism event of making something more valuable just because someone else wants it.

Possible of any item that is out there now for future children of all ages.

I have thought about this and come to the conclusion most of the stuff we have and covent now will have no demand or much worth in the years to come.

"collect what you like" is a nice thing to say.. but I don't think there is any one collector out there that doesn't think of reselling there stuff or as an investment for the future.

This is the reason I have stopped buying the older oil stuff in general (30's - 50's) and am concentrating on more modern "collectibles" that I can enjoy now but will have some value in 10-20 years from now..and its not gas/oil stuff.

I think the huge collector with the really old gas stuff is going to be out alot of money if they don't unload their stuff within the next 10-15 years, young adults today don't give a s*** about this stuff since they have no concept of it.

I wish this wasn't the case because I think the old stuff is great but have to deal with the reality of generations to come and don't want to be stuck "holding the bag" so to speak.

Don't want to sound negative and of course I could be wrong..it's the way I see it.

I know this is a little off subject but I often wonder where the future of this great hobby wil go as well. I am 35 and got head over heels hooked after I saw some signs at a swap meet a few years ago. I thought it would be great to have one hanging in the garage. Well just a few short years later I have 10 pumps and not a square ft on my walls. Prices right now are super super strong but let me ask you. As the years go by and the collectors out there that remember all this stuff from their era pass on, who will really be left to collect this stuff. I know from the shows and meets I attend here in NE I am the youngest by far! In my opinion if new younger members dont join the hobby in 30 years when most of us have passed it will be uncertain at best.

Not to worry, Any EARLY sign will NEVER lose it's value, a few on this site collect what they remember seeing. But most here and collectors around the world will always be collecting the oldest stuff around, whether it is Gas and Oil or Furniture. Future collectors will not pass on an early Oilzum Porcelain sign because they don't remeber seeing one. in 20 years it is going to be even older than it is now, and therefore probably worth even more.

KZ I am sure your right, the old rare stuff now will be even rarer then. It's amazing some of the stuff that is still out in the wild thats being saved every day now. Those finds will be far and fewer in 20 years.

Just my opinion, but I think pre-Interstate era road maps will keep their value. If you scan around on Google Earth, it's great fun to find old roadbeds, but you need the old map to confirm what you're seeing.
I do think houses will be built smaller, decreasing storage space for larger items. I also think the era of the restaurant with nostalgic decor is fading away. People who remember the '50s, as this is the era that sort of restaurant favors, are in their late 60s.
Items I'm pretty sure will keep their value include "arty" porcelain signs, giveaway pens, pencils, and matches, globes, original photos, and hopefully maps.

This is the era of throw away. NOTHING that is made of that cheap thin petroleum based plastic will survive. Stick that thin, Chinese made plastic sign in the window and in 6 months it is dried out, cracked and too brittle to do anything with. Additionally, today's advertising artwork cant hold a candle to the artwork that was used on the original signs - in my opinion, this artwork is from a bygone era and will be looked at as art (because it is) right alongside the Art Deco stuff. The pumps will also be of interest - not as much as the classic cars, but they will be right there with them.

Today's stuff is junk and made to be tossed away within a year or two - think about it guys; TVs, appliances, stereos even cars... NONE are meant to be repaired, just replaced. There isn't a chance in heck that any of the cars that we are driving right now will be classics - what on these paper thin bodies will survive? The chrome plated plastic? The body panels that you can dent when you lean your butt onto them? The computer brains which never seem to work right? Nope - it's all junk. I keep telling my wife that instead of a new car, I want to spend 25k on a classic that was made to withstand the test of time - she just shakes her head and looks at me like I am crazy.

Everything that was made in this hobby was meant to be repaired and meant to last. If it wasn't - it wouldn't be here today.

Im pretty passionate about this stuff too as I am pretty new to the hobby and I want to see it last for a while. I am not worried about it and for those of you who are worried - liquidate your collections to those of us who are true believers.

....what will be collectible in the future? Here's my $.02

1) The unique or rare (less common). 2) Eye-pleasing (not ugly). 3) Can be used later or repurposed.

If you buy an item that meets more than one criteria, you increase the chance of it being collectible.

Yesteryear examples: round top coke machines (meets 1,2&3), jukeboxes (meets 1,2&3), pinball machines (meets 1,2&3), certain muscle cars (meets 1,2&3), etc, etc.

The modern items everyone thinks will be collectible will not be. Too many will get saved, so they won't become rare. We need a generation to go by that throws it all out, then once it becomes a trend or style, we pull out a few we "collected".

I also have the answer to the meaning of life, what stocks will be hot, what the economy will do, etc :-)

Please allow me to restate the question.... And allow me to clarify myself. I'm not asking about the youth, or future collectors. I'm not asking about, what is hot now, or will be in the future. Or what is a good investment... So here goes.

The other day I saw a tv commercial about GPS navigation systems. I was thinking, that with these things, road maps will soon be a thing of the past. Kinda like the way cell phones have pretty much eliminated pay phones. With this thought, old oil cans and greases cans, made of metal, could have been washed out and re-used for nuts & bolts, ect. Service stations, would have gifts for their customers, and their employees would wear uniforms. The gas pumps, were of Art deco designs, or stylish, smooth, streamlined shapes, with globes..... Are ya followin' me?

With none of these things available now, or slowly being phased out, or made of cheap plastic or cardboard which has no real life expectancy, or pumps of nothing more than flat panel designs......

WHAT, if anything, will there be to collect? Hence my question, "What is the future of the Hobby?"

Your a tough man to please. And if you get mad at me I'll sell you another bike part.

Think I should send Both of ya some MUSHie Lemons/Oranges!

You are asking for specifics things......this is impossible. If Anyone could tell you that with any certainty, they'd either be fooling themselves or not of this world. I believe several answers have been quite direct to your question.

Well, the way I see it is there are many items[antiques] from a few hundred years ago that are collectable, and some are quite expensive. Buttons and silverware are two that come to mind, I don't see why our hooby items won't keep there monetary and sentimental value, especially considering what a huge part they played in the development of society[the invention of the car,etc...]I personally would love to own some authentic Roman weapons, armor, etc...,out of my price range right now...

I get your point. What is made by hand or with enough quality to be considered for archive as a collectible years from now. I think of art (pottery, glass, paintings, quilts), hand made furniture pieces that are first rate, but that is about it. You make a good point. Wearing out is now part of the engineering process. Designed to last just long emough for the purchase to not feel ripped off, and to buy that brand again.

What I'm saying is... If GPS Systems replace maps, we will NO LONGER HAVE MAPS TO COLLECT..... Signs are no longer being made of porcelean over steel, they are made of plastic that breaks. Are ya' followin' me here?

I'm just not seeing any future, in what we have today. Simply because, a lot of the old collectibles, (S&P Shakers, calendars, maps, ect) are no longer being given away. And what is produced nowdays, (plastic oil bottles, grease in cardboard cans) just have no longevity.

Then the future of the hobby is the past. If the plastic sign made today is gone tomorrow then the only thing left to collect is the porcelain sign made to last longer than us.

I'm going to start saving those plastic phone cards

KZ Your right. I haven't seen a prepaid calling card in I don't know how long. That might be something to collect a .03 per min calling card.

I thought many plastics last very long times, don't they sit in landfills for decades?? There will be plastic oil bottles hidden away in forgotten spots under conditions that allow them to remain preserved, just like the metal signs we collect....just like books of centuries gone by found in varying conditions....

Thunder 2, I got it ,and wasn't going to comment ,but you have slowly gotten to my thought process. These up and coming years,could soon be know as the glory days of petrolina,in genaral, if it wasn't for fat cats,pushing oil and gas, you would probabley be,collecting any combustable ,ran on petrolina. GPS,replaces maps, so that is your collectable. What will be the tool, that enhances,and makes the gps a thing of the past. We are,just to old school and blind to see and realize, what we are using as high tech today, will be dinasours of the future. Remember the 1st mobile phone 9pds, and great item for personel protection.

That is true. Guess I should have used a different example.

In the year 2525, IF man is still alive......
Collect what ya want, I ain't liven that long!

YEP, I hear ya,me neither. I just saying that the gps is what a map collector should add to the bottom of his collection,because it is the evoled map of today, and yes won't be thought of that way till 2025.

I could see credit card applications becoming collectable.

Could you RESTATE the question???........

I never saw a visible gas pump in my youth. I have never seen a clockface pump outside of a collection or a museum. Do I still want this stuff? Yes. The reason we collect these things is the same reason the future generations will collect them, they have a beauty in their design.

I think good signs and pumps will retain most of their current value. I would not expect many 20 year olds would spend their disposable income on 2K signs. It takes a more mature collector to have that unique blend of money and insanity.

The collectables of tomorrow will be things with a beauty in the design. I would start looking for plastic signs from the 70’s with clean graphics and vibrant colors. 1960’s gas pumps that have a “Classic” Style (Bennett 3014). Advertising in the 70’s and 80’s went to cardboard, keeping the cardboard in good condition was not a consideration for many. Cardboard cutouts would be a good (Cheap) investment, if you have the ability to store it for 10 years.

I beg to differ. Reproduction signs are made of porcelain over steel. They may very well be the new collectible ! Just look at what they're going for on some eBay auctions.

We better start hoarding them !

Thunder,

Ok, I may be outing myself here about my age (sigh) but unlike what some have stated, I prefer and am facinated by the stuff before my birh (which in my case would be the sixties-ouch that was paintful!). it is because I did not grow up with them that I think are beautiful.

Who knew that those smelly metal cartoon lunch boxes I ate out of in the 70's would be collectable today? Scooby Doo, where are you?

And that plastic stuff, it does degrade, as my husband finally--FINALLY--is admiting to as I've been trying to have him get rid of boxes (and boxes) of never used plastic pots for his cacti. It didn't matter that he would have to live well into his hundreds to use them up. Because the pots are thin, they are getting brittle with age (even though they are inside and not in the sun) so he may actually start tossing them. Gosh knows he has enough clay pots anyways.

And because the colors fade and the plastic gets brittle, finding a NOS sign that still had good color because it was kept in the dark and hopefully, because it is a thicker plastic and not degraded by the sun, is not brittle, will be collectable.

It's very possible that in a couple dozen years that the old early analog cell phones will be collectable, for example.

So I think this hobby will contine and I certainly think that the older/oldest stuff will contine to grow in value though they may occassionally dip in price for a while once the tv shows about old stuff stop being popular,

IMO

They have not made a good collectible map in over 40 years, yet old ones are still collected now. Why would that change

Hi Thunder,

Are you restricting your question to just traditional gas&oilitems(pumps,signs,cans an so on)or are you willing to include car/truck stuff as associated collectibles that are available today?

I take the gas/oil/car/truck association as a given,but others may not.If you include car/truck stuff that really opens up the possibilities IMO.

All I am saying is that I've noticed that there is less available TODAY, from service stations... And what IS available, is cheap cardboard & plastic.

WHAT if ANYTHING, will survive, to be collectable?

OH, you should have said that the first time

Thunder, to piggy-back on this comment - ANYTHING that is mass-produced in 3rd world countries as a freebee is for the most part junk. IMO, most things with the little gold oval sticker on the back is worthless. These collectables from the bygone era that we all love were handmade in the USA with pride in workmanship. EVERYTHING nowadays in gas stations is either a junky polyester banner OR cheap paper-thin plastic. So where is th hobby going? IMO, it is going to stay in the past, therefore the stuff will just keep going up in value. You are correct, there is nothing that they are giving out these days that will be collectable.

OT - my Father-in-law used to work for Enron in SW KS and has a LOT of Enron gear (pocket knives, hard hats and the like) and he thinks because of the history of Enron they might be worth something someday. Who knows.

I have seen the plastic signs go up in the last 2 years. I have also seen basic cardboard, metal signs go up in price steadily as well. Advertising will go up, it is just a matter of figuring out what items will be collectible. I am 39 and I worked at a couple of gas stations in the 80's and early 90's. I believe I am in the transistion age group for gas collectibles. I remember seeing old gas stations, using old pumps, (no visables)(Which is why I don't collect them.) and seeing lots of advertisements. I see the generation after me collecting the things which remind them of their youth as we have. So what will be collectible? Plastic signs, cardboard signs (especially ones shapped like the product beng sold) NOS bottles, car customizing kits, 24 inch rims and things of that sort. Gas stations today are Mini Marts. You rarely see one where a car is worked on, unless your in an area a little behind the times. Most stuff from todays gas stations collected will be store relaited and not gas.

What will not be collected? Cigarette adds, ciggarette holders/stands, oil/air filters, any kind of addative which is put in the gas tank or oil (no "youngsters" ever purchase these for their cars since cars now a days are made from the factory for high millage.) Belts, hoses, spark plugs, plastic oil bottles, and anything else which is service relaited. Todays generation go somewhere else and have thier cars serviced for them. It is rarely seen being done, or done at home. The service companies tell you to go home and they will call you when it is done. Todays generation has a sence of entitlement. "I want it and I want it now", without working for it or doing it them selves. So why would they collect anything that they never used or even payed attention to.

Sorry for the rambeling, but I'm drunk. Which means you spelling Nazi's will have to let this post bother you forever. LOL

380328143312 This plastic sign seems to be doing quite well, $2500+ . Maybe there is a market for plastic signs?

I believe that I will be long gone, before any of these scenarios come to fruition. That being said, I will hazard a guess....

Advertising will be collectible as it has been since the mid-1700's. Pumps from the teens through the 1970s will still be quite sought after. Pumps from the 80s and 90s will be looked at harder by people who don't have the money to buy the "older vintage and in some cases, actually old enough to be, antique pumps". Signs of all types, will be highly sought after.. the older the better...

What do you know, the scenario I just described is exactly what is happening now in the hobby... New collectors come in and at first gravitate towards the collectibles they know first hand, partly because they cost less. As they collect more, they collect more and more expensive items, which usually means older, more vintage items....

Strange again, sounds like collecting in other fields, such as furniture, art, pottery ...etc. This collecting stuff all pretty much seems to follow the same patterns... I can't see it not following these same patterns in the future... But if I'm wrong, I won't be around to think about it....

So Jeff, while there is less and less items offered in a station compared to the "Hey days of Service Stations" of the late 40s through the later 60s. There are items that future generations will gravitate too. Just as there was in my generation, my father's, and to his father's.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that the "gas station" is not very old... It's not that long ago, that people like my grandfather who was born in the mid 1890's, didn't own a vehicle before he came back from WWI. There were no gas stations back before those new Model T Ford's. Back to that first Model T that made it possible for almost everyone who wanted to drive somewhere, to do it without having to "smell the back-end of a horse". Blame it in Henry Ford, R.E. Olds, Louis Chevrolet and the Dodge Bros (of course there were many, many more who influenced the need for autos to be fueled)

I honestly don't think this hobby "is a flash in a pan", it will be alright.

DREAMER! LOL

Just drove past the Pennzoil Quicky change & they have painted metal curb signs, fresh out of the boxes.

My theories are starting to get holier and holier - I stand corrected (but I am sitting)

Throwing a ladies age back in her face (double ouch!) is even more painful, but back on topic...

Passed a unknown brand station in Virginia recently that I think is an independent station, (will take a pic later this month and post to see if indeed it is an 'independent') and I was wondering if stuff from those stations might be the first collectables of modern stuff. Aren't the gas companies from the past that did not make it in the long run have the more valuble collectables? How many indepcndents are there still out there and how long do they stay in business?

Doc, you're a man wisdom. I think this example holds true for all things.

[quote=THE AMERICAN GARAGE]Plastic may fade and crack.

But doesn't porcelain chip, get scratched and get rust stains?

Don't metal signs flake, fade and rust through?

YES on both questions.

A sign is a sign and will suffer no matter what it's made of. depends on where it been and how it's been handled.

Again, I have to state the parameters of my question. I am NOT talking about antique, or vintage stuff. I'm asking about stuff, that is CURRENTLY available. If the sign is made of cardboard, or a cheap plastic banner, its not likely to survive.

Jeff, I have cardboard signs from the 40s and 50s, my Power Lube may be from the 30s.

My Pierce Pennant cardboard radiator cover is from the time period of 1924 to 1930. My Tydol cover, could even be older. So these pieces of cardboard have lasted a minimum of 60-80+ years, so far.

If cardboard signs, could last that long now, why wouldn't cardboard signs from the 2000s last as long?

Excellent question Bob. I too have a few cardboard signs, but only a few. As a whole though, I see those as survivors. Bob as a collector of all things old, you know as well as I do, that books & magazines dont always hold up to the test of time. Thats just the piont that I'm getting at.

I would LOVE to see some some "old fashioned" curb signs. Something really cool, with a cast iron base, and a nice metal sign....

Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, and thinking about that song "Gas Pump Heaven".....

Since you brought up the song "Gas Pump Heaven" (which I don't remember).

This is a "HI-JACKING", so check out this video;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on1xPlV-rhs&playnext=1&list=PL66C87D6D8AE154F2

I saw that... I just didnt think that I could get away with posting it here.

If I knew the answer to the original question, I sure as heck wouldn't be letting anyone in on the secret. I would keep it to myself and retire off of it.

One thing that I do pick up because I think they are cool, is brochures for attractions. Not the brochure for the water parks and putt-putt golf, but the ones for tourist traps, historic, caves/caverns, specialty hi-ways, and others. I have a couple good size boxes full of them, and who knows...maybe in 50 years they will be worth something.

As far as people collections being sold when they pass, the good stuff will be out for one day and the next time you see it will be on a hayrack.

Everything that we collect today was once "junk", it was not something that was made to be saved or stand the test of time. Everytime someone comes in our garage and looks at our collection I tell them that and wait to see their expression.

Thanks to the people before us many of the items we collect were saved. I have some items in my collection that are from the teens and earlier and they have survived the test of time thanks to someone long before I ever owned it.

I guess my point is if these item have lasted for over 100 years there is a pretty good chance that they could last another 100?? Because of the growing popularity of out hobby ( Ala American Pickers, Barrett Jackson, Cable TV, etc..) there is a reason to believe even more items will be saved?

Just my 2 cents.....

Hi Thunder,

I think Nicole may be onto something about independents.Here in ABQ a new one to me just moved into a former Chevron station.RAM,with a really graphic logo of a ram's head on toe canopy,pumps and a ram pump topper.I'll see what they are made of.

The brand may be common elsewhere and are just now moving into ABQ.Maybe more independents will start up?

I found it!!! Gas Pump Heaven...

I dreamt I was there, in Gas Pump Heaven……
Oh what a beautiful sight….
The pumps were all shiny, the oil rack was full,
Oh what a wonderful night…..
The station attendant, he came out to help,
he had such a wonderful smile.
He said “How ya’ doin?”, he filled up my tank,
and we talked for a little while…..

(Chorus)
It was Gas Pump Heaven, what a beautiful sight…..
The people were very friendly….
The service was great, and the prices were right…..
Its so sad those days have ended…….

He washed my windshield,
he checked the oil,
He gently lowered my hood…….
He smiled when we talked,
And he checked all the tires,
he said that it all looked good…….

(Chorus)
It was Gas Pump Heaven, what a beautiful sight…..
The people were very friendly….
The service was great, and the prices were right…..
Its so sad those days have ended…….

As I drove away, I stopped to looked back,
he stood at the island, and he smiled right back.
I turned ‘round to thank him……
And then he was gone……
I stopped and I wondered, has it been so long…….

(Chorus)
It was Gas Pump Heaven, what a beautiful sight…..
The people were very friendly….
The service was great, and the prices were right…..
Its so sad those days have ended…….

It was Gas Pump Heaven, what a beautiful sight…..
The people were very friendly…., EXCEPT THE BOSS MAN
The service was great, and the prices were right…..
Its so sad those days have ended…….