Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Surprises come in many flavors!

After our brutal winter I was looking forward to going Saturday to an auction in Coon Rapids, Mn. and see a few fellow Old-Gassers that I haven't seen all winter.
But Friday night when I got home came the first surprise. Due to warm weather in the 50's after all kinds of snow then add in a failed sump pump and you have part of our horse barn and the well house under water. Late night pumping followed by Saturday morning repairs mean no auction.
So this afternoon after repairs done, dried and cleaned the areas I decided I needed a little Hobby time and first I cleaned, polished and hung my United Motors sign.

Then I started thinking of other things to move, hang, set aside to sell and doing so I headed to my Tractor trailer where I store some gas pumps and other stuff. That's where The Good surprise showed its face.......
Long story short, before my dad passed away he had retired in Arizona in 1980 and on one of my many visits down there I saw this Yard Sale sign and asked where it came from and what it was before. He didn't know nor did my uncle who had given it to him. Over the years they used the sign and I would always find it in their storage shed. A few years ago after he passed I went down there with my enclosed car trailer to move my mom and her belongings back to Minnesota. I decided to grab the sign and bring it back home to someday strip the latex paint and see what it started its life as. Today I took the sign into my shop and after looking close for the very first time, I realized it had 2 sign panels to it. Really ... After all this time could they just be turned around?????
After a tough night and morning cleaning up a mess, A truly good surprise showed up and with it came a special moment reminding me that my Father always had a way to make life come with special moments and I know he's still watching over me and had a good laugh today at my surprise!!!


Not being a Michelin expert, I have no clue what its age is but my guess is the 70's looking at the tire. But if someone here knows more, Please let me know.

cleaned up

That is a great story resulting in a great sign. I'm so glad they turned around the signs rather than painting over them. (Sorry to hear about the flooded parts of your buildings.) John

That's vary cool

good story, good results..

Great story. I have a oval like your united. My dad had it and had been repainted ANTIQUES sold here. Is it a united ,wolf, Pennzoil. I'll probably never know as I decided to just enjoy it as is. It is enamel paint so maybe best that I leave it as is. But it wouldn't surprise me if the next fellow that enjoys it has to have a peak at one side or both.

Wonderful story Mike , and the united sign looks great as well !

Sweet story and signs!

Great story Mike! Nice to get a peek at some of your collection!

Very nice story Mike!! I love these type stories of people finding things in funny places like this.

And as Kevin said, it was great to get a glimpse at more of your collection. I thought you only had the little man cave area that we often see where you have the Sunoco pump. Looking good!!

Glad you got the sign, nice story to go with it.

Looks great Mike, Missed you at the auction. Great Find and surprise. Talk to you later.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments!! It found a home today and will bring many memories of my dad and uncle and I'm sure a big smile every time I look up at it!

Great story...a present from each one of them to you.