Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Oldest Sky Chief Pump Plate...Whats Yours?

...I always thought they were production dates, or dates the signs were ordered? seems weird that they'd have to approve the same design again and again, year after year...?

So if my sign is dated 3-40, when was it actually produced?

Why are there no pump plates dated 49, or 48? Why are there so many signs made on 3-10-47? Why is every pre-war Texaco pump plate dates 3-and the year? Did they only produce them in March?

Doug listed a vintage book on eBay a few years ago that gave detailed production instructions for sign makers. The dates on those signs were already on the design that was approved by Texaco. It became clear to me that those dates are production dates, rather than design approval dates.

"Why is every pre-war Texaco pump plate dates 3-and the year? Did they only produce them in March?"

On my "Pre-War" sign, it sure looks like a nine. Not a 3:



I am a neophyte on Texaco... So I will leave the History to those "in the know"... When one says "Why is every ....."; When they state an absolute... They are leaving themself open to some answers that don't fall within their statements....

Bob,

My 8"x12" is dated 9-40 also...

Again, it kind of proves my point that all signs of a year/ design approval period are dated the same..

Here's what got me thinking about this a few years ago.

I have two pump plates, with the same exact dates on them 3-10-47.

What is the likely hood that these two signs were made on the exact same day? Almost none. That means the signs date doesn't necessarily indicated the date the sign was produced. It dawned on me when I saw Doug's book on eBay that Texaco pushed out the design of their porcelain signs to regional sign makers with their desired date already on the design. The sign makers just made the approved design.







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Based off of the prescribed thinking Bob's sign and my 8"x12" sign would have been in the exact same month....

And my prewar 8"x12" Fire Chief and add on would have been made in March of 42 (again, the odds are almost impossible in my opinion).

One would think that, Texaco would have placed large bulk orders. Rather then order plates every month or two.

The large order theory would explain sporadic identical dates.

& your assuming they were all made at same factory.
2 Islands X 4 pumps ea X ea. pump has 2 plates = 16 X say 20,000+ Stations = 320,000+ plates. So IF one factory could produce 2,000 plats a day, that's 160 days or 32 5 day work weeks or 8 months.

Texaco had over 40,000 CONUS stations by the mid-50's

We're not even discussing all of the other station signs (marine signs, lubester signs, 6' round signs, porcelain stars...).

This picture came from the banjo pole installation instructions from Texaco (thanks Sid). Notice all of the revision dates.

My point is Texaco went to great measures for uniformity, and revisited their designs and supplies often.

The porcelain advertising industry was hopping. Thank goodness. I doubt that the specific "day" dates are accurate (i.e. 3-10-42)what with all the steps involved in making signs. I could believe month and year, but not down to the day. And that is just my unsubstantiated personal opinion.

OVER DOUBLE the figures I posted. Even MORE reason to have signs made at Several factories.


Might just be for Bolts, Conduit, Wiring, Concrete Footings, Distance from Street/Sidewalk, etc, etc. Not necessarily for the sign.

I agree that the date wasn't changed daily. Stencil made at the start of the run of a bulk order and then continued to used for a period of time. Common sense dictates that numerous vendors would have been used on a rotating basis.

Revision dates on drawings are totally different then dates on signs.

Building codes change, materials used change or any other change would result in the plans having to revised by engineers. Same plans being used in different jurisdictions would require revision to meet local requirements. Or plans are simply reviewed and revised to ensure safety and liability demands are met and mitigated.

Here is my oldest it's a 3-40 a bit rough but I also just noticed that the date is on the left side and made in the USA is on the right all my others Sky Chief and Fire Chief the date is on the right anyone know why it is different or is it just the 3-40 production run?

I know it's not a repop since I personally took it off a pump at a Texaco bulk plant several years ago.

P.S. great thread with good info we need more like this....