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Thought this might be interesting to see the oldest date everyone has on their pump plate...
i just picked up a small one, its real heavy and thick..
Dated 3-42


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Older than mine, mine is 3-47


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Mine is chipped, but it looks like 9-40


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SkyChief gasoline was introduced in 1938.

I have a SkyChief 12x18" curved PPP dated 3-40.

The latest dated SkyChief w/ Petrox 12x18 PPP I have is dated 3-9-64.

1962-63 Texaco started changing over to the Hex logo.


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I like this thread. This should be done on other PPP's. But guys? C'mon!!
Where's the pics?


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1940 Sky Chief for me..guy had it listed as a repro on ebay so i got it super cheap!

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Originally Posted By: minuteman
i just picked up a small one, its real heavy and thick..
Dated 3-42


my 8"X12" matches the 3-42.. cool


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...3-40 is going to be the oldest date...


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My oldest is a 47, my newest is a 65 I believe

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Originally Posted By: Steve C.
I like this thread. C'mon!! Where's the pics?


pics for Steve... cool

IMG_1141[1].JPG IMG_1142[1].JPG

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Randy, Outstanding early SC sign. Hard to find WW2 era plates in that shape!


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Just a side note one the "date". The date on Texaco pump plate only signifies when the design was approved Texaco. That's why you see a lot of pump plates with the date 3-1-47 (or something close to that, I'm in office away from my signs).

When the design was approved again, it was re-dated.



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Mine is 3-41, makes sense the curved PPP would be dated earlier I guess ?

SC1.jpg SC2.jpg

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You'll never find anything earlier than 1940 because that when they started producing porcelain plates, same for Fire-Chief.

Jamie where did you hear that story, never heard it. I've probably seen most of the dates except for 43, 44 because of the war efforts.

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I agree with Blacktee...I have never seen one dated 43 or 44 ...Even Randy's 3-42 is about the last ones produced before the plants shifted to war production. Whats the earliest 45 plates out there? WW2 didn't end til Sept of 45.


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Originally Posted By: J.E.Radebaugh
Just a side note one the "date". The date on Texaco pump plate only signifies when the design was approved Texaco. That's why you see a lot of pump plates with the date 3-1-47 (or something close to that, I'm in office away from my signs).

When the design was approved again, it was re-dated.



...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...?


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

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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.



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"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....

Last edited by Bob Richards; Thu Aug 07 2014 04:14 PM.

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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..



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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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Last edited by J.E.Radebaugh; Thu Aug 07 2014 04:30 PM.


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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).







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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.


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& 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.

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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...).



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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.


Last edited by J.E.Radebaugh; Thu Aug 07 2014 05:34 PM.


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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.


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Quote:
..over 40,000 CONUS stations by the mid-50's

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

Quote:
banjo pole installation instructions

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

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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.


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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....






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Another question/point...I noticed a lot of early 1940 Texaco signs the dates are on the left bottom ( my fire chief 9-40 is on the left )but Bobs 9-40 Sky Chief is on the right bottom. It seems they switched to the right in that time frame...Let r' bucks sign is on the left its a 3-40...Just was wondering if anybody else has left dated signs post 1940? I know could be different makers but just curious.

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texaco signs all in the 60's (60, 63, 65)
with date on the left side... cool

IMG_1146[1].JPG IMG_1144[1].JPG IMG_1145[1].JPG

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Randy.. I see a diesel #1, and a Green Diesel ...Your killing me here lol.

Last edited by Keystone Gas Man; Thu Aug 07 2014 08:54 PM.

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Originally Posted By: advertologist
texaco signs all in the 60's (60, 63, 65)
with date on the left side... cool


Nope Randy, sooner or later you will find them rotated. Found that out several years ago. As far as dates, I think Texaco allowed the manufactures to use one date, instead of switching every 24 hours of production, nothing more to it ? As far as always starting in March, makes no since to me. Because Texaco would have never approved all the signs at the same period of every year. Why are most WhiteT keyholes dated October & BlackTs in March ?

When I took home a large part of Erol Tuzcu's collection I had probably 50 Fire Chiefs and Sky Chiefs. I found an awful lot of different dates. Found several 1960s with REG T.M. and the circle R. We're here dissecting something we'll probably never really know ?

I've rambled enough. ; )

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Mine is 3 4 54 on the right side.

Last edited by strnge; Sat Aug 09 2014 07:58 PM.

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Jamie -be careful when up deal in absolutes
I still have one S/C dated 3-3-49 left
and i seriously doubt that there are no '48's
(probably should have kept a few if they are that scarce
yes the oldest date will be 3-3-40 (must have
a dozen or more of those left)

also have a 3-35 texaco 6" plate if that means anything
re the earliest date for porcelain plates

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