Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana COTM - May, 2006 - " KEYSTONE "

Thanks wfort, great job!
Ok, I must admit that is a new one to me, nothing I found on United made mention of Powerlube motor oil, but it certainly makes sense from a marketing standpoint and it's the right look and color to go with the United Refining Keystone logo. I like it and appreciate the post!

I added a photo of the Keystone logo on the bank. I have never heard of Keystone Powerflight Gasoline. The pump plates say Powerfuel. All the globes I have seen just have the Keystone logo. Bill Fortune.

You will soon see some Powerflight evidence, Bill...thanks again.

Ok globe guys, how many different original Keystone globes would you say there are? We saw a/the regular Keystone version on the pump earlier in the post, but I'll make you look at it again later in color.

Who's got the knowledge ... or a book? Am curious what is listed before we move into globe pictures.

Tok likes participation

Here is a Keystone lens picture from moderator Lastgas Bob. This would be the regular version from the United stations.


And we have here I believe a 13.5" Gill body, brass/bronze base, with lenses and rings...


And a hull body? style...

The second version of the Keystone globes is the "with Ethyl" version.

Tetra Ethyl Lead, TEL, or simply "Ethyl" is of course a performance and anti-knock additive first introduced to the American public in 1923-1924. Due to the discovery of the health risks of lead, the EPA forced the addative to be phased out of our retail gasoline starting around 1976 and completed around 1986. Ethyl is still used in parts of the world and in some US aviation fuel.


This Keystone Ethyl globe picture has an attachment which advertises the "Power flight" Gasoline.


Does anyone have one of these globes in their collection?

Perhaps more impressively, does anyone have a Powerflight globe?

Here is a picture of a version... I'm not 100% positive, but this seems like a repo/fantasy piece to me.



There is another version that is sure to be authentic as it is seen in a couple 30's/40's Keystone station pictures to be posted soon.


[This message has been edited by tokheim (edited 05-16-2006).]

This picture was taken in Dubois, PA and described as a station/bulk plant. Through the trees on the right when blown up I can just make out some above ground tanks.

There is no danger of ships running aground in this neck of the woods but I does make for a unique station! I wish I could have seen that lighthouse probably painted yellow, black and red to match the Emblem signs at either end of the lot.


What time period are we looking at based on the cars?? Late 20's / early 30's??



Here you can see the "Flight" globe for what was or would become Keystone Powerflight gasoline on the right. They had Regular Keystone, Keystone w/Ethyl and Flight pumping out of these Erie 53(?) units...man oh man where are they today?



Has anyone ever seen this Flight globe before, and/or do you have a picture? No sign of decals or pump plates in this period other than "contains lead".


[This message has been edited by tokheim (edited 05-16-2006).]

This next group of pictures comes from John Cirillo’s super site gassigns.org. They were submitted to John by Bob Cheslock, who’s father, W.T. Cheslock owned and operated the Keystone station in Star City, WV, supplied by Elk Oil Company. Thanks to Bob and John for letting me use them here.


Here is a 1955 grand opening picture of the station in the flyer.

Below are some great maps from the station. I can’t quite make it out in the picture above, but it would seem that as depicted in these maps, the WV Elk Refining Keystone logo globes were similar to the Elk version identification signs with KEYSTONE in a blue band across middle. (Unlike the United PA counterpart.)


Notice they are promoting Elk Motor Oil.


If anyone has anything to add, don't be shy, chime in!

[This message has been edited by tokheim (edited 05-17-2006).]

Here is the Cheslock staion in 1965 with more modern pumps.


And then in 1966...





Nice Eco between the service bays and Firestone sign in the window.

As stated earlier, in 1952 South Penn (Pennzoil) purchased a controlling interest in Elk Refining. In 1955 the balance of the purchase was completed and Elk Refining Keystone stations were distributing Pennzoil lubricants. By the mid 60’s the Pennzoil name had no trouble standing alone, and the Elk supplied stations were rebranded from Keystone to Pennzoil.

Here is an Elk Refining supplied station during that time period where Keystone Gasoline and Pennzoil Oil were being sold together.


And a station submitted by Lastgas Bob that did not make the switch.

I think these are the last of the Elk Refining related Keystone items I have to show you.

Wes Holliday gave me the ok to show his cool blotter.


Another map from the Elk Keystone stations, from 1965

Used w/permission from Jon Roma’s map site http://zippy.cso.uiuc.edu/~roma/roadmaps/


And a couple patches with the Elk related Keystone logo from the Cheslock items.

And to close the chapter on Elk Refining, here is are some recent pictures of the refinery, which ceased operations in the early 80's.

Forgot I had this Keystone Banner.

Thanks Bill, great timing, and a super premium banner for Keystone gasoline…"THE HIGHEST OCTANE SOLD”
Does that sound like an exaggeration to you all?? Read ON my friends.

In 1960 United Refining installed an alkylation unit at the Warren refinery. This allows for the production of alkylate, which is an octane boosting additive. Oh yea, now we’re talking!
Seeing the growing popularity of their Keystone gasoline brand at the independent stations distributing it, United decides it’s time to enter the retail gasoline business themselves… in this same year they did just that, by purchasing 7 gas stations in Rochester, NY and a chain of 9 stations in western PA.

Here is a Warren, PA newspaper article from 1962


Allow me to quote the last line…”Keystone gasolines, made by United, have the highest octane ratings anywhere in the nation, according to independent nation-wide surveys.”


[This message has been edited by tokheim (edited 05-22-2006).]

I had a Keystone globe at one time that was on a 14" gill body and as I remember Keystone was in black letters not blue like the ones posted. Sorry I don't have a photo.