Vintage March 2005 Check the Oil! Petroliana Magazine w/ Texaco Ladies Porcelain Sign Gas Oil Collectible. Sign Measures: 5 7/8″ x 3 1/2″. Hey folks, if you’re into chasing down that classic gas station vibe or building a killer collection of vintage oil company memorabilia, this one’s for you. Up for grabs is the March 2005 issue of Check the Oil! Magazine – the go-to read for every petroliana nut out there. This quarterly gem is packed with stories from real collectors, rare photos of restored pumps, and ads that scream golden age of motoring. Published by folks who live and breathe this stuff, it’s got that authentic feel you won’t find in modern reprints. And here’s the kicker: I’m throwing in a sweet original Texaco Ladies porcelain sign as a bonus! Measures a handy 5 7/8″ tall by 3 1/2″ wide, with crisp red and white enamel, the iconic green star popping against that classic curved shape. It’s a mini time capsule from the drive-in days – perfect for your shelf, man cave, or next swap meet display. Light patina from age, but no chips or rust; hangs flush and shines like it just rolled off the assembly line. The magazine itself is in solid shape – 24 pages of full-color goodness on glossy stock, no dog-ears or coffee stains. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s inside, so you can see why it’s a must-have for fans of antique gas pumps, vintage porcelain signs, and original oil company advertising. From the Mailbox: Collector Tales & Pump Porn. Kicks off with heartfelt letters from longtime enthusiasts sharing their hunts for Mobil Pegasus globes and Texaco fire chief pumps. James Burford’s got a stunning 23-inch stained glass Texaco sign from a Colorado collector, plus Joe Russell’s Wayne, NJ display at the Metro Vintage Advertising Show. Loaded with pics of restored gas station pumps and porcelain enamel signs – think Phillips 66 and Tydol gems that’ll make your pulse race. Mailbox Continued: Rare Finds & Reader Raves. Dale Aldwin’s color Tokheim 850 that’s stood pat for 40 years in Adamsville. Ends with Ken Wilson’s roadside score of an Esso sign just a mile from a Mass Gas show. Killer shots of vintage gas stations and oil can displays that scream petro history. Check the Oil Gallery: Early 20th-Century Service Stations. Dive into black-and-white beauties like the 1928 corner Goodrich Tires and Zappe’s Garage in Geneseo, NY (courtesy Ray Zapl), plus an unknown-location Texaco station with pumps galore. Chuck Haase’s photo of a Mufflers & Filters signboard hawking fan belts, tire repairs, and lubrication services. Pure antique automobile signage eye candy for fans of vintage gas station architecture. Gallery Wrap-Up: More Timeless Pump Scenes. Wraps the gallery with detailed captions on those Geneseo and Texaco spots – think uniformed attendants, classic cars at the pumps, and era-specific oil company logos. If you collect porcelain gas pump signs or dream of restoring a 1920s filling station, this spread’s your blueprint. Gilmore Graphic: Racing Roots & Oil Heritage. Flashback to the 1930s with Gilmore Graphic newsletters – front-page heroics from driver Kelly Petillo’s 500-mile roar at Indy in a Gilmore car. Headlines on Red Lion Circus promotions and record-breaking races tied to oil sponsorships. Glossy repros of the original heavy-stock pages, perfect for vintage racing memorabilia and Gilmore Oil superfans. Gilmore Deep Dive: Lion’s Share of Speed History. Continues the Gilmore saga with ads for parade entries, speed trials, and that epic Indianapolis 500 win. Photos of crowds cheering the Gilmore Lion – the oil brand’s roaring mascot. Ties right into automotive advertising history and how oil giants fueled the early drag strip era. Big news on the April 30-May 1 Aumann Auctions at Indiana State Fairgrounds – over 800 lots of motorcycle signs, automobile petroliana, and 50+ cars! Expect Kelley-Springfield Tires, Richfield Oil, Conoco, Mobil, and Texaco porcelain beauties. Plus Greyhound Bus Depot and Harley-Davidson rarities – a petroliana collector’s fever dream. Letters from Europe: Petrolana Across the Pond. Tan Byrne’s dispatch from the UK scene, covering the Beaulieu Autojumble haul of NFO and EP globes (that’s Northern Farmers Oil and Elf Petrol, for you transatlantic hunters). Stories on Avia, Texaco, and Shell in the UK market, plus 1950s Esso maps from the Lake District. Great for international oil company collectibles and Euro gas station signage chasers. Petro-Glyph: John’s Gearhead Legacy. Carl Ma’s profile on John Bensohn’s epic gas pump collection – from his stepdad’s dragster fleet to a garage packed with Clark, Tydol, Texaco, Mobilgas, and Gilmore pumps. He’s got vintage oil globes and a growing salt & pepper shaker lineup too. Heartwarming tale of family, welding, and preserving porcelain gas station artifacts – includes his “Intamous Rex” cake smash photo! Ways to Get More Business: Service Station Savvy. 1945 throwback to Cities Service broadcasts on “Highways in Melody” – sales tips from the pump, starring Paul Lavalle’s orchestra. Vintage ads for motor oil ethyl and Cities Service Dealers. Timeless advice on reeling in customers at your vintage gas station replica or oil memorabilia shop. Road Maps of Yesteryear: Navigation Nostalgia. Portfolio of 1930s-40s Red G’s Road Maps for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania – Gulf, Texaco, and Standard Oil branded beauties. Plus a Texaco Ladies keychain tag ties right into your bonus sign! Essential for vintage oil company maps and automobile travel ephemera collectors. Petro-Glyph Continued: Welding Wonders & Pump Hunts. Wraps John’s story with more on his robot plasma welding for restorations – think Phillips 66 and Sunoco rebuilds. Photos of his shop full of vintage gas pumps and enamel signs. Plus a nod to the 1940s war economy impact on oil distribution. Raw inspiration for DIY petroliana restorers. Follow-up on that Aumann sale with NFO and Elephant Kerosene lots, plus Tan Byrne’s Euro map chase for 1950s Esso and Shell charts. Details on Cleveland house dealers and NOS Esso surveys – prime intel for scoring rare oil company globes at your next meet. Closing Petro-Glyph: Collector’s Code. Final thoughts on John’s transition to turbine tech while keeping the flame alive for vintage Mobil and Conoco pieces. Ends with a bang on why these stories matter to original porcelain sign hunters everywhere. This issue’s a treasure trove for anyone hooked on antique gas & oil advertising, from porcelain pump tops to vintage service station photos. Hit me up, I’m a collector too and happy to chat Texaco trivia. Don’t sleep on this – your shelf needs it! Grab it now before some swap-meet shark does. Thanks for looking – let’s keep the oil flowing!