DETAILING A GAS STATION FOR THE TRANSITION ERA (c) 2014-2015 Gary Robinson A Presentation Prepared by Gary Robinson EduTRAIN™

DETAILING A GAS STATION DETAILING A GAS STATION FOR THE TRANSITION ERAFOR THE TRANSITION ERA

(c) 2014-2015 Gary Robinson

A Presentation Prepared by Gary Robinson

EduTRAIN™

This is an EduTRAIN™

Clinic

EduTRAIN™Copyright © 2014, National Model Railroad Association, Inc.

INTRODUCTION

This presentation will acquaint you with brief background on the history of service stations;

an introduction to building styles;

types of services provided by service stations;

the equipment that would be found to support the services provided; and

some possibilities for modeling.

(c) 2014-2015 Gary Robinson EduTRAIN™

BACKGROUND Post-World War II, automobiles became a larger part

of American life. Towns of any size had at least one gas station or

garage.

Some were “company” stations

Some were independent stations.

The explosion of demand for automobiles for gave rise to a wide ranging industry, with many modeling opportunities.

Today we'll concentrate on the businesses that serviced the autos.


MORE BACKGROUND


EduTRAIN™

The author grew up in a “garage”, or “service station,” as opposed to a “gas station” or “filling station.”

INDEPENDENT VERSUS COMPANY STATIONS

Independent stations bought gasoline and related products from an oil

company distributor; had more control over the appearance of their

station. Company-owned stations

built to a standard design; uniformed attendants; leased back to the operators.

Let's see what some of these stations looked like.


COMPANY STATIONS - GULF

Porcelain panels;

Tower optional;

Available in Z, N, and HO scales, along with a separate lighting kit.


Picture from the Miller Engineering Web page, www.microstru.com, used with permission.

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COMPANY STATION - SHELL

Above: Company Station, Chester, NJ. Photo by Barbara Christensen, operator’s wife and author’s aunt.

Right, top: Model Power built-up, HO scale;

Right, bottom: Bachmann Industries N scale built-up.


Source for both model photos: www.walthers.com.

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SIMPLE PORCELAIN PANEL STATION

Porcelain panel station models: Crafton Avenue Station, by City Classics, and

Cornerstone Al's Victory Service Station.


Location unknown Source: http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html with no photographer attribution.

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Some Other Interesting Designs

Below, left and right, source: http://hipspics.freewebspace.com/gas/gas.html with no photographer attribution.

Rancho Cucamonga, CAMilwaukie, OR (near Portland)

Raleigh, NC. Carol M Highsmith photo, used with permission.

Mt. Clemens, MI. Gary Allum photo, used with permission.

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SO, YOU HAVE YOUR BUILDING. NOW WHAT?

► Once you've selected and constructed your building, you're ready to start the detailing process.

► First, what goes on at a garage?

► Then, will you detail the interior, or only the exterior?

► Will visitors be able to see the interior easily? If so, you'll probably need to do at least some minimum interior detailing. What will that entail? Let's see.


WHAT HAPPENS AT A “GARAGE?”

The purpose of a garage was to sell you products and services for your car, including

► Gasoline & Kerosene; Diesel fuel

► Lubrication

► Oil & filters (oil changes)

► Tires (and flat repairs)

► Batteries

► Other repairs, including fan belts and radiator hoses


WHAT IS INCLUDED IN “REPAIRS?”

tune ups wheel alignment headlight alignment

radiator and coolant services and hose replacement

brake and master cylinder repair or replacement

transmission and/or axle service or repair

wheel bearing repacks valve jobs battery service or replacement

muffler replacement fan belt adjustment or replacement

Let's see how these things affect our details, starting with the exterior.


EXTERIOR DETAILS

All stations need gas pumps.

Near right: Visible style

Center: Rectangular style, with lit globe

Far right: Rectangular style without globe


Images on this page come from the web page at Images on this page come from the web page at http://edtecpandora.wikispaces.com/Gas+Pump+History and are used under the Creative Commons-Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. See the terms of the license at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

EduTRAIN™

PROUD OWNERS

Uniformed owners at a new Sinclair station circa 1953 or 1954.

Note illuminated Globe Pumps and the price of Ethyl (Hi Test): $0.270


MORE EXTERIOR DETAILS


Windshield service supply holder. Source: Google Images, attributed to www.barrett-jackson.com. Used with permission.

Oil can rack. Photo by Griffin Gatschet. Used with permission.

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Other Exterior Details

Water can. Note long, goose-neck spout. Photo from Google Images, attribution unknown.

Exterior air hose. Photo from Google Images, attribution unknown.

Windshield wiper dispenser. Photo from Google Images, attribution unknown.

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Other Exterior Details (cont'd)

Above: R C Baker Museum, Coalinga, CA.Photo from Google Images, attributable to Dylan Szoshke (possibly Czoschke). Contact info for photographer unavailable.

Below: Placard included in AMT 1/25 scale 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pick up truck kit. Contact info for photographer unavailable.

EduTRAIN™



Location unknown.Image located through Google Images, attributable to http://www.dailystormer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/gas11.jpg. No contact info available for photographer. EduTRAIN™



Other things that might be found outside:

Photos on this page collected from various on-line sources, including Google Images. Specific source not recorded at time of collection. Unable to locate exact photos again, so photographer contact info unknown.

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PUMP ISLAND


Check out this photo for details

INTERIOR DETAILS


In all shops:

►A workbench,

►tool boxes,

►a commercial air compressor (top right),

►floor jack(s) bottom, far right),

►a desk or counter,

►a cash register (bottom right),

►miscellaneous hand tools.

Photo collected from the Car Lounge Forum on-line, at http://forums.fourtitude.com.Contact info for photographer unavailable.

Photo collected from Middlesex, CT, Habitat for Humanity page at http://middlesexhabitatnews.blogspot.com/# Permission requested.

Photo collected from Google Images, attributable to A-1 Air Compressor Corp, http://www.a1air.com/. Permission requested.

EduTRAIN™

MORE INTERIOR DETAILS

There would be: one or more service bays,

and at least one may have a lift.

a welder,

an oxy-acetylene torch,

an anvil,

a vise,

a chain hoist,

a battery charger, and

a bench grinder could be found in most shops, (continued next slide)


Photos on this page collected from various on-line sources, including Google Images. Photographer attribution not available.

EduTRAIN™

a used oil receptacle, a lube grease pump, and axle

grease, spark plug cleaners, tire changers, a headlight screen, (see next

slide), a brake pot, and a parts cleaner

may be on hand, valve grinders, and other

specialized equipment, may be found depending on the level of service offered, and

fender covers, shop rags, and miscellaneous junk, including old batteries.

MORE INTERIOR DETAILS (CONT’D)


Photos on this page collected from various on-line sources, including Google Images. Photographer attribution not available.

EduTRAIN™

HEADLIGHT SCREEN

Headlight screenDiagram collected from the internet. Exact source unknown.


EduTRAIN™

MORE INTERIOR DETAILS (CONT’D)

Tire Service► Changing machine, or

► Tire irons and a rubber hammer;

► Tub Tube;

► Patching bench;

► Balancing tool (right), and

► Tires and wheels.


Photo collected from Google Images, attributable to http://www.harborfreight.com.

EduTRAIN™

GENERAL DETAILS

Other details: ► some provision for storage, of parts (spark plugs, oil filters,

fan belts, radiator hoses, etc.), supplies (oil, lube grease, etc.), and reference materials (service manuals).

► a selection of fan belts and radiator hoses.

► restrooms (optional).

► HVAC, including a method to evacuate exhaust gases.

► a waiting area, with chairs, low tables, and magazines or newspapers, might be found.

► a candy counter or machine, and a soda machine.

► an office area.


STAFF & CUSTOMERS

Staff: uniforms at company-owned stations, to give

motorists confidence, especially when in an unknown location.

independent, and smaller rural, locations may or may not have worn uniforms. However, coveralls or “bibbies” were common for mechanics.

Customers: should be dressed in appropriate period attire.

set up some plausible scenes inside and out.


SUMMARY

Exact details you use for your garage depend on several factors:

► Independent versus Company;

► Level of repairs performed; and

► Setting

► Urban

► Rural

Of course, they also depend on scale parts availability, or what you can scratch-build. Whatever your era, detail your garage and have fun!


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DETAILING A GAS STATION FOR THE TRANSITION ERA (c) 2014-2015 Gary Robinson A Presentation Prepared by Gary Robinson EduTRAIN™