How Gas Stations Have Totally Transformed Over the Past Century
Ever wonder what it was like filling up in the good old days? A lot different, that's for sure. While gas stations have undergone plenty of welcome changes over the years, there are also many services and features road trippers would love to see make a comeback. We take a nostalgic look back at tanking up today versus yesterday.
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Before it was common to find filling stations (or, overseas, petrol stations) in the early 20th century, the first drivers could buy gas — first in open containers and then from free-standing pumps — at venues ranging from pharmacies and hardware stores to blacksmith shops and grocery stores. In some cases, drivers would pull up to a simple curbside station with pumps, according to the American Oil & Gas Historical Society; an example shows a Spitlers Auto Supply in Fredericksburg, Virginia, which closed in 1931. Curbside gas and other venues went out of fashion after Gulf Refining establishing dedicated, drive-through stations, the first opening in downtown Pittsburgh on Dec. 1, 1913, with free air, water, tire and tube installation, and a lighted marquee to protect drivers from bad weather.
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There were approximately 200,000 gas stations in the United States by the end of the 1920s — but reportedly only 111,100 gas stations by 2016. A changing marketplace, including from more fuel-efficient cars and cars that don't use gasoline at all, have made the business less profitable and less appealing.
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Today, you're lucky if you get a T-shirt or polo with a company logo as a gas station employee. In the past, attendants dressed to the nines, with bow ties, button-down shirts, caps, and more. Today, vintage uniforms can also be collectible — a recent scroll through Etsy showed, for example, a "rare find" of a Conoco uniform patch that could be had for about $28.
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Today, an attendant pumping gas is the exception rather than the rule. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, in 1947 the first self-service station was opened in Los Angeles with roller-skating attendants. Today, with the exception of New Jersey (where you're legally prohibited from pumping your own gas), it's most often a self-service world.
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In the past, you would drive your car over a hose that would sound a bell, summoning an attendant. Wondering how the hose and bell worked? A few participants took part in a chat on a Google Groups forum analyzing the system, evidence that the bell is not forgotten. You can even buy your own driveway signal bell on Amazon.
Gas stations as roadside attractions still exist — the increasingly rare tourist destination where the gas can seem secondary to the design or unique amenities. Quartz published the 10 "most beautiful" gas stations in the world, which may make you wish your next fill-up was in Finland, where one gas station has sleeping areas, a restaurant, and a sauna.
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Have you ever said, "Look at that new beautiful gas station they're building?" Probably not, but gas stations are also a way to track architectural trends. Gizmodo tracked the architectural evolution of the filling station with its survey of more than 60 examples. Today, you may encounter an occasional retro-inspired station or a rare innovative design by a notable architect, but more often than not, stations are designed with utility in mind, not aesthetics.
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Types of pumps (from handcranks and gravity-fed tanks to globe-topped tanks and computerized systems), grades of gasoline, payment methods — gas stations evolve constantly to keep up with improvements in cars and customer demands for convenience. Charging stations for electric vehicles are the latest development for the industry. For those who want to know more, the Union of Concerned Scientists posted pretty much everything you might want to know about these plug-in charging stations.
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In the past, you'd pull out your wallet and pay the man. Today, it's a tap of the screen, a scan of the credit or debit card, or cash. Cash isn't king, though, when you have to go inside the gas station to pay. And where paying at the pump was once considered a major innovation, gas companies are enabling customers to buy gas via smartphones and other devices. (Are you using a card? Skimmers and other sneaky practices by thieves mean there are reasons to hesitate before paying with debit cards; there are more consumer protections with credit cards.)
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"Check your oil?" For decades, that was the question when you pulled up to the pump as full-service station attendants would check everything from oil level to tire pressure. Today, most drivers head to Jiffy Lube or other dedicated service shops if they're in need oil or fluids. But since Mobil Oil suggests that it's not optimal to check oil when the engine is hot, maybe the end of this trend isn't the worst thing.
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Just as an attendant would check your oil in the past, you'd also have your windshield — front and rear — washed while your gas was being pumped. It was an expected part of the service. Today, you may find a squeegee and some dirty water near the pump if you're inclined to do it yourself.
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Not every gas station has a (working) air pump anymore. In the past, if the attendant wasn't available to help, you could pull to the side and check the air in your tires yourself, sometimes for free or for the price of a quarter. Today, a station with an air pump is increasingly a rarity — though, thanks to today's technology at your fingertips, you can plug in a ZIP code to FreeAirPump to find one near you.
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You probably haven't tried to walk into a gas station and get a map lately — chances are you haven't used a paper map in years. Diehards might continue the map quest, but with GPS, the trusty fold-up version has gone by the wayside. "The first generally distributed oil company road maps are usually credited to Gulf. In 1913, they opened the first drive-in gas station on Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh's east end and began handing out road maps," writer Harold Cramer says.
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Today, it's rare to find someone working at a station who can give good directions. Most often a request for help will be met with a blank stare or "I don't live around here." Wondering what they should be doing instead? Starting and ending directions with a memorable landmark helps the most.
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Gas stations may have quirky holiday-themed tchotchkes on the counter such as chocolate roses for Valentine's Day, but unless you're within sight of the Grand Canyon, Walt Disney World, or other touristy destinations, local souvenirs such as keychains, magnets, or bumper stickers (remember those?) have become rare. And even when you do find a station that sells souvenirs, they tend to be generic items rather than anything locally made. Today, you can hit up BuildASign.com to create your own bumper sticker (from $2.39).
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Branding is not a new thing, even if it wasn't called that back in the day. Gas stations would not only emblazon maps with their logo, but would give out premiums for purchases, such as drinking glasses, figurines, coins, and for adults, ashtrays, lighters, and bottle openers, creating a contemporary collectible category along the way. These days you can still buy a few branded items such as the Hess toy truck — a hugely popular holiday collectible — but other types of memorabilia are hard to come by. The National Association of Convenience Stores reports that, even as self-service stations posed a threat to old-fashioned filling stations, "The major oil companies continued to compete with one another via unique gimmicks — such as gasoline-pump shaped salt and pepper shakers and promoting clean restrooms."
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Video screens on many gas pumps keep you company as you pump gas these days. They might share the weather, celebrity news, or even a word of the day — and, of course, advertisements. The looping videos may drive some of us crazy, but they show no sign of going away. GSTV, one of the largest purveyors of the screens, is in more than 24,000 locations nationwide. Perhaps more unnerving, companies such as GSTV may already know who is at the pump, based on credit card and smartphone location data, and play ads and content specifically tailored for you.
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The old gas stations of the past might have some gum for sale, but today it's a virtual supermarket at your fingertips. There are potato chips and aspirin, wine and eggs, and more. If it's 3 a.m., you can still snag a hot dog and pick up beer, cigarettes, or lottery tickets. And if you're really lucky, you may just stop into one of the gas station convenience stores that lure travelers with incredible food that you wouldn't typically expect. Some online features have also touted them as places for holiday gifts.
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A simple cup of hot coffee might have been a welcome sip to a traveler even a decade ago. That doesn't cut it anymore, as you have your choice of a dozen blends, flavors, creamers, sweeteners, and even lid type. Gas-station coffee is actually a thing deserving of ranking by USA Today.
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The town gas station, much like the diner or dentist's office, used to be a place to hear the latest gossip. While you may run into a neighbor these days, the gas station as the place where everyone in town would go — and be seen — is simply not the way of today. The New York Times noted nearly a decade ago how small towns now more often turn to the web for community forums.
Back in the day, you paid with cash. Today, even as there seems to be less cash than ever as people turn to cards and phone payments, the gas station is the most popular places for ATMs besides banks and convenience stores, National ATM Wholesale reports. What's more, thousands of bitcoin ATMs are springing up, too.
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A reflection of today's increased awareness, some gas stations are being built with an eye on the environment. To save energy, solar panels are often integrated into their canopies.
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Traditionally, roadtrippers stop at the gas station for gas — and relief. These days, though, you will not always find an open (or well-maintained) facility. Because of that, surveys such as the ranking by GasBuddy, an app that tracks fuel prices, revealing the cleanest gas station restrooms in every state, are a must-read.
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Warehouse clubs such as Costco and supermarkets often have on-site gas stations where prices are tied to their membership or frequent-shopper cards. Instead of two trips, today's multitasking consumer can do it all on one property.
