Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: gas

"Kendall Tourist Camp - 1½ miles west of Silver Creek, N.Y. Motor route U.S. 20 - phone Silver Creek 40-J. 4A-H572." For additional information and images, see the Kendall Tourist Camp page on the Chautauqua County, New York, web site.

"Gas on Stomach for 20 Years. Exercies to help constipation (page 8). What to eat (page 12)." Constipated? Bloated? Nauseated by ads that discuss such topics? Then this small 1930s advertising booklet is for you! It discusses the benefits of Adlerika, a patent medicine that contained Epson salts and other ingredients with laxative properties. Do you suffer from other afflictions that you'd rather not discuss in mixed company? Then you only have to flip this reversible booklet over to read about the vitality of Vinol (see the cover on the other side below).

"No Man Loves a Tired Nervous Woman! Nor does a woman love a pepless man. How to get friends (page 9). How to hold your husband's love (page 12)." Are you tired, nervous, or--ahem!--pepless? If so, then you would surely benefit from reading this small 1930s advertising booklet. It extols the virtues of Vinol, a patent medicine that contained ingredients such as cod liver oil and beef peptones, plus alcohol (as much as 15 percent). Do you suffer from other unpleasant afflictions instead? Then you merely need to flip over this reversible booklet (similar to an upside-down book or a tête-bêche binding) to read about the wonders of Adlerika (see the cover on the other side below).

Caption on this real photo postcard: "A wonderful view, 15 m. E. of Cumberland. Yonker's Tower, top of Polish Mt., U.S. 40. Elv. 1340 ft." Sign at the top of the tower (to the right of the flag): "Yonkers." Sign on the tower below the Yonkers sign: "Mountains of Imperial, The Cream of All Ice Creams. Greatest View in Md." Yonker's Store and Observation Tower was a place where motorists could gas up, get a bite to eat, and enjoy the view at a high point along U.S. Route 40 in Maryland. Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of the building and tower .

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

Signs: At top: "[Meats]. Cash Store, A. J. Morel. Groceries." In windows: "The Morel Stores." Gas pump: "Socony Motor Gasoline."

Signs: Amoco, American Gas. U.S. Tires.

This blotter, depicting a boisterous political character named the "Hon. I. Save-on Gas," was part of a Depression-era advertising campaign for Amoco's "Orange American Gas." With the approach of the 1932 U.S. presidentital election pitting Republican incumbent Herbert Hoover against New York Democratic governor Franklin D. Roosevelt., Amoco encouraged motorists to "Vote the Economy Ticket!" and buy its orange gasoline. The gasoline was actually dyed orange so that motorists could identify it by color through the clear glass cylinders that were part of the gas pumps of the time. I'm not sure how Amoco's Economy Ticket fared, but voters ended up choosing Roosevelt over Hoover as president.

"Your windshield was cleaned by courtesy of Glass House Shell Servicecenter."

"The Pines, overnight cabins, dinners, gas, oil, cigars, Route 4, Hydeville, VT. Reasonable rates. Mrs. R. J. Wells, prop. A kozy kamp for tourists. Camp here."

"Coronado Gas Range, $69.95. Pay $1.25 a week." For a similar store sign, see Innerspring Mattress, $14.95 or 50¢ per Week .

A snapshot of "Johnny Gaso" (or "Gasso"), who was the "host of Wonderland," which was located in the Gas Exhibits Building at the New York World's Fair. The Johnny Gaso character was played by actors of short stature. For another photo, see the NYPL Digital Gallery's Gas Industries - Johnny Gasso, "Uncle Don" and man image. As Andrew F. Wood explains in his book New York's 1939-1940 World's Fair (Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2004), p. 104, visitors to the Gas Exhibits Building in 1940 saw a "Gas Wonderland" that included "mystery gardens, disappearing dwarfs, flaming cactus plants, and Tiny Town with talking houses."

Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Davidson . This real photo postcard doesn't bear a stamp or postmark but was addressed to: "Jessie Warner, Croton, Ohio." Handwritten message: "April 10, 1914. Dear Jessie, We wish you many more happy birthdays. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Davidson, Croton." If you have any interest in vintage photos like this that show people posing in front of their homes, please consider joining my new group Vintage House-Proud People . Here are some more examples of this kind of photo:

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

I think this was intended to be humorous at the time it was published a century ago, but I'm not sure that it seems as funny today.

Handwritten note on the back of this photo: "This is the place. Taken Sept. 12, '52. Come and see us." Handwritten by someone else: "[Eau] Claire, Wis. Simon's Gas Station." Signage on front of gas station building: "Texaco. Lear & Simon. Marfak Lubrication. Washing." Other signs, banners, and billboards around the gas station: Registered Rest Room. A Texaco Dealer Service. Grand Opening. Come in! Meet your new neighbor. B. F. Goodrich Tire. Defies skids! Grand opening today! Free gifts! Copenhagen. Outdoors, indoors, the best way to take tobacco. If you like beer you'll love Schlitz.

Printed on the back of this linen postcard: "Lesher's Diner, Routes 11 & 15, 28 miles north of Harrisburg, 28 miles south of Sunbury, Liverpool, Penna. Breakfast, luncheon, dinner. Specializing in steaks, chops, sea-food. Home-made pastries baked in our kitchen, Have your car serviced at adjoining AMOCO Station while dining in our delightful diner. 24 hour service. Photography by James E. Hess. Pub. by Mellinger Studios, Lancaster, Penna."

"Fort Hunter Park Service Station, Wm. Penn Highway (Routes 11 and 22), 6 miles north of Harrisburg, Penna. Luncheon service in an atmosphere of dignity. Unusually complete touring camp and picnic facilities." The Fort Hunter Park Service Station building is now part of the Fort Hunter Mansion and Park , which is a division of the Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department .