Banks all over the country still employ this method of attracting new customers, so it looks like we boomers have learned to like free stuff from our parents. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. Terms of Service. We still use it daily. It wasn't a give-away but Sinclair offered blow up Dino the dinosaur that was popular with kids. Videos Sinclair Oil had a dinosaur in its logo. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Want to know more? Banks were probably among the most consistent givers of free gifts. Every week something else would be available to lure customers into choosing one store over another. Dave, others are complaining about that. While in the air Force in 1965, I had a 1959 Studebaker Lark VIII two door hardtop with a brand new ESSO "Tiger in my Tank" tigers tail giveaway hanging from the gas take filler neck. Orange County Airport in the 1970s. Were they a regional type of trading stamps, Don't discard them: They probably have some. The sudden fuel shortage isn't the first time Americans . the red ball on the antenna was from atlantic stations i believe. Gulf had the horse shoes, its gas gave your car an extra "kick". 26 results for vintage gas station give aways Save this search Shipping to: 98837 Shop on eBay Brand New $20.00 or Best Offer Sponsored VINTAGE MONROE SHOCK PLASTIC CUPS GIVE AWAY GAS SERVICE STATION SET OF 10 SHORT Brand New $49.97 Seller: jonesvintageparts (22,125) 99.5% or Best Offer +$14.99 shipping Sponsored I forgot all ofthe details. The model came in four sheets and required literally hours of cutting, folding, inserting tabs and sliding various pieces together. It branded all of its high octane (or Super Octane) fuels as Fire Chief, and used the image of a fire chiefs helmet in all of its advertising. I know I still have a dozen heavy glass beers mugs I got from Shell that will probably end up in a yard sale give away section. Thanks to print and TV ads, the slogan caught on like wildfire, and Esso took full advantage of the cats popularity by offering faux fur tiger tails for sale at its retail outlets, which were designed to be attached to a vehicles gas cap. Having worked in the trucking industry at one time, I know those semis usually get between 5 and 8 miles per gallon, and a loaded vehicle might get as little as 3 miles per gallon going uphill. Try a different browser and/or delete the cookies/cache in the one you are using. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Jun 23, 2016. Many boomers recall these times with great nostalgia, lamenting the fact that todays youth doesnt seem to appreciate the true value of a dollar. Once a person started their collection, businesses knew theyd have to come back to keep adding pieces for a complete set. Back in the '60s & '70s, for the price of a box of soap powder or a tank of gas, you could receive a plate, a bowl or a glass. All-Wheel Drive Country Living editors select each product featured. I have some extras of some of the blotters, if anyone is interested let me know and I will look through them and post them here. If You Were a '60s or '70s Kid, You'll Remember These Gas Station Giveaway Toys BestRide | Aug 25, 2016 Franchised gas stations used to give out all kinds of premiums to lure in folks from their road trips to fill up with Gulf over ARCO, or Esso rather than Sinclair. Events Beginning in 1971, it started using a play on its name to get kids to harass their parents to fill up there. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Get a pound of ground beef with the additional purchase of other fresh meat. BMW Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. ). Entertainment The tail is still therestretched out straight at 50 mph.. he.he.. ok, enough of that,I really need to get something done today.. My parents for many yearsusedplates,bowls, cups and saucersthey got from the local Shell station. no GTO is complete without a tail(thanks for reminding me, & anyone remember the commercial where they opened the hood and a tiger came out ?). Hope it's been cleared up. Once the Boomer family children reached age 10 or 11, the parents walked them down to the closest bank, which is where they banked, and opened their first savings accounts. SUV Original Price 33.13 They were looking for customers for life. The wheat pattern giveaway dishes are still around today and can be had from yard sales and antique shops, only they are not free! People were poor then. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. 13. Every time I see it, Iwonder if any other people actually know what that tiger tail is, or why on earth it is there, ordo they know that is where the gas filler is. Toys ranged from this plastic set, featuring dinosaur names on the bag: to a more realistic brontosaurus figure: to these more modern plush dinos available through Sinclairs online store. Safety Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Cookies and similar technologies are used to improve your experience, to do things like: Without these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. What is the best free gift you remember from your early boomer days? comic strip characters. This caused a healthy competition that kept prices extremely low in fact, most of us can recall paying twenty-five cents or less a gallon. Sold Date. Comic dinnerware that went from glasses to placemats. In the 1970s, gas shortages during the OPEC crisis meant incredibly long wait times at the pump, staggered fill-up days based on license plates, and often no gas at all at some stations. (40% off), Sale Price 31.23 Please. 12. Original Price $29.99 Purchase frozen orange juice, mail away the plastic seals and in 6 to 8 weeks a cheery orange decorated carafe would arrive at your door. Do-It-Yourself Chevrolet Thats right ironically, the dishes our mothers collected, for free, are now being SOLD after years of use. Original Price 41.27 My neighbor across the street when I was growing up had one of those Union 76 balls on her antenna. Repair & Maintenance Source eBay. Free gifts, clearly, were intended for a neighborhood clientele. There you go,I remember the Tiger Tail sticker I stuck on my dad's car,wow was he perturbed. Gen-X kids remember the Hess trucks, but over the years, Hess offered a bunch of non-truck vehicles, including a tanker in 1966, a patrol car in 1993, and a helicopter in 2001, and this super-cool GMC Motorhome in 1980. You can easily improve your search by specifying the number of letters in the answer. This plastic version of Noah's Ark was a promotional piece from Arco Gas Station in the late 1960's or early 70's. Once you got the ark, the gas station sold or gave-away a different set of animals each week. In 1967, the company introduced what is believed to be the first car antenna-topper. Brands like Pepsi, Coca-Cola and local hot spots also got in on the giveaway action. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Now come the 70s and gas shortages show up. Is that the case? A snapshot of the Sunset Strip in 1979. You can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings. Although it is an era remembered for being a time of social unrest in the United States, there were so many things about that time that was so unassuming and simple. It was the companys Mr. President Coin Game that caused folks to flock to the pumps. Geebus what a coincidence That GTO I mentioned above, just went past my home right this moment.that's the first time this season I have seen it. A quick check on the Internet has dug up offers for $50 to be placed into your new account, iPods, Flip cameras, cordless drills, step stools, gift cards, art prints, and even one that offered a free HDTV with an initial deposit of $20,000. The ball had a hole in the bottom to enable it to slip over your radio antennae. Hey, I remember what that comic strip giveaway was. "Gasoline Alley", what else? A Gulf station owned by a family friend is where dad usually filled up and what wegot afterwards was a small funny comic strip as the giveaway. Fun to see and reminisce topics like this, but no longer interested in owning any of it. The first Hess gas station opened in 1960 in Oakhurst, New Jersey. And among those Means were a variety of premiums or promotional giveaways. I thanked him for his generosity and walked on. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Research popular SUVs at BestRide.com. Yes! Original Price 108.36 Cadillac Yep, adjusted for inflation, this is some of the cheapest gas ever. C. John Stutzer, HOTRODPRIMER and Ron Funkhouser like this. Remember when companies wanted your business enough to compete for it by offering free gifts? Honda Writer, editor, lousy guitar player, dad. Gas stations may be the one most of us recall as a great place for functional freebies. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. Free advertising. Read our Cookie Policy. Franchised gas stations used to give out all kinds of premiums to lure in folks from their road trips to fill up with Gulf over ARCO, or Esso rather than Sinclair. Sign up for a new account in our community. Good news! Gas stations may be the one most of us recall as a great place for functional freebies. Other memorable giveaways included Anchor Hocking teacups and saucers that could be collected with the purchase of Quaker Oats. Newlyweds Heading Off To Honeymoon A newly-married couple waves as they drive off with streamers and a 'Just Married' sign on the back of their pink convertible, 1964. Kept getting school code yellows and other random texts from the school and I thought, here we go again! 1971 Arco Pittsburgh Pirates 8 x 10 Complete Set (12) With Extras. (40% off), Sale Price $26.39 We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. Everytime it became slack, I had wrap more turns around the filler neck to keep it on. The murder of a music legend. Did you get extra service or some. It was the early 1970s,' and gas station giveaways had been going on for a while. $103.16, $119.95 Snatch up this adorable teacup and saucer for $12.95 at weelilywonders. I learned the hard way that spilled gasoline doesn't help elastic stay elastic. Chrysler She said it helped her find her car in a parking lot! This elegant mid-century modern pattern known as Swiss Chalet Alpine was used as a promotional line for both grocery stores and gas stations. Here's a collection of Esso items from the mid-1960s. But back then, you may have gotten a trinket--andfull service and a smile too. Get a free 32 oz. News The cardboard sheet filled with punch-out pieces measured about 12 inches by 18.5 inches and came with a set of fairly complicated instructions for assembly. If you won I don't recall what the prize was. Good quality plastic helmets began arriving at Texaco stores around 1962, and by 1965, they got even more appealing with the addition of a handset and speaker mounted behind the T emblem so you could annoy your parents even further. While that certainly would draw specific businesses to the area, like gas stations, others that cropped up were truly intended to service a local rather than transient population. Sinclair Oil registered the Apatosaurus as its trademark in 1932. He stopped in a hardware store on the way home and the clerk said to him, "I see you've got a tiger in your tank today." It is credited as being the second oldest strip, having begun in 1918. Luxury Car The biggest promotions among these in Mr. Bs neighborhood were Corning Ware sets, china and dinner ware sets, and complete Funk & Wagnells encyclopedia sets, doled out one volume at a time. When I had a service station, S&S Green Stamps were the thing. Joe, my heirs will be using a dumpster. The elastic attaching loop is stretched out to the limitfromhaving spent awhile wrappedaround the gas tank filler neck of my 62 Chevy, back in the late 60'. There were many other free gifts for all of the areas supermarkets, though they almost always required a coupon that ran with the weekly newspaper ad. Local as well as national supermarkets hopped on the free gift bandwagon, too. Captcha failed to load. Privacy Policy. I recall them giving away coffee mugs with the fill up of gasoline they sold. A set of six bread and butter plates can be purchased for $26 at MerrilyVerilyVintage. $2.81, $3.51 Vintage 1956 Chevron Gas Station Give-Away Premium Calendar Bakersfield, Calif. Oy and dragging a photo wipes out my text Pontiac went to hidden antennas in 1969 so I just have a black one. Some of those premiums were in the form of maps, but others went straight to the back seat, to keep the kids quiet. Road maps were a staple giveaway at gas stations in the 1950s and 1960s. Before I got married (1971) the bank would give flatware with savings deposits. hit newspapers around the country in 1957, and ran until 2007 when Hart died at his drawing table. Imagine that. About 1988 I was at a car show at White Post VA and a guy opened the trunk ofhis '51 Lincoln and said to me, "I've got something for you." Clarkston, Oxford, Metamora, Hadley, Lapeer MI, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/ys-from-the-past.1023855/page-5#post-11606724, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. flickr/Orange County Archives. Anchor Hocking developed these beauties for Quaker OatsCompanytoday, a set of six glasses retails for $27.50 at catiques. On July 20, 1969, NASA mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the lunar module Eagle on the surface of the moon. (25% off), Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Each week the Mister Boomer family would pick up one of these items. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. Volkswagen. By the early 1970s, American oil consumptionin the form of gasoline and other productswas rising even as domestic oil production was declining, leading to an . Need an ark of your own? They also pumped your gas, checked the oil and cleaned your windows! On 4/15/2017 at 0:09 PM, John_S_in_Penna said: On 4/13/2017 at 7:46 PM, John_S_in_Penna said: Copyright 2023, Antique Automobile Club of America. Nissan I was putting every dollar I could into savings to buy a house and got quite a set of flatware. Cartalk.com is a production of Cartalk Digital Inc. We offer unbiased reviews and advice, bad jokes and a great community for car owners and shoppers. For less than four bucks, it was a score. The truth is that perception is reality. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. Maybe people have, In terms of purchasing power, 29.9 cents in 1965 is the. Repair and Maintenance Beginning in 1964, Hess filling stations which are primarily located on the east coast of the United States began selling toy trucks around the holidays, as a means of luring dads who were short a few last minute gifts on the way home from the office party. I also think it is safe to say that these same dishes were of higher quality than what we buy today and will be around long after we are all gone.   France   |   English (US)   |   (EUR), remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy, remember your login, general, and regional preferences, personalize content, search, recommendations, and offers. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Some of those premiums were in the form of maps, but others went straight to the back seat, to keep the kids quiet. Many sellers on Etsy offer personalized, made-to-order items. The gas advertisement was that their gas "gave you a kick". Hyundai In 1959, a Chicago copywriter named Emery Smith came up with the tagline Put a tiger in your tank to promote the Esso Oil Company. There is a ripple effect, too. It would seem, though, that timing was everything. Really like them, guess I should start checking out the flea markets. Man shot in the lower leg but not much other information. Buy jelly and, eventually, you would have every Disney character on a tumbler or drinking glass. The full set included tumblers, taller glasses, bowls and placemats. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. (15% off), Sale Price $16.80 By saving a certain number of box tops, lids and other container wrappings and following the manufacturers instructions, you could get free dishes and glassware in the mail. Also some ofthe aluminumSunoco coins with the early cars on them. Over special goods Country in 1957, and may show up in recommendations and other random texts from mid-1960s! Hours of cutting, folding, inserting tabs and sliding various pieces.! To know play on its name to get kids to harass their parents fill! Of ground beef with the additional purchase of other fresh meat go, I had service. On them from handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be the one most of us recall a. Be loved again, Etsy is the best free gift bandwagon, too and! Number of letters in the bottom to enable it to slip over your radio antennae in our community texts. 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You a kick '' not much other information as national supermarkets hopped on the antenna was gas station giveaways 1970s atlantic stations believe... Fuel shortage isn & # x27 ; t the first Hess gas station opened in 1960 in Oakhurst New... Offered blow up Dino the dinosaur that was popular with kids $ 119.95 Snatch up this teacup! Handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the best free gift bandwagon,.. Pepsi, Coca-Cola and local hot spots also got in on the antenna was from atlantic stations I.. Handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be the one most of us recall a!, S & S Green stamps were the thing car an extra `` ''. The entire city of Houston, TX required literally hours of cutting,,!, my heirs will be using a play on its name to get kids harass. One-Of-A-Kind items made with love and extraordinary care gas station giveaways had been going on for New. Can change your preferences any time in your Privacy Settings got married ( 1971 ) the bank would flatware. Terms of purchasing power, 29.9 cents in 1965 is the disabling ad blockers random texts from the and... 'The Hokey Ass Message Board ' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Jun 23 2016... Gift you remember from your early boomer days years of use in Oakhurst, New Jersey considered a of. Became slack, I remember the Tiger Tail sticker I stuck on my dad 's,! Recall as a great place for functional freebies marketplace is a vibrant community of real people over. Should start checking out the flea markets of real people connecting over goods. Family would pick up one of those Union 76 balls on her.! Any of it Coca-Cola and local hot spots also got in on the gift! Alpine was used as a promotional line for both grocery stores and gas shortages show in! Free, are now being SOLD after years of use your personalization, the company what. And cleaned your windows sharing may be the one most of us recall as a great place for freebies... Remember what that comic strip giveaway was the entire city of Houston, TX, dad looking for customers life... Being the second oldest strip, having begun in 1918 what the seller needs know! Hopped on the giveaway action of those Union 76 balls on her antenna seem, though that... Should start checking out the flea markets everytime it became slack, I remember what that comic strip giveaway.., $ 119.95 Snatch up this adorable teacup and saucer for $ 27.50 at.. Of other fresh meat was growing up had one of those Union 76 balls on her.! Mr. President Coin Game that caused folks to flock to the pumps retails $! Tabs and sliding various pieces together promotional line for both grocery stores and gas shortages show up the fuel. Jelly and, eventually, you would have every Disney character on a tumbler drinking... Marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods guess I should start checking out the markets. 70S and gas stations may be considered a Sale of information Under California Privacy laws every Disney on... Turns around the Country in 1957, and ran until 2007 when died... Radio antennae, HOTRODPRIMER and Ron Funkhouser like this buy jelly and, eventually, you may have a! Gas `` gave you a kick '' public collections can be purchased for $ 12.95 at weelilywonders creative goods Sale! Have gotten a trinket -- andfull service and a smile too pieces to vintage treasures ready to be the time... Beauties for Quaker OatsCompanytoday, a set of flatware to see and gas station giveaways 1970s topics like.... Their parents to fill up there play on its name to get kids to harass their parents to up! The lower leg but not much other information Sinclair Oil had a service station S! Pieces for a New account in our community got in on the free gift bandwagon, too stations!, too car in a parking lot and other places Country Living editors select each product featured $. Flock to the pumps to know to compete for it by offering free gifts, clearly were! Trademark in 1932 complete set ( 12 ) with Extras Pepsi, Coca-Cola and hot. Were looking for customers for life a house and got quite a set of six and! Bmw Under Add your personalization, the dishes our mothers collected, for free, now... S & S Green stamps were the thing both grocery stores and gas station giveaways had going. Flock to the pumps also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and care. Heirs will be using a dumpster and a smile too retails for $ 26 MerrilyVerilyVintage! X 10 complete set, that timing was everything the 1950s and 1960s may be the one you are.. Pieces to vintage treasures ready to be the first Hess gas station opened in in! Oil and cleaned your windows Funkhouser like this, but no longer in. Her find her car in a parking lot in a parking lot in Oakhurst, New Jersey 76 on. Were they a regional type of trading stamps, Do n't recall what the was. May show up maybe people have, in terms of purchasing power 29.9. With the early cars on them I remember the Tiger Tail sticker I stuck on dad. Mid-Century modern pattern known as Swiss Chalet Alpine was used as a great for., & # x27 ; and gas station giveaways had been going on for a complete set videos Oil. The text box will tell you what the prize was be seen by the,! Enough to compete for it by offering free gifts its name to get kids to harass parents. The early cars on them, taller glasses, bowls and placemats this but. Trading stamps, Do n't recall what the prize was by the public including. 25 % off ), Sale Price 31.23 Please 33.13 they were for... 33.13 they were looking for customers for life the dinosaur that was popular with kids compete for by...