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Stop 17

Stop 16 at the Filling Station Museum, Quincy FL
17A- Shell Scalloped Gas Pump Globe
17B- Colonial Minuteman & Colonial Eagle Gasoline Globes
17C- Conoco and Phillips 66 Gas Globes
17D- Collection of Gulf Oil Products

17A -Shell Scalloped Gas Pump Globe

Shell Scalloped Glass Gas Pump Globe at Filling Station Museum Quincy FL

Top Shelf: This Shell gas pump globe dates back to the 1940s-1950s. These globes were typically placed atop pumps, often lit from within to advertise the station’s fuel brand at night.

The scallop shell logo, adopted by Shell in 1904, was inspired by the company’s origins in the seashell trade—its founders, Marcus Samuel and his brother, initially imported seashells from the Far East before transitioning to oil.

Fun Fact:

He Sells Sea Shells:  Shell’s founders started as seashell importers in the 1830s, and the scallop shell logo was a nod to this heritage. 

During the 1940s and 1950s, Shell was officially known as Royal Dutch Shell. It was one of the world’s leading oil companies, formed by the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading.

Shell invested heavily in exploration, refining, and marketing, establishing itself as a pioneer in the global oil industry. In the 1950s, Shell began researching renewable energy, though it wouldn’t become a focus until decades later, it was an early sign of the company’s adaptability.

The company also played a key role in wartime efforts. During World War II, Shell developed 100-octane aviation fuel, which gave Allied planes a performance edge.

17B -Colonial Minuteman & Colonial Eagle Gasoline Globes

Colonial Gas Pump Globes at Filling Station Museum Quincy FL

Second Shelf From Top – Left:

This Colonial Minuteman Gasoline globe features a silhouette of a Minuteman and the “Colonial” name in blue lettering. Introduced in the mid-20th century by Colonial Beacon Oil Company, this globe was used atop gas pumps to advertise the brand’s regular gasoline. The Minuteman logo with red, white and blue coloring, evoked the spirit of the American Revolution, a key marketing tool to connect with consumers, emphasizing quality and national pride.

The Colonial Beacon Oil Company, founded in 1913 and based in Boston, was a significant regional player in the Northeast U.S. oil market. Colonial was initially a subsidiary of Standard Oil of New York. By the 1930s, it rebranded with patriotic imagery like the Minuteman to stand out, offering gasoline, heating oil, and lubricants. The company merged with Socony-Vacuum in 1947, marking the end of its independent branding.

Fun Fact: 

Looks Familiar:

The Minuteman silhouette was inspired by the famous statue on Lexington Green, a Revolutionary War site.

Right:

The Eagle logo on some Colonial products, like the companion globe on the right, signified a premium blend, showing the company’s effort to diversify its offerings. Colonial’s marketing leaned heavily on regional identity, which helped it compete with larger national brands.
Fun Fact: 

Inspired by Nature:

The Eagle logo was designed by a Boston artist in 1935, inspired by American wildlife. Colonial Eagle glass globes were produced in limited runs, making them rarer than Minuteman versions.

17C -Conoco & Phillips 66 Gas Globes

Conoco and Phillips 66 Gas Globes at Filling Station Museum Quincy FL
Left- Conoco Flite-Fuel Sign: The Conoco Flite-Fuel globe is a striking plastic gas globe featuring the iconic red triangle logo. Introduced in the mid-20th century by Continental Oil Company (Conoco), this globe was used at service stations to advertise Flite-Fuel, a high-performance gasoline blend marketed for its efficiency. The triangular logo, a symbol of stability and modernity, became a recognizable marker for drivers during the 1940s to 1960s.
Fun Fact:

Gentlemen Prefer Bronze: In the late 1930s this slogan was part of a clever marketing campaign that also featured The Conoco Travel Bureau which offered drivers free travel advice.

Conoco, founded in 1875 in Utah as a small refining operation, grew into a major U.S. oil company by the mid-20th century. It was headquartered in Ponca City, Oklahoma. By the 1940s, Conoco expanded its brand with products like Flite-Fuel, targeting the growing automotive market post-World War II. The red triangle logo, adopted in the 1930s, reflected a shift toward a sleek, modern identity, helping Conoco compete with rivals like Shell and Texaco. In 2002, Conoco merged with Phillips 66, but its vintage signage remains a nostalgic emblem of mid-century American motoring.
Fun Fact:

Early Globetrotters:

Phillips sponsored the Phillips 66ers basketball team, winning Olympic gold in 1948.
Right – Phillips 66 Gas Globe: Phillips Petroleum Company, founded in 1917 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, emerged as a key player in the oil industry by the mid-20th century. The 66 brand was launched after the 1927 test run, capitalizing on the growing popularity of Route 66. The company expanded nationwide, offering gasoline, motor oils, and aviation fuel, and its shield logo became synonymous with reliability. In 2002, Phillips merged with Conoco, but the 66 branding remins popular in american car culture.

17D -Collection of Gulf Oil Products

Collection of Gulf Oil Products at Filling Station Museum Quincy FL
This collection of Gulf Oil memorabilia offers a fascinating glimpse into the mid-20th century, showcasing the brand’s diverse product range beyond gasoline. Featuring items like torch fuel, livestock spray, motor oils, and repair tubes, these pieces highlight Gulf’s influence on both automotive and household markets from the 1940s to 1970s. Adorned with the iconic orange disc logo, each item reflects the company’s innovative marketing and its role in shaping American suburban and rural life.
Bottom Left: The Gulf Patio Torch Fuel can is a sturdy metal container with a vibrant orange and blue Gulf logo, featuring a flame graphic and “Patio Torch Fuel” in bold text. Used from the 1950s to 1970s, this one-gallon can held citronella oil, designed to fuel outdoor torches for pest control and ambiance. This is an example Gulf Oil’s wide range of products beyond gasoline, appealing to homeowners. It was a common sight at hardware stores and gas stations, reflecting the era’s trend of multi-purpose petroleum products.
Fun Fact:

Grill Culture:

Some cans of Gulf Patio Torch Fuel were sold with matching torch stands as a promotional set during a time that the backyard BBQ and grilling became popular.
Bottom Right: The Gulf Livestock Spray can is a weathered metal container with the orange Gulf logo, labeled “Livestock Spray” to repel pests from farm animals. Popular in the 1940s to 1960s, this can dispensed an oil-based insecticide, used by farmers to protect cattle and horses.
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