All those hardworking souls of the now dearly departed could never have imagined 70 years later the entire world would be entertained by there efforts........wow!
The old "Colonial style" Texaco station. One of those stood in my hometown well beyond the Arab oil embargo in the early 70s which led to the demise of the full service locally owned "service station" My Dad owned a Texaco station from 1967 to 73, albeit his building was a more modern design. Back then, it was an easy way for a common man to realize the dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. My Dad made it work, it wasn't easy and there were many weeks where we ate beans and potatoes, but eventually, he made it and he was so proud and happy. Thanks for the happy memories from this video.
@InfiniteMushroom: Love the screen name! There was a place in Orlando that sold 70's era items like black lights, bongs, hookahs, and more importantly, concert tickets. It was called the Infinite Mushroom. I remember the local pharmacy too. Being a pharmacist back then was way different. Just like the service station, that concept fell victim to government regulations.
@InfiniteMushroom: Dude! If you tell me you turned your ZETA 7 tag on the front of your car upside down after they went off the air in protest, I'm going to have a major league freak out. If you don't know what I'm talking about then never mind LOL! It's just about Rock and Roll. We ain't old my friend, we just had it better than everyone else. #boomersrule #rockandrollneverforgets #deadheadsforever
InfiniteMushroom: Brother, you just made my day. It's a downright pleasure talking to you. Sometimes the world ain't so big after all and good music bridges the gaps. Maybe that's what this crazy old world could use right about now. I'd like to buy you a beer but You Tube might demonitize us both. So I'm going to hoist one to the Infinite Mushroom as soon as they open the Bars back up.
@InfiniteMushroom You forgot to mention how the GOP defunded public schools so they could create stupid, mindless automatons who reliably vote Republican and don't mind having their pockets picked by rich assholes who don't give a shit about them. You actually think Trump cares about you?
A time when almost everyone working in this film could afford to purchase a house - on one salary! Difficult to imagine today. Thanks for uploading this to UA-cam. Cheers.
I think it was just great that somebody thought to film this and keep a piece of history alive ,,everything done by hand too, no electric tools at all ,very cool stuff
Back in the day when a working man wore hats to keep the sun and sweat out of his eyes...Back when a service station was the place to go for full service gas, oil changes and lube, car wash, repairs and an ice cold bottle of Coke Cola...
I worked through high school in a Texaco. By the time I was 16 I had worked at a Gulf station and a Philips 66 truck stop. The Texaco station owner was an accomplished mechanic who took the time to teach me along the way.
I was born a year before this construction, and grew up around real men, who took pride in their work, and were not afraid to work. Some people say there were no good old days, but I would strongly disagree with them. Then, men were men, and women were women, God fearing, family loving, hard working, and morally superior to anyone today. Yeah, call me what you will but that was the Golden Generation, and I am proud to have been fortunate enough to grow up during that time.
So what's your major point douchebag ? Besides that you're obviously a spelling professor from youtube University. We're impressed. The difference between a hippie and a snowflake like yourself is what exactly ? They're all one in the same. Fifth Column scumbags!
Simply amazing. I own an apartment building that was built in 1953 in Southern CA. It always amazes me that some of the techniques employed in those days are still being used today. Obviously building science has come along way, but the hard work involved has not changed much. Bravo America!!
I always said that myself. I wanted to be born in 1913 like my grandpa. It is quite an obsession of mine to be looking up these old documentaries and daydreaming about those times. I'd give up all technology, but youtube is keeping me fed with all these gems.
@@cooljohn1977 I live in a small town in Ontario, Canada. In 35 years in this house I have never once locked my doors, and the keys are always in my truck.
@InfiniteMushroom , I do understand your point of view, but we have to believe in a New World. The History is made by people around the world, good people and bad people. Unfortunately the world is still controlled by the bad people. Power and Money is the symbol of success to them. Let's believe in a New World. There are still good American people and good Brazilian people. Best regards.
The carpenters reminded me of my father who did this and more back then...They had real hand saws that you had to use to believe how good they were to cut...He used that type Ready-Mix concrete trucks to pour concrete on his jobs...Boy times have changed in how its done today...
Wow! Cannot believe how sharp and clear this home movie is. A wonderful look back. Wonder if anybody can identify any of the men in this video? Thanks so much for adding it to Good Old Days in Mattoon.
Thanks for posting this home movie in living color yet. It was a fascinating glimpse into the past. Those old cars were great. I especially would like to own that awesome looking red Studebaker pick up truck. What an odd way those men washed a car.
A Texaco station of that era is now a Dunkin Donuts in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on Rt. 213 at the intersection of the Old Lincoln Highway. It was a Texaco gas station until at least 1975.
This is when America was great. People took pride is their jobs and the quality of the product they delivered. Employers equally valued their employees and took care of them. All that is long gone. Very sad!
They still had the gold standard in '53. When money was actually worth something and the purchasing power of the dollar was at near peak. The federal reserve system has basically destroyed what is left of this country. Purchasing power is now at all time lows.
This station is at the corner of 19th (Route 45) and Champaign Streets in Mattoon, Illinois. It was built by Texaco and leased to Charles McGinnis, who operated it until 1985. A picture of the completed station is here: www.pinterest.com/pin/486811040944304848/ The building is still there, but heavily modified. The roof is different and another building has been added to the front. The building for the white Conoco station with the curved glass blocks you can see catty corner from this station in the film is still there too and it looks much the same.
I hadn't watched this video in a year and came back to see it again...always wondered about the fate of it and glad to see your comment. Thanks for the information. I was saddened though as I watched the new construction go up that the old canopy station was going to be torn down after the modern station was finished.
A few observations: Many, if not most, of the work pants legs are roll-up cuffed. Most workmen of the day wore 6 or 8" lace up ankle boots. Everybody kept their shirts tucked in unless stretching had just pulled it out. Many are not wearing gloves. Most of the workers in this film use tobacco, either by smoking, chewing, or snorting dry snuff. Concrete slabs prior to 1955 rarely had steel reinforcement rod in them, allowing one man to insert a jack bar underneath a tear-out slab and lift up slightly while others simply shocked it with sledgehammers to break it apart... impossible to do with steel reinforcement. A properly sharpened handsaw with the correct set in the teeth is just as fast at cutting lumber on the spot as plugging in and dragging a cord for a circular saw. No logos on the caps or t-shirts. All the trucks and many of the cars have manual transmissions and no-power anything. No buildings in the view have air conditioning. All phones are inside and all are rotary dial. The service attendant washes the windows, checks oil, gas, belts, brake fluid, radiator and battery levels.
I’m tired of this lie that that time was good for only some people. Were there problems like racism, sexism etc? Yes. Are the same problems still an issue, yes. However across all groups of Americans, two parent households were the norm, morality was a concern, there was far less crime, drugs, taxation etc. Above all there was one word that really doesn’t exist now SHAME. People didn’t engage in certain behaviors because there was shame. Those problems mentioned existed yes, it’s just that they are at an all time high now. The media has made us sick as well. The intellect and capability level of a majority at that time was far higher as well. If we want to turn our noses up at America at that time, then we’re basically saying a nation of children who don’t have fathers in their lives, hatred of men, High crime, celebrating violent culture is superior. So, basically people who have bought into this lie just believe what the media spoon feeds them.
I don't know how many people realize that Corporations were in the 90% tax bracket back then. Everybody paid their "fair share" and everyone was HAPPY! LOL
As someone who finances gas stations and convenience stores and a lot of them ground up construction projects, I was thrilled and watched every second of this video. Gulf and Texaco were always my favorite brand and was sad to see the Texaco brand go for a few years but equally happy to see them re-introduced. Thank you for posting this!
Every now and then you see an old gas station, likely from the 50's, with porcelain-enameled steel panels on the exterior. There are at least two of these in my city.
+TheSpazModic There used to be one in Franklin, PA and it was torn down to make room for a Sheetz. I'm not sure if it was a Texaco station but yeah, the Sheetz there took its place along with two or three other buildings next to the gas station...
@@1982kinger they were still in Mexico waiting for all the work to be done so they could swoop in later and reap the rewards of everyone else's hard work.
Love the guy at 8:54. Pumps are active as this is clearly an addition being built. Guys are working and the Delivery just came in from the Texaco tanker earlier.
Me too. I was about 3 years old at the time this video was made. I remember the old gas stations where you could fill up your bicycle tires with air for free. I worked at an Arco station for about 4 months back in 1970. I pumped gas, washed windshields, checked and filled oil, radiators, and helped with some minor mechanical jobs. Fun. Good memories.
silverbird58 the rest of the world doesn’t need America’s dumb ass anymore and now YOU are the proverbial puppet on the string ...economy tanking wages stagnant and China positioning itself for global domination lmao...you thought you could scare China with tariffs but the 50s are over
@@thetruthandnothingbutthetr6484 A real American wouldn't talk shit about America he would stand up for his neighbor and fight for his country. A true American loves God family and friend and knows which bathroom to piss in!
@silverbird58 actually in the 1950's we were in Korea, still rebuilding Japan and Germany.. so much more around the world.. education is a bad thing to waste
I miss those old stations I saw growing up. I pass an old Shell station once a month in run down condition and being used as a repair garage. You can tell right away it was a Shell station by its design but in this case, it still has the "Service is Our Business" writing across the top of the bays.
@@joed9491 now you see how annoying it is when some one jams through a comment that no one asked about?? U don't like it do you. If you are going to make a comment expect comments. It's like me telling you I miss the 60s but u didn't ask me about the 60s learn to stfu once in a while
This was America at its best. I caught the very end of this type of lifestyle. We were free and the future was limitless. That type of attitude still burns inside me and i hope it does in you.I don't just miss these days, i want to recreate them.
When I worked for a big oil jobber we would take those old pumps to the landfill and tip them off the truck they had a lot of porcelain signs too. Never knew they would be such a hot item
Hope a handful of these workers are still alive today. A few of them would be well over 90 years of age. What it would be like to hear this with pure sound, right?
The late '40's and the early '50's are the the golden decade as far as American cars are concerned. Beautiful round shapes and only a hint of tailfins in sight...
The 50s were the best years I don't know why many like me are so hungry for those years, we still have that melancholia was the best time for cars, music, and fast food.
This presentation presents the construction of a new Texaco station. Texaco is a major brand of gasoline used in automobiles and trucks. Shown here are cinder blocks, wooden boards, concrete, metal, hoses, various fuel lines, and men working to put the parts together, including bosses who are overseeing the operation. There is no sound to indicate what the men are saying so some of our UA-cam listeners may be disappointed that they will not be able to hear any jokes or any utterances in which workers might be getting chewed out.
And now is a classic station abandoned somewhere on the side of the road, in the USA!😥sad! I've seen so many of them on the roads going down west. Places like route 66 going west from Illinois to st. Louis, Oklahoma, New mexico, Arizona, is like a ghost town! So sad to see! That was the golden era of traveling, site seing. Stoping for gasoline and getting a full service without getting out of the car, as a kid growing up in those day's! I bet you couldnt wait to be an adult to be driving and experience the same things you father did in those day's. The good all day's! Simpler times indeed.
My God! How did these guys ever SURVIVE ? I don't see any hard hats, I don't see any railings around that roof edge, neither the masons, nor the guy on the ladder were tied off, and where was our dear friend the OSHA inspector when that guy was talking his own life into his hands and those around him when he climbed that boom to fix the cable? (ten feet off the ground)
Just another day at work for these guys back in 1953. I asked my Dad one time "What was it like in the 50's?" He shrugged his shoulders and simply said, "It was the 50's". This wouldn't be interesting if it was in black and white.
That is HARD work! Been there and done it. Would rather use my CORDLESS circular saw! lol
2 місяці тому
This appears to have been in Illinois. Caldwell’s Oil Supplies was run by Ray Caldwell Jr. who passed away in 2004 at the age of 80. He ran the company for 30 years, 1948-1978.
I’m guessing Mattoon, IL, or somewhere close by. At 9:46, you can see the sign for the contractor, it says Mattoon, IL. You can also see Mattoon on the door of the blue truck at 5:37, and the on the red truck at 8:50. This is what it looked like in the 50s: i.pinimg.com/originals/64/a9/b0/64a9b056ebce82aa0f44b5ec97320c27.jpg And this is what is left of it today: goo.gl/maps/J3R8n7ep8pYCGbCa7
Looks like the same building, but drastically remodeled over the decades. The office that did have a corner door, looks like it was enlarged so that angle corner is now inset (term?). Roof probably had to be replaced at some point and a flat roof was cheaper than the original design.
@@abie1308 You have the correct intersection, but the building in the video is on the opposite corner, or kitty corner from the one you shared. You can actually see the building you posted at 1:14 of the video across the intersection. The Portion of the building being constructed in this video appears to be still standing. However, the older tile roofed portion of the building appears to have been torn down.
@@abie1308 The building you gave is actually kitty corner from the texaco in this video, it can be seen very well at 2:36 past the cement truck and still hasnt changed a bit. but the texaco is much different now, the only part still standing is what they built in this video, just the garage extension. www.google.com/maps/place/Scheff's+UPS+Drop+Off+%26+Printing/@39.4854916,-88.3777939,3a,75y,291.23h,88.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scle8SNtg5rNIBlsvsSmaxA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8873110d13feef37:0x4048521a3f2f2466!8m2!3d39.4855825!4d-88.3781234
@@abie1308 Go up the street a bit, this looks more like it, at 513 N. 19th Street. www.google.com/maps/@39.4876349,-88.3777764,3a,18.3y,265.48h,89.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slSmAci4QnYicZe4aCFaWdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I wonder if any of these men including the camera,am could have guessed that this would be seen by thousands of people 50 years later, on color home tv's with selectable content.
Before gas stations were built in the 1920s, gas was sold from houses along the side of the road. They were called gas houses. When my father was a boy, during the 20s, him and his friends called themselves the "gas house gang".
You can see signs that say Mattoon IL throughout the video, I did some googling and found this photo of what the station looked like when it was new: i.pinimg.com/originals/64/a9/b0/64a9b056ebce82aa0f44b5ec97320c27.jpg And this is what is left of it today (go to street view): goo.gl/maps/riPB4neWCYfStY2Y6
Although almost everybody used them, gas stations were some of the most deeply hated business installations in America. Virtually every zoned community imposed strict regulations on them. For instance, they often were forbidden near schools, for fear of fire or explosion.
Notice the uniforms of the station employees.. -Most all stations contracted with local laundry service, for the providing, cleaning, mending etc of uniforms, bathroom towels, shop rags, etc. So along with a "well oiled" professional station look, the local laundry services also benefited hugely from all the local station business (significant increased number of local community jobs back then). The institutional laundry service here in my town, now, is a smaller operation than it was 50 years ago..
I was in high school from 1965 to '69. One of my best friends was the full-time swing shift station attendant at the Eureka Way Richfield throughout most of those years. He was allowed to do homework late in shift (brother-in-law owned the station). My friend also wore a station uniform. We learned work ethic back then. After high school, my friend completed a 4 yr Admin. of Justice degree at Sac State in 3 yrs. Now public schools (high schools) frown on, discourage, even prohibit (some) young people from working while attending school. I worked after school, and it didn't "damage" me any, academically or otherwise!! -At age 16, I bought/maintained my own (used/"fixer-upper") car, etc. (Bought most of my own clothes while in high school..-I wore expensive Levi jeans, Pendleton shirts, Bates Floater shoes. Whereas my mom bought economy generic cloths for me, if/when I didn't buy my own).
I don't think so, that's what I was hoping at first, the old station is so much cooler than the new one. But if you notice the wall of the old station is pretty raw, like something had been stripped off, and even more significantly the facing wall of the new station has windows on that side. This building still exists, and there is no sign of the old station. www.google.com/maps/@39.4876349,-88.3777764,3a,18.3y,265.48h,89.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slSmAci4QnYicZe4aCFaWdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Service stations served an inportant function. FAST minor car repair,cheap oil change tire repair quick&cheap,pumping ladies gasoline or if you didn't like smelling like it😁, Directions before google. They were great for a lot of things,But large oil companies could make a killing selling coffee and candy.When your fanbelt breaks on an interstate @ 1am good luck!.
All those hardworking souls of the now dearly departed could never have imagined 70 years later the entire world would be entertained by there efforts........wow!
That station was a work of art in my eyes..people took pride in a job well done.
The old "Colonial style" Texaco station. One of those stood in my hometown well beyond the Arab oil embargo in the early 70s which led to the demise of the full service locally owned "service station" My Dad owned a Texaco station from 1967 to 73, albeit his building was a more modern design. Back then, it was an easy way for a common man to realize the dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. My Dad made it work, it wasn't easy and there were many weeks where we ate beans and potatoes, but eventually, he made it and he was so proud and happy. Thanks for the happy memories from this video.
@InfiniteMushroom: Love the screen name! There was a place in Orlando that sold 70's era items like black lights, bongs, hookahs, and more importantly, concert tickets. It was called the Infinite Mushroom. I remember the local pharmacy too. Being a pharmacist back then was way different. Just like the service station, that concept fell victim to government regulations.
@InfiniteMushroom: Dude! If you tell me you turned your ZETA 7 tag on the front of your car upside down after they went off the air in protest, I'm going to have a major league freak out. If you don't know what I'm talking about then never mind LOL! It's just about Rock and Roll. We ain't old my friend, we just had it better than everyone else. #boomersrule #rockandrollneverforgets #deadheadsforever
InfiniteMushroom: Brother, you just made my day. It's a downright pleasure talking to you. Sometimes the world ain't so big after all and good music bridges the gaps. Maybe that's what this crazy old world could use right about now. I'd like to buy you a beer but You Tube might demonitize us both. So I'm going to hoist one to the Infinite Mushroom as soon as they open the Bars back up.
God those were some of the best days of the United States of America this country will never be so fun and honest and honorable ever again
My favorite Turd The country is fine. It's the federal government that sucks. Corrupt beyond belief.
@@gwarlow Civil war is next
@InfiniteMushroom You forgot to mention how the GOP defunded public schools so they could create stupid, mindless automatons who reliably vote Republican and don't mind having their pockets picked by rich assholes who don't give a shit about them. You actually think Trump cares about you?
@@sd31263 Pockets picked by a Republican? Name one Republican that enacted job killing legislation or tax hikes you dumb liberal.
@@myfavoriteturd7855How is the Civil War comment holding up pal? Hasn’t aged well huh?🙄.
Good quality film. Manual labor, hand saws, flat roof, etc. They did a fine job on that station.....
Beautiful CRAFTSMANSHIP!
A time when almost everyone working in this film could afford to purchase a house - on one salary! Difficult to imagine today. Thanks for uploading this to UA-cam. Cheers.
I think it was just great that somebody thought to film this and keep a piece of history alive ,,everything done by hand too, no electric tools at all ,very cool stuff
Electric buffer during 1 of the waxing scenes.
Imagine how strong these guys were? They could take these pussy body builders today and make them cry for their mommies.
@@artsmith103 - Air i believe, but yeah.
Back in the day when a working man wore hats to keep the sun and sweat out of his eyes...Back when a service station was the place to go for full service gas, oil changes and lube, car wash, repairs and an ice cold bottle of Coke Cola...
and SERVICE!.
I don't know why everyone is so surprised, I see all kinds of cordless tools
😂😂😂😂 good one!
Yes, operated by hand.
back in the good ol days when everyone worked and spoke English
Lol. Indeed they are sir. 😁
@Hiccum Blurpaedius no shit
Studebaker made the best looking trucks, neat movie thanks for sharing it!
Studebaker made some of the HIGHEST QUALITY vehicles! Too bad mismanagement helped to bring it all down!!
I worked through high school in a Texaco. By the time I was 16 I had worked at a Gulf station and a Philips 66 truck stop. The Texaco station owner was an accomplished mechanic who took the time to teach me along the way.
Hard to believe, but some of these 'service stations" actually did engine rebuilds in the "corner" during off hours! That's what I call SERVICE!!
@@TheOzthewiz it’s where I learned to rebuild engines and a lot more.
I love his vídeo. I remember my old father. Thanks from Garibaldi RS Brazil.
I was born a year before this construction, and grew up around real men, who took pride in their work, and were not afraid to work. Some people say there were no good old days, but I would strongly disagree with them. Then, men were men, and women were women, God fearing, family loving, hard working, and morally superior to anyone today. Yeah, call me what you will but that was the Golden Generation, and I am proud to have been fortunate enough to grow up during that time.
amazing video of a better life gone into time.. but not forgotten.
Its still out there. Many small towns left.
Wow, almost 70 years ago. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful historic home movie.
America when America was great. Just think for awhile of all we have lost in the last 60 years as you watch this video.
I remember.
Much of what you allude to was the work of the Greatest Generation; it's no coincidence.
So what's your major point douchebag ? Besides that you're obviously a spelling professor from youtube University. We're impressed. The difference between a hippie and a snowflake like yourself is what exactly ? They're all one in the same. Fifth Column scumbags!
You mean when black people had to use separate drinking fountains?
911shotJFK 😂
@@BenShapirosLowerLip I wish. They leave behind filth
love these films of old everyday life back when.
@Lord Colin We have diseases today. Fuck off with the pessimistic crap.
REALLY good quality "home movies"! Thanks for sharing!
..."You can trust your car to the man who wears the star!"
My EXACT thoughts too!
Simply amazing. I own an apartment building that was built in 1953 in Southern CA. It always amazes me that some of the techniques employed in those days are still being used today. Obviously building science has come along way, but the hard work involved has not changed much. Bravo America!!
Except the work "ethic" has changed, but NOT for the better. SAD!
This is the era that wanted to work and searched for work by driving around. Great craftsmen who could build.
Hey! The year I was born..,
I’m still here too😎
I was 9yrs old when this station was built! Guess I'm living on "borrowed time" ?
I would give up all this technology to be able to live in those days. I was born in the wrong decade.
I always said that myself. I wanted to be born in 1913 like my grandpa. It is quite an obsession of mine to be looking up these old documentaries and daydreaming about those times. I'd give up all technology, but youtube is keeping me fed with all these gems.
i whas told things where smooth.you could leave your doors unlock when you leave home and everything would ok"
One thing I wouldn't want to give up, though, is our modern tools. Look at those poor guys cutting with with a hand saw.
@@cooljohn1977 I live in a small town in Ontario, Canada. In 35 years in this house I have never once locked my doors, and the keys are always in my truck.
@Damnit Bobby I thought the draft still exis. Isn't that why we all have to register for selective service at 18.
América is still great, believe me. It is wonderful to see the history being preserved. Oil and gas made history in America. From Rio, Brazil.
@InfiniteMushroom , I do understand your point of view, but we have to believe in a New World. The History is made by people around the world, good people and bad people. Unfortunately the world is still controlled by the bad people. Power and Money is the symbol of success to them. Let's believe in a New World. There are still good American people and good Brazilian people. Best regards.
The carpenters reminded me of my father who did this and more back then...They had real hand saws that you had to use to believe how good they were to cut...He used that type Ready-Mix concrete trucks to pour concrete on his jobs...Boy times have changed in how its done today...
Wow! Cannot believe how sharp and clear this home movie is. A wonderful look back. Wonder if anybody can identify any of the men in this video? Thanks so much for adding it to Good Old Days in Mattoon.
Great film, thank you for uploading. I love the old trucks
Thanks for posting this home movie in living color yet. It was a fascinating glimpse into the past. Those old cars were great. I especially would like to own that awesome looking red Studebaker pick up truck. What an odd way those men washed a car.
Amazingly well preserved film! Time capsules like these are really cool...a glimpse of what life was really like back then.
A Texaco station of that era is now a Dunkin Donuts in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on Rt. 213 at the intersection of the Old Lincoln Highway. It was a Texaco gas station until at least 1975.
This is when America was great. People took pride is their jobs and the quality of the product they delivered. Employers equally valued their employees and took care of them. All that is long gone. Very sad!
And hard work got you move up in your job not who you know
@@landonoles0955 No It Anit Gone! in Fact It Is Back!
They still had the gold standard in '53. When money was actually worth something and the purchasing power of the dollar was at near peak. The federal reserve system has basically destroyed what is left of this country. Purchasing power is now at all time lows.
@@mickdavis2385 Get Rid Of The Fed And Bring Back The Gold Standard! (May Never Happen)
@@kurtperleberg3478 We certainly can't just keep printing money. That will not end well!
Those cars 😍
They WERE great to LOOK at, but wouldn't want to USE one as a daily! lol
This station is at the corner of 19th (Route 45) and Champaign Streets in Mattoon, Illinois. It was built by Texaco and leased to Charles McGinnis, who operated it until 1985. A picture of the completed station is here: www.pinterest.com/pin/486811040944304848/ The building is still there, but heavily modified. The roof is different and another building has been added to the front. The building for the white Conoco station with the curved glass blocks you can see catty corner from this station in the film is still there too and it looks much the same.
I hadn't watched this video in a year and came back to see it again...always wondered about the fate of it and glad to see your comment. Thanks for the information. I was saddened though as I watched the new construction go up that the old canopy station was going to be torn down after the modern station was finished.
A few observations:
Many, if not most, of the work pants legs are roll-up cuffed. Most workmen of the day wore 6 or 8" lace up ankle boots. Everybody kept their shirts tucked in unless stretching had just pulled it out. Many are not wearing gloves. Most of the workers in this film use tobacco, either by smoking, chewing, or snorting dry snuff. Concrete slabs prior to 1955 rarely had steel reinforcement rod in them, allowing one man to insert a jack bar underneath a tear-out slab and lift up slightly while others simply shocked it with sledgehammers to break it apart... impossible to do with steel reinforcement. A properly sharpened handsaw with the correct set in the teeth is just as fast at cutting lumber on the spot as plugging in and dragging a cord for a circular saw. No logos on the caps or t-shirts. All the trucks and many of the cars have manual transmissions and no-power anything. No buildings in the view have air conditioning. All phones are inside and all are rotary dial. The service attendant washes the windows, checks oil, gas, belts, brake fluid, radiator and battery levels.
The GOOD old days when America was great, the 50's were the best times to live even though I was 10 years old in 1953.
I’m tired of this lie that that time was good for only some people. Were there problems like racism, sexism etc? Yes. Are the same problems still an issue, yes. However across all groups of Americans, two parent households were the norm, morality was a concern, there was far less crime, drugs, taxation etc. Above all there was one word that really doesn’t exist now SHAME. People didn’t engage in certain behaviors because there was shame. Those problems mentioned existed yes, it’s just that they are at an all time high now. The media has made us sick as well. The intellect and capability level of a majority at that time was far higher as well. If we want to turn our noses up at America at that time, then we’re basically saying a nation of children who don’t have fathers in their lives, hatred of men, High crime, celebrating violent culture is superior. So, basically people who have bought into this lie just believe what the media spoon feeds them.
I don't know how many people realize that Corporations were in the 90% tax bracket back then. Everybody paid their "fair share" and everyone was HAPPY! LOL
Wonderful old clips
As someone who finances gas stations and convenience stores and a lot of them ground up construction projects, I was thrilled and watched every second of this video. Gulf and Texaco were always my favorite brand and was sad to see the Texaco brand go for a few years but equally happy to see them re-introduced. Thank you for posting this!
Shows how deep their pockets were to finance such a project...
I love the cordless hand saw action. =0)
look American s working!! Wow
Love that building design.
This IS what "MAGA" should be all about instead of political BS!
I want that red Studebaker pickup truck :)
One TOUGH TRUCK!
Every now and then you see an old gas station, likely from the 50's, with porcelain-enameled steel panels on the exterior. There are at least two of these in my city.
+TheSpazModic There used to be one in Franklin, PA and it was torn down to make room for a Sheetz. I'm not sure if it was a Texaco station but yeah, the Sheetz there took its place along with two or three other buildings next to the gas station...
And, that was built without a single 24 volt rechargeable power tool or pair of Oakleys in sight.
And where are all the tattoos and Mexicans?
@@1982kinger they were still in Mexico waiting for all the work to be done so they could swoop in later and reap the rewards of everyone else's hard work.
@@1982kinger the salinas valley
@@1982kinger and BlaCks, o wait they dont work lol
Ahh the world was so much better without proper eyewear, before people cared about eyesight and protecting their eyes from uv rays! Take me back!
Love the guy at 8:54. Pumps are active as this is clearly an addition being built. Guys are working and the Delivery just came in from the Texaco tanker earlier.
One construction guy was talking on his cellphone. No, wait, that was a snuff box.
Notice the guy shimmying up the boom. Everyone was working so hard.
I felt very fortunate to be brought up in this generation....I absolutely love this type of saved history.
Me too. I was about 3 years old at the time this video was made. I remember the old gas stations where you could fill up your bicycle tires with air for free. I worked at an Arco station for about 4 months back in 1970. I pumped gas, washed windshields, checked and filled oil, radiators, and helped with some minor mechanical jobs. Fun. Good memories.
ME TOO!
Back when America was great...
silverbird58 the rest of the world doesn’t need America’s dumb ass anymore and now YOU are the proverbial puppet on the string ...economy tanking wages stagnant and China positioning itself for global domination lmao...you thought you could scare China with tariffs but the 50s are over
@@thetruthandnothingbutthetr6484 A real American wouldn't talk shit about America he would stand up for his neighbor and fight for his country. A true American loves God family and friend and knows which bathroom to piss in!
@silverbird58 actually in the 1950's we were in Korea, still rebuilding Japan and Germany.. so much more around the world.. education is a bad thing to waste
@@thetruthandnothingbutthetr6484 ". stop the retard group think.." exactly ,stop the neocommunist thought process.
@@thetruthandnothingbutthetr6484 Go soak your head, jackass
I miss those old stations I saw growing up. I pass an old Shell station once a month in run down condition and being used as a repair garage. You can tell right away it was a Shell station by its design but in this case, it still has the "Service is Our Business" writing across the top of the bays.
U miss too much
@@ChrisSmith-kh2gu - So what, does that offend you?
@@joed9491 now you see how annoying it is when some one jams through a comment that no one asked about?? U don't like it do you. If you are going to make a comment expect comments. It's like me telling you I miss the 60s but u didn't ask me about the 60s learn to stfu once in a while
The "service" these stations provided was unbelievable! You could just drive by and have your caburetor adjusted when they weren't busy and NO CHARGE!
I enjoyed watching the block mason working, the scaffolding was primitive and built in stages . Hand saws being used by true carpenters. Great film
This was America at its best. I caught the very end of this type of lifestyle. We were free and the future was limitless. That type of attitude still burns inside me and i hope it does in you.I don't just miss these days, i want to recreate them.
GOOD LUCK with that!
A great piece of Americana
Man, what I would give to have one of them old gas pumps!
I love the globes and the cars and trucks.
@@1940limited agree!!
When I worked for a big oil jobber we would take those old pumps to the landfill and tip them off the truck they had a lot of porcelain signs too. Never knew they would be such a hot item
@Some One My grandfather had 5 gas stations in 1970's in Michigan. It would bring back some good memories. I would like to have some!
If it was fully restored you give about 4 grand for it.
I'm glad someone took the trouble to make this movie. Lots of American ingenuity at work here with no OSHA.
Hope a handful of these workers are still alive today. A few of them would be well over 90 years of age.
What it would be like to hear this with pure sound, right?
What a cool video!
Walker Construction in Matoon, IL is still in business :)
First time I ever saw the finish work being done before the rough work was barely started. Hate to see those new Texaco pumps get trashed.
Excellent historical movie. In some places in Mexico they still work this way... especially in small places.
The late '40's and the early '50's are the the golden decade as far as American cars are concerned. Beautiful round shapes and only a hint of tailfins in sight...
I would love to know where this was and what’s at this location today.
I wonder if the building is still there, be cool to see it now.
Magnifico as they say! Great old clip. Funny how after the station was built it looked old. LoL
I wonder where this station is and whether it is still standing even as another type of business.
The 50s were the best years I don't know why many like me are so hungry for those years, we still have that melancholia was the best time for cars, music, and fast food.
It was JUST a GREAT time to be alive!
In those days, a couple years' in your car model made a lot of difference.
OMG! So cool!
Good old fashioned work ethics.
The only fat bodies in this video were the cars!
Not a hardhat in sight...
No OSHA.
You would think there would be helmets.great film!
They didn't NEED them because THESE were dedicated workers who knew how to work safely!
Like it was taken today, but it's from 60 years ago. wow
EXCELLENT color quality. So glad it's NOT "colorized" crap!!
@@TheOzthewiz I wrote this comment 11 years ago. Now it has been 71 years since this video was filmed.
Very cool!
This presentation presents the construction of a new Texaco station. Texaco is a major brand of gasoline used in automobiles and trucks. Shown here are cinder blocks, wooden boards, concrete, metal, hoses, various fuel lines, and men working to put the parts together, including bosses who are overseeing the operation. There is no sound to indicate what the men are saying so some of our UA-cam listeners may be disappointed that they will not be able to hear any jokes or any utterances in which workers might be getting chewed out.
good job 5/5
My back hurts just looking at this.
Holy crap I grew up 10 miles from there and my dad worked for Walker Const in Mattoon Illinois. It was AJ Walker back then.
The good ol days, when everyone was glad to pull their own weight. I wonder what state this is.
If that is McGuiness Texaco then it was my hometown Mattoon, Illinois, I worked there for a while in High School in 1972.
@@mickeygarlock4611 The same place as the Mattoon gasser?
401 N 19th St
maps.app.goo.gl/jSEvCEpu6V8N4cie7
@@ZnenTitan Yes
~ GEE our old LaSalle ran great ~ those were the days >>>>>>>>
And now is a classic station abandoned somewhere on the side of the road, in the USA!😥sad! I've seen so many of them on the roads going down west. Places like route 66 going west from Illinois to st. Louis, Oklahoma, New mexico, Arizona, is like a ghost town! So sad to see! That was the golden era of traveling, site seing. Stoping for gasoline and getting a full service without getting out of the car, as a kid growing up in those day's! I bet you couldnt wait to be an adult to be driving and experience the same things you father did in those day's. The good all day's! Simpler times indeed.
My God! How did these guys ever SURVIVE ? I don't see any hard hats, I don't see any railings around that roof edge, neither the masons, nor the guy on the ladder were tied off, and where was our dear friend the OSHA inspector when that guy was talking his own life into his hands and those around him when he climbed that boom to fix the cable? (ten feet off the ground)
Yeah like when they climbed the pole s.
Just another day at work for these guys back in 1953. I asked my Dad one time "What was it like in the 50's?" He shrugged his shoulders and simply said, "It was the 50's". This wouldn't be interesting if it was in black and white.
It wouldn't bother me, even though I was 9yrs old at the time. Monochrome film sometimes gives the film a more "historical" look.
Interesting video
What is that shiny thing that guy keeps holding, oh wait that's an actual hand saw! I was born in the wrong era.
That is HARD work! Been there and done it. Would rather use my CORDLESS circular saw! lol
This appears to have been in Illinois. Caldwell’s Oil Supplies was run by Ray Caldwell Jr. who passed away in 2004 at the age of 80. He ran the company for 30 years, 1948-1978.
The year that I was born, interesting to see
Any idea where this was? Wonder if the building is still there.
I’m guessing Mattoon, IL, or somewhere close by. At 9:46, you can see the sign for the contractor, it says Mattoon, IL. You can also see Mattoon on the door of the blue truck at 5:37, and the on the red truck at 8:50.
This is what it looked like in the 50s: i.pinimg.com/originals/64/a9/b0/64a9b056ebce82aa0f44b5ec97320c27.jpg
And this is what is left of it today: goo.gl/maps/J3R8n7ep8pYCGbCa7
Looks like the same building, but drastically remodeled over the decades. The office that did have a corner door, looks like it was enlarged so that angle corner is now inset (term?). Roof probably had to be replaced at some point and a flat roof was cheaper than the original design.
@@abie1308 You have the correct intersection, but the building in the video is on the opposite corner, or kitty corner from the one you shared. You can actually see the building you posted at 1:14 of the video across the intersection.
The Portion of the building being constructed in this video appears to be still standing. However, the older tile roofed portion of the building appears to have been torn down.
@@abie1308 The building you gave is actually kitty corner from the texaco in this video, it can be seen very well at 2:36 past the cement truck and still hasnt changed a bit. but the texaco is much different now, the only part still standing is what they built in this video, just the garage extension. www.google.com/maps/place/Scheff's+UPS+Drop+Off+%26+Printing/@39.4854916,-88.3777939,3a,75y,291.23h,88.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scle8SNtg5rNIBlsvsSmaxA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8873110d13feef37:0x4048521a3f2f2466!8m2!3d39.4855825!4d-88.3781234
@@abie1308 Go up the street a bit, this looks more like it, at 513 N. 19th Street. www.google.com/maps/@39.4876349,-88.3777764,3a,18.3y,265.48h,89.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slSmAci4QnYicZe4aCFaWdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Probably a damn Walgreens there now or parking lot.... that quality of construction if still there will last forever
I wonder if any of these men including the camera,am could have guessed that this would be seen by thousands of people 50 years later, on color home tv's with selectable content.
On their phone not plugged into anything!
On really big flat screens through a system right out of science fiction.
Walking down the street with this little device that could actually GUIDE you to the EXACT location of that station. Pure WITCHCRAFT! EVIL!
With the progress of power tools increased production just to decreased by the use of workers on there cell phones.
Before gas stations were built in the 1920s, gas was sold from houses along the side of the road. They were called gas houses. When my father was a boy, during the 20s, him and his friends called themselves the "gas house gang".
Good thing they didn't burn the house down.
You can see signs that say Mattoon IL throughout the video, I did some googling and found this photo of what the station looked like when it was new: i.pinimg.com/originals/64/a9/b0/64a9b056ebce82aa0f44b5ec97320c27.jpg
And this is what is left of it today (go to street view): goo.gl/maps/riPB4neWCYfStY2Y6
Everything was built better in those days!
I believe so!
The year I was born
Me too!
At the gas pump. Free air, Free oil check, Free clean windshield.
And MORE, like: S&H Green Stamps, Free Glasses (drinking) and WONDER of WONDERS.......no need to pump your own gas! We had it ALL, back then!
1953... I was 3 years old.
They're all so excited to be on camera lol. That would have been a big deal back then, people didn't just shoot video unless it was something special
Hardly anyone had video cameras, if they did, they were 4 feet tall and heavy.
MAC Oh ok they were all so excited to be on 8 or 16mm film
Although almost everybody used them, gas stations were some of the most deeply hated business installations in America. Virtually every zoned community imposed strict regulations on them. For instance, they often were forbidden near schools, for fear of fire or explosion.
So cool,
I think this was an expansion of an older existing station, adding bays, pumps/islands, etc.
Notice the uniforms of the station employees.. -Most all stations contracted with local laundry service, for the providing, cleaning, mending etc of uniforms, bathroom towels, shop rags, etc. So along with a "well oiled" professional station look, the local laundry services also benefited hugely from all the local station business (significant increased number of local community jobs back then). The institutional laundry service here in my town, now, is a smaller operation than it was 50 years ago..
I was in high school from 1965 to '69. One of my best friends was the full-time swing shift station attendant at the Eureka Way Richfield throughout most of those years. He was allowed to do homework late in shift (brother-in-law owned the station). My friend also wore a station uniform. We learned work ethic back then. After high school, my friend completed a 4 yr Admin. of Justice degree at Sac State in 3 yrs. Now public schools (high schools) frown on, discourage, even prohibit (some) young people from working while attending school. I worked after school, and it didn't "damage" me any, academically or otherwise!! -At age 16, I bought/maintained my own (used/"fixer-upper") car, etc. (Bought most of my own clothes while in high school..-I wore expensive Levi jeans, Pendleton shirts, Bates Floater shoes. Whereas my mom bought economy generic cloths for me, if/when I didn't buy my own).
I don't think so, that's what I was hoping at first, the old station is so much cooler than the new one. But if you notice the wall of the old station is pretty raw, like something had been stripped off, and even more significantly the facing wall of the new station has windows on that side. This building still exists, and there is no sign of the old station. www.google.com/maps/@39.4876349,-88.3777764,3a,18.3y,265.48h,89.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slSmAci4QnYicZe4aCFaWdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Most people today don't recognize the individuals in this film, but to help the viewer out, these were what were known as "men "
And "their" women were glad for it!!
awesome cars trucks
Service stations served an inportant function. FAST minor car repair,cheap oil change tire repair quick&cheap,pumping ladies gasoline or if you didn't like smelling like it😁, Directions before google. They were great for a lot of things,But large oil companies could make a killing selling coffee and candy.When your fanbelt breaks on an interstate @ 1am good luck!.
Yeah it's 4am, this looks interesting. what he hell, why not!
I wonder if all those workers speak english ?