Collecting Quaker State Oil Memorabila
Collecting gas and oil memorabilia has become a huge market in the last couple of decades. One rather difficult company to find items for is the old Quaker State advertising. I find that remarkable since the company has been around for about 150 years.
Perhaps it is more difficult to find these petroliana items because the company didn't do a lot of promotion for the public. They generally were just the oil or auto product that was offered at a gas station and didn't do much in the way of ad campaigns with promotional type items. I'm sure many of us remember seeing what is now referred to as the tombstone sign, like the one on the left, at many of the Gas Stations that we visited.
The company does have an interesting and long history. In this lens I will offer some of the history and ideas of what to look for to add to your collection and possible ways to find items.
Quaker State Motor Oil
A little history
Quaker State products have been around since 1859. They were first used as lubricants for steam engines and wagon wheels. The company officially became Quaker State Oil Refining Corporation in 1913.Quaker State kept up with the needed improvements as the automobile began to need an oil that would work will with the internal combustion engine.
There have been many mergers throughout the years with Quaker State currently being owned by Shell (Royal Dutch Shell) as of 2002.
Quaker State is doing a little better currently with issuing collectible and promotional items being offered to fans of the products. Shown at the right is a neon clock that can be purchased from their website Quaker State. It has a cool retro look to it.
Franklin autos came standard with 5 quarts of Quaker State Motor Oil beginning in 1914.
Quaker State Memorabilia To Collect
As mentioned briefly in my introduction, vintage Quaker State advertising isn't as plentiful as some of the other gas and oil company items are. Great items can be found if one looks hard enough.Here is a list of vintage advertising items known to exist that you good add to your collection:
- ashtrays
- advertising signs
- mugs
- pens
- key chains
- magazine advertisements
- oil cans
- clocks
- maps
- oil bottles
- decals
- oil pumps
By 1936 Quaker State oil was sold exclusively at all Standard Oil Gas Stations.
Vintage Quaker State on eBay
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The United States Military favored Quaker State products during World War II.
Advertising Quaker State in the 1940s
Quaker State did quite a lot of advertising in magazines during the 1940s, especially after the U.S. got involved in World War II. Many of the print ads had a military theme to them to add to the morale at the home front.The magazine ad to the right was illustrated by Melbourne Brindle showing that the U.S. tanks used Quaker State oil.
Quaker State seemed to be pretty proud that the United States military chose to use their products. They advertised heavily with the military themes giving the strong impression that if it is good enough for the military, it's good enough for your car.
Most of the advertising promoting Quaker State done in the 1940s has a distinct green tone to the illustrations instead of being black and white or full color. The tombstone curb sign is also almost always included in the lower portion of these advertisements. The sign is a coveted item to have in any collection of Quaker State memorabilia.
Cool 1946 Quaker State advertisement showing two men looking under the hood of a car in a showroom.
Fun Places to Look For Vintage Quaker State
- Check The Oil! 2009 CTO Petroliana Show
- June 18-19 2009 in Dublin, Ohio
- Mt Victory Petroliana Swap Meet and Car Show
- This annual dual event brings the Mt. Victory village and park alive with activity. This full day begins when classic cars from over a 5 state region pull in for the spotlight.
- Gas Station Collectible Antique Shows & Events - NathansPetro.com
- A historical treasure trove for collectors and historians interested in the preservation of old gas station, gas pumps, oil cans, and other roadside memorabilia.
- Ducktail Run - Gas City, Indiana
- Held the same weekend as the James Dean Festival in Fairmount, Indiana.
- The Official Site of James Dean
- Festival information. Car show and swap meet every year.
Quaker State Belt Buckle
Quaker State motor oil collectible belt buckles like this one can be found at Needful Things
Books on Gas Stations and Gas and Oil Collectibles
Value Guide To Gas Station Memorabilia
Amazon Price: $21.86 (as of 12/05/2009) 
An Illustrated Guide To Gas Pumps: Identification And Price Guide (Illustrated Guide to Gas Pumps: Identification & Price Guide)
Amazon Price: $25.54 (as of 12/05/2009)
The American Gas Station: History and Folklore of Gas Stations in America
Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/05/2009)
Fill 'er Up!: The Great American Gas Station
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/05/2009)
Gas Stations Coast to Coast
Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009)
Tweets about Quaker State
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- supernetdeals
- Canada deals: Auto Quaker State Motor Oil half price at CT http://bit.ly/8uVhMZ
-
- auto_auctions
- 1 USED QUART QUAKER STATE MOTOR OIL 30HD FULL - Ruckersville,VA - $4.82http://www.automobile-dealers-directory.info/motors/111098
Quaker State Racing Collectibles
Quaker State sponsors several racing teams and drivers in NASCAR and NHRA. You can look for collectibles from the Racing Industry to find Quaker State items. Westbury Motorsports offers this toy truck with the Quaker State colors and logo. A nice piece of Quaker State memorabilia for any collection.
Magazines for the Petroliana Collector
- Check the Oil magazine for petroliana collectors
- The Original Voice of Petroliana since 1983.
- Petroleum Collectibles Monthly magazine
- PCM is dedicated to the collector of gasoline marketing memorabilia - service station items, signs, pumps, pump globes, cans, toys, trinkets, virtually everything relating to filling stations.
Quaker State Giclee Print
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A place to leave your comments and questions, our attendants will great you with a smile....
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- WindyWinters WindyWinters Nov 14, 2009 @ 1:20 am
- Congratulations on your Purple Star! :)
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- 0ctavias0fferings 0ctavias0fferings Apr 30, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
- Very interesting subject 5* and a sprinkling of Angel Dust
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- Jimmie Jimmie Apr 30, 2009 @ 4:31 am
- Blessed by an angel today!
Station Attendant on Duty
Lensmaster BevsPaper has been a member since June 18 2008, has rated 3,113 lenses, favorited 396, and has created 134 lenses from scratch. Bev Owens donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Soldiers Angels". See all my lenses
Copyright for Quaker State Vintage Advertising: April 24, 2009 by BevsPaper (Beverly Owens).
by BevsPaper
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