<![CDATA[Articles from PCM]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/ en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.7 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:22:37 -0400 120 http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=628 <![CDATA[Articles from PCM]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/ <![CDATA[ Diversity in our Vast Hobby ]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/superolixer.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/superolixer.jpg.html
Diversity in our Vast Hobby

It’s obvious we all collect in certain ways. Those ways can be infinitely diverse. Whether it be gas globes, oil cans, maps, gas pumps, signs, the list goes on and on. There are many ways one can collect. That is up to the individual.
I did an article just a few months ago about how I display my gas globes. On those same shelves you will see some quart cans, ad panels related to that globe, maps and other smalls. We have seen the sign guys with a wall of nothing but small pump plates or a larger wall with larger signs filled in with smaller signs or perhaps nothing at all.
When you get tired of collecting a certain piece, type of piece, brand or whatever it’s easy to change things up a bit. I have a tendency to do this. Sometimes I will chase a particular brand of gas globes and go after every one. I will look at that group for ten years or so then sell them off. Now if I had unlimited space and money I would keep every piece. Some groups I never sell, like for me that would be Sinclair or Sohio. But realistically, like many of us, to keep every piece is just not possible.
There are endless types of items to collect. One can go after a brand, chase after just early ½ Gallon oil cans-I really like those. Recently I sold a couple pieces from my collection and switched gears you might say. Today I am chasing some rare gas globes with cars on them, specifically speeding cars with cool graphics. These are very hard to find and expensive so I would not expect to get many! But it’s something to chase and makes this hobby exciting. Some I can not afford and a few well, there is one known and it’s not for sale. So you get what you can and have fun doing that.
The Facebook groups really make things easier for today’s collector. Any of you been around long enough to remember if you wanted something you had to drive around to oil company bulk plants, service stations, etc., to get anything? But today if you are missing a pump part, the back insert to a gas globe, a rare can from Sunoco, whatever it may be there are countless groups and tens of thousands of members to either answer your questions or help you find that one particular piece.
I’m gonna share a short story here and this is what makes the hobby so fun. Years ago a gentleman contacted me about two gas globes he had. Wayne and I get these questions every day but this call turned out to be very unique. The guy had two gas globes. One said “Champion Stopnok Motor Fuel”. Now we had never seen this globe before! That was really cool. The other globe he had said, “Super Olixer” with a very graphic early 1930s speeding car on it! Wow! The chances of getting a phone call and the person having two gas globes that no one had ever seen is like getting struck by lightning twice!
Anyway that call was quite a while ago, his globes at that time were not for sale and I since forgot about those pieces. They are in the new eBook though.
Going through the eBook, refreshing my mind looking for globe with cars, I spotted that globe. I rarely forget any gas globe I ever see and though I remembered that one well I sort of pushed it aside in my mind.
I had lost all track of that individual but I did remember a state and that he owned a sign company. I called my partner Wayne who shared this state with that person and we put it together. After googling the data I had a phone number! I left a message for that person, even though I had no name, and waited for a call. After several days I never got a call back so I left another message. Two days after that the guy called me back. He remembered me helping him with his globe and we reconnected back up. After several minutes I first asked him if he still had the globe. His answer was yes! Then I asked if he would consider selling it at this point. He thought and said yes!
I made him a very good offer on the globe and my partner Wayne picked it up for me! It is just a single insert, but it’s still the only one known and I hope to enjoy this great piece for years to come. It’s still out there folks!
So, enjoy this wonderful hobby of ours, and as you can see from my story above go ahead and chase that unique piece. Also remember you can switch gears at any time. You never know what you might wind up with if you try and try again. It’s out there for the taking!
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Scott Benjamin photo Sun, 03 May 2020 11:45:40 -0400
<![CDATA[How to Prepare. What if Something Happens?]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/scottsglobes2.JPG.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/scottsglobes2.JPG.html
How to Prepare. What if Something Happens?

Around September, 2015, I got the phone call you never expect or desire. As soon as I was introduced to the voice on the line, I knew what happened before she told me. Charlie was gone. It was Charlie's wife, whom I had never spoken to and she was distraught. But she said I was supposed to know what to do.
It hits you so quickly. You feel helpless for a moment then you pull your boots up and try and deal with a delicate situation. I really didn't know Charlie incredibly well, but we had met a few times over the years. But we did speak often and I was always there to answer his questions over the last 25 years, and there were many. A year or two before he passed he told me that when he was gone I was going to get a call from his wife and that I would know what to do with the collection. I would get a very small percentage of the total sales which was fine with Charlie as there was a ton of work involved. I always said, "Let's not talk about that," but he insisted and hence the last call. But you never want to see a friend leave and not return. I would have done it for free.
Charlie's wife told me that Charlie trusted me and I would treat the family right. She said she had no idea whether the collection was worth $6,000 or $60,000 but that I would sell it and take care of the rest. I felt bad that someone could really have taken advantage of her and the family but assured her the collection was quite valuable and I would get all I could for her. We picked up the collection. She told me she had 100 gas globes. When we got there, there were 200 gas globes. She had no idea what was going on. It took me and my friend, Lonnie Hop one year and three months to sell every last piece. The collection netted about $85,000. She was so surprised it was worth that much and was surprised the money just kept coming in. In fact the last check I was to send her which was a decent sum she told me to donate it to a local animal shelter which we shared as a common goal!
Charlie had a decent plan but he was lucky. It was a plan that worked this time, but would not work every time. What if something had happened to me? What if, simply enough, she lost my number? You ever lost a phone number? Of course you have, everyone has! What if something had happened to her about the same time? She didn't really know one person in the hobby, not even an auctioneer she could call.
These are situations you try not to think about, you try not to confront and always figure you can deal with it later.
Ironically as my wife and I were recently discussing some changed health and life insurance plans, I was exposed to the same question. She asked me what do I do with all your gas globes if something happens to you! I sort of laughed and said that's easy, call Lonnie Hop! Here's his number and that was that! If he's not available call Dan Matthews with Morphy Auctions. Obviously these are people I trust. That's what Charlie did…My plan is not much better than Charlie's was but I have faith in it!
But seriously what should you do right now? The first thing everyone needs to do right now is to know what their collection is worth. At least have a rough idea. Is it worth $10,000, $50,000 or two million dollars? You would be amazed how quickly a collection's value goes up! Years go by like days and suddenly your little hobby is now a collection that fills your garage worth $200,000. Get it appraised or do your research and figure that out and get it all documented so your heirs know what they are dealing with. Have a couple friends they can call or a couple auction companies you trust so they can implement plan A, B or C if and when something happens. Then get this in a safe place where your family has access to it, just in case.
Get your collection insured! I cannot stress this enough. God forbid a fire, tornado or something happens to you AND your collection. Once it's gone you cannot go back and collect a dime if it's not insured. If you are gone, too then your heirs really have a problem! Companies like State Farm, Allstate, etc., will insure part of your collection as part of your home owners policy but you need every piece appraised and documented because you know darn well they will fight you tooth and nail when a piece is destroyed. Also, most of these companies have limits and will not insure a collection worth $100,000 or higher. I insure my house of course and buffer a little extra on the contents of the home for my collection. But the bulk of my collection is insured through Collectibles Insurance. They specialize in collectibles and know what's going on. There are many such companies out there which cover private collections of antiques and you need to get connected up with one, know their policies on claims and get your collection insured. You know how you have your cars covered? There are many companies that specialize in antique or special cars that offer cheaper insurance or insurance for these type of cars. Well it's the same here. Just find a company that will cover your collectibles. Again, have all this documentation kept in a safe place and make sure your family knows where this data is too.
Photos are also a must. If a collectible's value needs to be determined after the fact, only a photo will accomplish that. Descriptions are too vague. I think the gas globe said, “Sinclair H-C gasoline?” I have about 17 different Sinclair H-C gasoline globes in my Sinclair collection with values from $250 to over $10,000 each. Good luck figuring that one out! Sadly, after your gone the knowledge of your collection gets lost quickly. In all due respect ask anyone in your family what your Texaco sign might be worth let alone outside your family. Most would have no idea. A photo sorts this out right away or a detailed appraisal of each item. A smart phone can capture group shots of your whole collection in minutes. Focus in on the more important or rare ones. Then you can email these to yourself and now they are permanently in your computer. If you don't have a smart phone or know how to use one ask any 10 year old... At least get the more valuable items appraised. No need to appraise your collection of 200 five dollar oil cans if that's all they are worth. But write down somewhere that your cans are worth about $5.00 each. You cans may be worth $500 each. So those need appraised and listed. There is no guarantee what I, someone else or an auction company could get for your collection. But at least you and your family will know where you stand.
If you have a computer, here is what I do: I keep an ongoing list of each item I have and an estimated value. If I sell or add an item, which for me happens a lot, I take about 10 minutes every couple weeks to keep it updated. If you are buying and selling that is a different issue as those pieces won't be around very long. But the ones you are keeping for now are the ones being discussed here.
So again, if you have a computer it won't take too long to create a document and start a list and put a value on it. If you don't know the value ask someone, or get on one of the countless web sites or Face Book pages and start your list. Add to it and keep it updated. It really takes little time once the base is there. Take just a couple minutes every couple weeks to check it out. If you don't have a computer write it down or have it typed up. You must start somewhere and go the same route for values and photos.
Have a plan, then have a backup plan and then have plan C. It's just a few minutes of your time, a couple phone numbers for your family to call and really, for you, right now, it's not a big deal. But it's a big deal for your family later.]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:18:00 -0500
<![CDATA[Questions Regarding Gas Pump Globes]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/bolene.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/bolene.jpg.html
Questions Regarding Gas Pump Globes

I'm going to address some frequent and also good questions about gas pump globes. Most of these discussions are found in our Gas Globe CDs 2012 and 2016 editions. First a quick background on gas globes.
Gas globes were used from around 1912 until the 1960s for most companies. Some companies like Clark, Dixie, Imperial and a few more used gas globes at stations until the late 1970s or beyond. One must keep in mind that many glass companies made gas globes back in the day hence the countless variations and color differences. So here we go.
One piece globes, the etched ones being the oldest, dominated from around 1912 until 1931. Fired one piece or sometimes called “baked one piece” were lastly made from 1926 until 1931.
Metal frame globes overlapped the one piece, used from the mid 1910s through the 1930s generally speaking. Though several companies used metal frames well into the 1950s like Sunoco and Amoco.
Glass gas globes were used from about 1929 until the mid 1950s, again in most cases. Some companies like Sohio never used the later Capco frames and ended their globes with glass ones. Sunoco ended their run with metal frame globes never getting into the glass or capco ones! Early glass frames were made by Cincinnati Balcrank that used the strange inserts with frames notched at 4, 8 and 12 o' clock.
We generally associate Capco frames from the 1950s but companies like Phillips and Conoco used them as far back as 1931! We have many photos to prove that. But most companies used the capco frames by the 1950s and 1960s before phasing out of gas globes for good.
There are many variations in each category above. Again all of these variations are gone over in detail in our Gas Globe 2016 CD. By the way, we keep track of the weekly globes being found that will be in a future CD. The 2016 Gas Globe CD has about 6000 different globes in it since it was released last year. Believe it or not we've added about 250 more already, just in the last year. Albeit many are from old photos, we do have several from collections and others that keep turning up.
Let's start from their beginnings and then move forward with questions and observations. Chimney capped globes are rare and we believe the metal cap over the opening was there to vent potential fumes from building up inside the globes. With an electric light bulb inside there and a spark who knows what might happen. Back in the day people were quite concerned with 10 gallons of gasoline sitting on a street curb! The term “Chimney Cap” was coined by me back in the 1970s as I didn't know what else to call them and it stuck. I have seen three different sized metal caps over the years and many companies used them, though all are rare.
One piece globes are usually either fired/baked, etched or cast. Cast globes have fired details and etched globes were just spray painted and the paint often wore off quickly. Body styles in most cases are either wide, narrow or rounded wide as I call it. There are a few flat sided ones and other versions but these categories encompass 98% of what you'll find out there. Most stand about 16.5” tall unless they have a copper or metal collar. This is the same size as a typical glass or capco frame. Smaller or shorter one piece globes are typically older than normal size ones. Figural globes such as White Eagles, Texaco Fire Hat, Standard Crowns, Shell, Cities Service clovers, domed shaped, oval globes are one piece globes you may run across. Again I am just touching the tip of the many variations out there. Etched globes are fine to repaint and values do not change at all. Fired globes cannot be repainted to enhance value. Cast globes retain about 50-75% of their original value in many cases, but it's best not to repaint. Some one piece globes have writing etched into the sides like the famous “Indian Gasoline” globes with the word “Havoline” down each side of the globe frame. One piece Anthony White Mule gas globes have “It Kicks” down each side of their globes too.
Metal frame globes in most cases are either 15” or 16.5”. There is no proof as to which are older as it was more of a company preference. These 15” or 16.5” as we call them is the size of the insert in the frame with the frame added are actually much taller, around 18” or so. Frames are usually either high profile or low profile, though strange variations exist. Cincinnati Balcrank made a wide, flat, 15” metal frame but few are ever found. Standard used a rare “double stepped” up high profile frame with an extra high ridge but these are rarely found these days. Neon wrapped frames exist too. Several 11.25” inserts on small metal frames have surfaced in recent years but these are still rare. Socony used a rare 13.75” metal, 14” metal and other companies used 18” and 20” metals. Some companies used all metal inserts like Valvoline, GFL, Socony and others that were either painted onto the surface or had the popular “perforations” or holes that were bent inward to reflect out light. Once a very rare globe, we are finding out many companies used these back in the 1910s/20s but they are still hard to find. We have seen one piece all metal globes. By the way Texaco leaded glass inserts, the only company we know that used stained glass, are actually 13 3/4”. The frames are big so they look like they hold typical 15” inserts but they do not. The very rare large Texaco leaded glass globes have 21 7/8” inserts, but we call them 22” inserts.
Some companies used thick “Cast” inserts with painted or fired details. Some used milk glass inserts like Socony with the logo fired onto the outside of the insert. A very few companies like Pure Oil used 18” inserts draped with neon inside a large special frame. These variations are but a few of the many out there and make collecting interesting. Flat glass inserts were rarely used by oil companies and I've never seen one that was fired so I believe most of these were made by local sign companies.
Glass globes are either regular glass-wide or narrow, Gill glass, Banded glass or Hull glass. Variations include the three notched Balcranks, 14” Gill or glass, five notched inserts made for either Balcrank or regular glass frames, 15” large glass frames just to name a few. Regular glass inserts are 13.5”, Hull 13.5”, Banded about 13 5/8” just slightly larger, Gills are 13.25” in 95% with no notches and the full size Gills are 13.5” with no notches like what Texaco used. See the photos here with this article to sort this out. Gill Glass Company also made the sought after ripple frames with the crinkled glass surface. By the way all ripple Gills are clear glass with painted colors that were fired inside of the globe. Phony ripple globes have a distinct “seam” that runs front to back on the top of the frame as you face the globe. Any solid glass ripple would be phony too. Years ago I saw an all glass purple ripple-not painted glass frame. This would be a phony ripple. Two piece globes exist and the two halves are held together by a short tiny bar at the top of the globe and the screw base and that's it!
Different Gill ripple colors bring various prices, green being the most sought after. By the way most green ripples are either ice cream or beer company globes as only a few oil companies used green ripples. Standard Crowns that are original all have 7” bases whether that is a flared glass base or a collar base. Any 6” base Standard Crown is phony. Shell Oil used the familiar “shell shaped” globes from the 1920s until the 1950s. Earlier Shells were either one piece round, metal frame or different shaped shell shapes. Repro Shells are dated 1994 in the base though a few undated ones exist but rarely turn up. Standard Flames or torches were used on sign post only, never on gas pumps. They are either all glass or all plastic. No repros were ever made as of this writing.
The glass globes have so many strange variations and these are all covered in our CDs. 14” glass globes were made by Solar Electric Company of Chicago who were better known for their one piece etched globes. This is why I believe 14” glass globes are quite early. Hull glass company made 13.5” and 14” red glass frames, many for Fleet-Wing but a few other companies used them too. Frames with threaded bases like copper, aluminum or steel are sought after by many collectors though it adds minimal value to the globe. Yellow Hull glass frames do exist. No other colors are known as of this writing. Tokheim 36 pumps used glass tops with the company logo fired into the sides in some cases. Shoe-Box globes are also unique and Tydol used many versions of these. We have seen Texaco Shoe-Box globes in old photos though none are known to exist. Glass oval globe inserts have notches on the sides and are different in size than the later oval capco globe inserts. They are not interchangeable in their frames. Oval capco inserts never have notches by the way. Recently we have found a few flat sided oval capco inserts that are fired. Why would they make those?
Capco-Cincinnati Advertising Products Company-globes were made from around 1931 as we can best determine through the 1970s. Original molds were found at that time so they are still being made today. Inserts for capco frames are typically notched shallower to fit into the bump on the side of the capco frame to hold them in place. Each plastic “half” has this bump on each side on original frames so a complete capco frame would have four of these. New capco frames are only notched at two sides, one side each half, unlike the four sides on original globes so one has more “play” to adjust an insert into the frame. Some inserts are all plastic and only a few companies made all plastic inserts. Capco inserts are all 13.5” though many Sunray inserts are about 13.25” with notches!
There are several plastic one piece globes as we call them though many are two halves that are held together by some fashion. Some are actual formed one piece plastic.
The above synopsis about gas pump globes is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many variations of gas globes you could never collect them all. People sometimes ask me what I should collect? I always tell them collect what you like and try not to pay too much for it and you will be fine. A group of gas globes on a shelf or a wall looks really cool and it doesn't matter what you collect.
We find new discoveries of gas globes every week, yes every week. We will never know the final count of different globes made. We are keeping track for now but in the meantime enjoy this fascinating hobby of collecting gas pump globes. ]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Thu, 01 Dec 2016 12:01:51 -0500
<![CDATA[ The Last Kyle Moore Auction, Morphy #4 The History, The Meaning, The End...]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/morphyauction.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/morphyauction.jpg.html
The Last Kyle Moore Auction, Morphy #4 The History, The Meaning, The End...

Morphy Auction #4 - The Kyle Moore Collection, July 23 and 24, 2016.
The History, the Meaning, the End...

It's hard to believe that this collection is now gone, that this unbelievable collection is now dispersed all over the country and perhaps the world, never to be duplicated again. Only if you knew Kyle Moore as long as I did would you feel the weight of the auctioneers hammer as the last piece was sold to the public, a final gas pump globe. How bittersweet for me. I sat there to the end with my friend, Lonnie Hop and I think we were the last two holdouts. Dan Morphy, owner of Morphy Auctions, walked over to personally thank us for being there. Yes, I had to stay until the very last piece of this collection was sold. The two day, 22 hour auction, was grueling but necessary and also fun. I peeled myself from my seat, yes that's what it felt like, and went back to the lobby to view the remaining pieces that had yet to be packed up or picked up, for one last look. Still could not believe this was it, it's all over, all gone. I would lie to you if I didn't tell you the sadness I felt. But it was done, over and now it's time to move on.
I had a goal about this time last year when I heard the collection was going up for sale. Kyle had about 1,000 gas globes, 1,500 signs and a hundred or more gas pumps, some cans, etc. Being a gas globe guy my goal was to obtain 1% of his globe collection, or 10 globes! Considering the fact that the average gas globe in Kyle's collection was worth a lot of money, I would say, I felt it to be a challenge, a worthy goal and plus there were a few I just really had to have. Most I knew would go down the road, out of my price range, but if I reached my goal I could always tell myself I got 1% of Kyle's globes and well, that would make me feel good!
Just so everyone knows the correct history of this collection and I think this is important, let me give you some brief facts. I'm sorry if this gets confusing but I can assure you the facts are correct coming directly from Kyle himself and later facts from Kyle's wife, Pat whom I stay in touch with on a regular basis. Most of you already know Kyle started this collection in the early 1970s. I first met Kyle, I think, around 1974 or so, about the time I started collecting too. Kyle was the founder of several cable TV companies that he started in the 1950s. Having the resources to buy the most and the best, over the decades, Kyle amassed his great collection. But in 2007, as prices were up, Kyle saw an opportunity to sell the whole collection intact to one individual, billionaire Aubrey McClendon, who promised to Kyle that a museum would be built in Oklahoma to house this great collection intact. Though the collection from 2007 until last year was owned by Aubrey McClendon, ironically the collection had never left Kyle's premises. Aubrey, running into various personal and business legal issues from 2007 until he accidentally died in a car wreck just last March of 2016, never got the chance to build that museum. Yes, they ruled the accident just that, an accident, squashing speculation that it was something else because of Aubrey's ongoing problems. So there the collection sat, at Kyle's house, still enjoying it to the very end. Kyle Moore then passed in March of 2014. In the summer of 2015, Aubrey decided the collection must be put up for sale. Before Kyle passed he and I spoke about that issue of his collection being in a museum many times over the years and obviously Kyle was concerned to say the least.
So enter Morphy Auctions in the summer of 2015. Morphy Auctions and Aubrey, before he passed, decided that the collection was to be sold in four groups from October, 2015 until July 24th, 2016 by Morphy Auctions.
By the way, you may find this interesting. Kyle Moore, being the collector that he was, did not stop collecting in 2007 as many people thought. You know the saying, once it's in your blood it's there to stay! He continued to buy items until his passing. By 2014, he had accumulated another 175 plus globes, about three dozen gas pumps and numerous signs. This second collection was also sold, though privately, from the spring of 2014 until very recently. After he passed, I was able to purchase several items for my own collection from this second collection until it was announced the main collection would hit the auction block too.
My goal was still that 1%, by the way.
So what did I see at the final auction in terms of the prices realized? Honestly nothing significant. As in all auctions many pieces went close to retail, some fell through the cracks and some went well above retail. Again nothing unique. But I would say prices remained good through the last of this huge auction. You can look up the results at MorphyAuctions.com. I just did and they are very easy to find on their website. The crowd was down a bit albeit the online bidding was strong. As usual we saw many good friends there and that made it all worthwhile. We were able to purchase more at this auction than the prior three. So I was able to get several more for my collection and several more to resell. Signs did well with strong prices for the really good ones like another Kelly Springfield porcelain, a Polly Gas porcelain and a rare 48” porcelain Smitholene Aviation sign to name a few. It should be noted also that as these auctions from the first one on progressed to the last auction, other items from other consignments were mixed in with the Kyle/Aubrey auction. People were asking me about some common gas globes and common signs wondering were those Kyle's and I told them they were not. This helped round out the collections so everyone could go home with something.
I remember talking with some close friends about the Kyle Moore/Aubrey collection and its effects on the hobby. I was worried that the hobby could not absorb that many great items in one year without serious effect on my business and the whole hobby in general. Yes, we all have a few less dollars in our pockets. But honestly the hobby grabbed all this up and swallowed it whole! Business as usual because our hobby has grown so much in the last few years. Overall, I feel the effects were very little.
Morphy Auctions were great hosts as usual. They had good food offered up very cheap, free drinks and free pizza for everyone both days. Their crew was eager to help you pack up, offering free boxes, packing material and tape and offering to load your vehicles up as needed.
I must say Dan Morphy was a great host! I also wish to personally thank Dan Matthews for letting us stay at his place for three nights and his partner Sidney for being a great host too! Thanks you two!
Oh, by the way, I just counted the globes from both of Kyle's collections I was able to buy and keep since 2014. I hit 2%, you can do the math. ]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Tue, 16 Aug 2016 15:35:04 -0400
<![CDATA[Iowa Gas 2016!!!]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/bolenesign1.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/bolenesign1.jpg.html
The 30th Iowa Gas Swap Meet August 2-5, 2016

On the road again! I don't want to fool anyone - I really don't do much traveling but barely a week after the last Morphy Auction 400 miles to the east I'm headed 650 miles due west to attend my favorite Gas & Oil Show, Iowa Gas. I think I could find the place blindfolded, having stayed at this same hotel now well over 20 times! Every year they make some new improvements. This year, as I entered a well familiar lobby I noticed the lobby size has exploded into a very large sports type bar with huge flat screen TVs, ample seating and tons of open room to socialize. How cool is that!
This year, trying to curtail some early vending as some brave souls were getting there on Monday, even Sunday...they tried some schedule changes with so-so results. Vendors were allowed set up only on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning until the new mid week auction started around noon on Wednesday. The auction ran until Wednesday about 7 PM that night but quickly found people getting into the room to room event. Vendors were allowed then to vend on Wednesday night inside and outside with some success, I noticed, but again the room to room won the rest of that day. Thursday morning saw the full swing of the show but to my surprise the show was winding down by Thursday afternoon with many leaving early that day.
It was hot, reaching 96 degrees on Thursday with high humidity and not much cooler the day before. Walking outside was honestly like walking right into an oven, taking your breath away. Being an inside vendor was great - sorry guys. Nonetheless, I spent much time outside trying to scrape up some good deals as well as completing numerous deliveries and other appointments I needed to attend to. But if the heat was too much, there was still plenty to see inside between the new huge exhibition hall and the room to room.
There were some great gas globes, great pumps, cans and signs and too many other antiques to mention here! We saw several new discoveries of signs, gas globes, cans and maps among other items. A rare, good condition Husky porcelain die cut sign brought $24,000 in a room showing. One of the coolest signs I've ever seen was a very large Goodrich Silvertown Stores sign in near mint condition with an asking price, I believe, of around $6,800. I saw an awesome Waggoners 3Ds Products porcelain sign with Steer inside at a vendor's booth no price posted, cool sign. I found a rare Crown Gasoline on 15” metal single - most are 16.5” and a new discovery of an unusual Sohio Red Crown on 15” metal - a keeper. A dead mint Mohawk Gasoline with Indian metal frame globe was sitting in the shade on the back row - that one we took home. The only known Bartles & Sweeney one piece etched globe was sold by a long time friend of mine from Chicago for around two grand or so and lucky buyer, Bryce Gillespie pounced on that one! A really cool pair of Elreco 14” blue inserts (never seen before) brought around $650 - very pretty inserts. Congrats Tommy Jones! We believe all super rare 14” inserts date to the early 1930s and were made by Solar Electric Company of Chicago. Wayne Henderson made fun of me because I brought home a mint Atlantic Imperial on Gill, a common globe but I wanted it to go with my mint Atlantic Premium on Gill. Yes they are common but I've always liked those two globes! Plus, I didn't see much in the way of keepers there this year for me. That globe and the Sohio Red Crown 15” metal rare version were all I brought home to keep. Two super rare Kanotex one piece globes were offered around $20,000 for the pair, numerous ripples were available, a green crown in great shape sold for $2,100 and two rare early Standard “Gasoline” Crowns were offered each at $4250. Signs were everywhere as well as cans and gas pumps. A great rare Royaline Gasoline 30” porcelain in good shape was offered at $20,000. A great condition Valvoline Pennsylvania Gasoline porcelain had a sticker price of $4,600, I think it was, and a Deep Rock with bracket went for $6,000 in good shape. A six foot Texaco sign brought $800 and a rare Bowser visible was traded in the $2,200 range. We saw lots of unrestored gas pumps and a few restored ones too from common 1950s to early pre-visibles, visibles, clock face, Duplex and Simplex pumps and many more. There were hundreds of signs there and just about any gas pump you could imagine. Check out all the photos we have.
You like country store, soda pop, architectural? One vendor had really cool numerous salesman sample stoves over 100 years old all in great condition. Many early working car and engine models, old weather vanes, etc. Porcelain pump plates were everywhere. It was all there.
I spoke with Ron Hoyt today, one of the show promoters and he told me expect some changes for next year! The most exciting is the hotel has informed him they will be replacing all the tree lawns off to the left area there, as you face the hotel, with pavement for lots more vendor spaces and parking. They have not made a decision yet on the actual schedule of event that would include the auction but they are aware of the comments people have made or suggested and will take all that into consideration for a great event next year.
I hope you enjoy all the photos. As you can see there was something for everyone there. PCM would like to thank Ron Bettin for taking time to capture this event with his camera and sharing it all with you. If you are a collector, you should consider attending this event every year. It's a ton of fun! ]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Tue, 16 Aug 2016 15:33:41 -0400
<![CDATA[What Makes This Hobby Interesting & Packing Gas Globes]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/goodgulfgmethyl2.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/goodgulfgmethyl2.jpg.html
I think we are all getting numb, and rightfully so, seeing record prices at not just one particular venue, but at many numbers of venues and events everywhere. As exciting as this seems, it's not particularly important I feel, as this has been happening for decades. We all know too much in price increases in a very short time cannot and should not last forever. A nice steady increase in prices over the years is better, for any hobby I would think. The gas and oil collectibles hobby has done both, meaning it has weathered extreme and fast prices increase and good steady growth in other areas over the decades. What is exciting though, is the continued growth of our hobby and seeing it spread across continent.
But I still haven't answered the question above. What makes this hobby so darn interesting?
Amercia has always been about industries, the automobile, oil and the like. This is the foundation that supports these pillars of strength. Collecting items that relate to these pillars makes it very acceptable and fun for the hobbyist. The car collectors can and do relate to our hobby and this becomes more apparent every year. People in the oil industry, which must number in the thousands, also are attracted to our hobby now more than ever. Crossover collectors are coming into our hobby in droves. Every day I speak to collectors of art, barber shop items firemen, racing enthusiasts, and the list is endless, who see an interest in our hobby and want a small or sometimes large piece of it. Then they are investors, who have an interest in our items and want to enjoy an item, see it go up in value, then be able to sell it down the road and hopefully make a profit. I talk to these people everyday. They ask me, “What do you have I can buy that I can enjoy for a few years and sell it and either break even or enjoy a decent profit?” In most cases I can say, “Anything on my website!”
So, in a broad sense, what makes our hobby so interesting is the fact that it appeals to so many people these days. You have gas pumps, who appeal to just about everyone, especially the car guys. You have gas globes, which are just cool to look at. Signs are the most popular that can be hung anywhere. Cans, maps, smalls, etc., find homes with the collectors who may have limited space or just like to collect those items.
I mentioned the explosion of social media a couple months back and that continues to amaze myself and the people that have been around the block a few times. Wow, is all I can say. This medium has opened up a door of direct communication between collectors like we have never seen. We have all become one big family. We stick up for each other, we help each other, we support each other and we all have found many new friends in such a short amount of time. We also learn from each other and most people seem more than willing to educate the newcomers to the hobby. Its not just our hobby either, it's any hobby. I picked up at Hershey last year an old Gamewell Fire Alarm Box, had it restored and had some questions. I quickly found a Face Book page on Gamewell Fire Alarm boxes and immediately had my questions answered. One fireman even told me the exact street corner location my fire box originally proudly stood over when I gave him the brass number on the box. We do the same in our hobby when we can.
That, folks, makes collecting so darn interesting and so much fun. When will it ever end? Hopefully never. So ride the wave until it hits the shore!

Packing Gas Pump Globes

I apologize for having to rewrite this article over and over but until the problem goes away, which unfortunately it never will, I will continue to re-write this article again and again.
Every time I do write this, I don't just copy and paste an old article. I actually try to get these points across in better and better ways. The problem is most people in the hobby understand these concerns, but when you buy from non collector's, like eBay for instance, most of them just want the deal done and rarely pack well or simply won't follow your instructions.
Let me try and make this as quick and simple as possible. Unless you just have a pair of inserts or such you need large double boxes, CUBE SHAPED, with several inches of space between the edge of the globe and any sides of the box-which includes top and bottom. I highlighted CUBED SHAPED, because I can't seem to get this point across to the sellers on eBay that when you ship a gas globe long boxes, boxes 12” high double boxed, don't mean a darn thing!!!! I rarely buy on eBay anymore because most sellers that happen to find a gas globe will not listen to my parameters of how to pack a globe. This is not directed at collectors that sell gas globes and know how to pack...The last globe I bought, I stressed that the globe must be double boxed in 20” cubes, etc. I said I would pay the extra shipping. Normally I recommend 24” cubes but this was a small globe. The globe arrived in a very long, too long of a box actually. It was double boxed. The top box measured 12” high!!! Yes, 12” high. This almost set a record with me but it did not! Anyway, the globe was wrapped in a PIECE of CARDBOARD and with a very thin piece of foam about 1/8 inch thick, yes that is correct, sitting on the floor of the box. In laymen terms, the globe was dancing on hard cardboard, with no cushion when it hit any floor, from Canada to here. Miraculously, it made it in one piece. Not sure how but it did.
Let me stress this point. If, when you finish packing your priceless gas globe, you cannot stand on top of the box, jump up and down on it, then watch the box hit the concrete floor from 4' height, then you have not packed the globe well enough. I am serious! Gas globes should be packed only in cube shapes, double boxed, bubble wrapped globe and very very tight. If you kick the box as hard as you can your foot should bounce right off the outer box with no damage.
The problem is when people that don't deal in this stuff don't carry the right boxes for shipping so they go to the grocery store or whatever and pick up the wrong boxes because they are free.
I can count on one hand the last 25 globes I've purchased where the seller packed them well. It rarely happens. Then they get broke, then people like me do the appraisal, which I don't enjoy.
So, a quick synopsis on how to pack the globe itself. One piece globes, globes that are caulked in, even plastic frame or “capco” gas globes can just be tightly bubble wrapped and then double boxed. Inside box dimensions does not matter. Just make them cubes and large. Glass frame globes, including Gills, Ripples, Hull frame or regular glass with inserts and any metal frame globes should have the inserts removed, bubble wrapped, glass frame wrapped, then double boxed. Metal frames can just be placed on top of the inner box for protection of that inner box, then the whole assembly placed inside the large box.
Warning and suggestion!!! If, the seller refuses to remove the inserts from the metal frame or glass frame, there is only one way to safely ship these. Take electrical tape or masking/painters tape, tightly wrap the globes several times each way around the whole globe. You are trying to make the inserts impossible to move or vibrate. If they more or vibrate, THEY WILL BREAK. So tape the heck out of this globe and then it must be wrapped VERY tightly with bubble wrap, then double boxed per above. We recently shipped a record 300 globes in five months with no damage to any globe. Why? Because we simply followed the above rules.
Keep in mind the outer edge of any gas globe should have a minimum of 3-5 inches of protection between it and the outside of the box. So a 15” insert from side to side would need a 22” cube just to give it 3” protection each side which is barely enough. Use extra cardboard sheets for the sidewalls if you have some laying around. Use this common sense when packing any gas globe!!!
I cannot tell you how many times a buyer has called me and said, “I'm glad you packed it well in big boxes the side of the outer box was smashed in about 4 to 6 inches.”
Now, all you have to do is get the rest of the hobby, and mainly these non hobbyist sellers, to follow these rules. Insist they follow these rules. Offer extra shipping fees it's worth it. Feel free to copy this article and spread the word. Use this anywhere you want. A broken globe can never be replaced! Good luck you'll need it! ]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:07:59 -0400
<![CDATA[Would You Buy a Damaged Collectible?]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/transports.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/transports.jpg.html
Would You Buy a Damaged Collectible?



Pictured here is an awesome, one of a kind Wespeco chimney capped gas globe, the only one known. Interesting? Would you want it? What if I told you it was broken? Still interested? Check out the super rare Transport Airport Canadian gas globe. Like it? Would you buy it? What if I told you that insert was broken in three pieces? Still interested? How about that rough Caldwell porcelain sign? It's the only one like that known. Like it or too rough for your taste? Look at it after restoration. Did we do the right thing? See the Red Crown chimney capped globe also pictured here? Cool, eh? I first saw that globe in the Carol Sears collection back in the late 1970s in Chicago. It is still the only one known. I looked up at it sitting on the shelf back then and told him I thought that was the coolest globe I had ever seen! He said, “It is, but it's broken.” I said I didn't care. I still don't care. I finally bought it back in 2002 or so.

The hobby has come a long way in the last 40 years since I started. Back in the day if you had a broken globe is was pretty much worthless unless it was something like the ones mentioned above. Even today, broken globes have a limited audience and you have to buy it at the right price. But, broken pieces are being accepted more and more every day with new collectors searching them out. Want a killer looking globe or sign for a fraction of the price? Don't pass up on broken globes or damaged signs.

People ask me, What's this broken globe worth or how much is this rough sign worth? No one knows these answers. Only common sense and experience can steer you through these scenarios. You would not want to pay $150 for a broken Sinclair Dino globe when $250-$300 can buy you a mint one. But $25 for a single broken insert would not be too much. Recently, I sold a near perfect fired paint Sinclair Gasoline one piece globe for $600 but it had a large base chip. A mint one would set you back about $1,500. I feel the buyer got a very fair price for the globe. Many buyers have approached me and other collectors wanting damaged globes. Is this just a trend? I don't think so and I think it's a smart thing to do. You just don't want to pay too much. But what that is no one really knows. I've been buying damaged globes for decades and have several in my collection. I just buy them because I like them. Some of the pieces, like the Red Crown Chimney cap, are still the only ones known. I love that piece and don't have a lot into it. I think I paid about $1,200 for it at auction 14 years ago. It has gone up in value I would guess, but I didn't buy it for value. I bought it because I like it. A mint one if it existed would set you back many times that amount.

Setting these prices for broken or rough pieces is hard to do. Just a few weeks ago a super rare 15” metal “Aviation Gasoline” globe insert sold for over $1,900. It had a small half moon crack across the top of it. Who cares? Any collector would love that globe, broken or not. What a fantastic globe for a fraction of what a mint one would cost and you can hardly see the crack. I would be thrilled to have the piece in my collection. What would you pay for a Rainbow Gasoline insert broken in half? I bet it would still bring a few thousand or more. Good luck finding or affording a mint one.

A couple years ago my friend bought a Texaco Gasoline and Motor Oils chimney capped globe for around $3,500 but it had a large chip out of the base. This is Texaco's first globe, circa 1916. You would want this globe. It still stands but the chips is big. A really nice one will set you back about $25,000 or more. On a shelf or pump you can't see the crack or damage. What direction would you go?

Signs are a different beast. I'm not a sign expert, but, like broken globes, damaged, rough or restored signs also have a limited audience. Value parameters are similar. Common rough signs have little value and restored or damaged super rare signs have decent values. Its always a case by case basis. The Caldwell & Taylor sign shown here is one that I kept and had restored. I was really on the fence about it, but was finding it difficult to enjoy the sign as is. So I spent the money and had it restored. Again, when I collect I don't give a hoot about value or future value. I just collect. When I buy and sell I have to be concerned with values. Honestly, I would not have bought the sign for resale, not because it didn't have value, but because I would not know how to price it in that condition or how to factor in restoration costs. That I would leave to the sign experts.

There are a couple people out there who can hide a fracture line in any insert and make any broken insert look near mint, even if it's in several pieces. We hope we can lure these artists into your hobby as I have seen their work. You would be amazed. The Transport Airport insert shown here is such work. You cannot see the break in the glass lit or not lit. This person no longer does work for our hobby. But someday soon someone will and when you can fix a broken insert and not see the repair, these pieces will go way up in value. This can apply to BB holes in one piece globes, pieces missing, etc. There will come a time when actual glass or similar material can be reformed into such a piece so you would not know it was ever broken. Epoxy and other bonding materials work okay and this has been done with some success. Signs have already passed this step a long time ago.

So, when you buy a piece that is not in the best condition you have a few things to consider. Are you reselling it right away? If so, you need to buy it right. Are you keeping the piece and thinking you'll worry about it's value later? If so, you will hope the value might increase a bit so when you do sell you'll get your money back and make a profit. But honestly many of these answers you won't really know until you pull the trigger.

Good luck and may you never look at a damaged piece the same way again! Good luck!]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:48:24 -0500
<![CDATA[The Kyle Moore Auction and Hershey 2015]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/smredhat.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/smredhat.jpg.html
The Kyle Moore Auction
Hosted by Morphy Auction Company, Denver, Pennsylvania
October 5th, 2015

First, let me say this auction was friendly, professional and the most fun I've had since attending Iowa Gas a few months ago. Morphy Auctions is a class act! So is Dan Matthews whom most of us know, who greeted us there and helped Lonnie and me get grooved in. I also got to meet Dan Morphy for the first time.
I rode along with good friend and collector Lonnie Hop arriving on Sunday, late afternoon, to preview the auction. Countless staff greeted everyone as they walked in their large facility. As we wandered about, they were more than happy to show us around or open the locked glass cases so we could handle a wanted globe or sign. Staff members were everywhere and really there to help, making everyone feel comfortable. I've never been to an auction like this one. But wow, it was also like a major swap meet! Everyone was there including a few people I had not seen in a while. Many of us viewed the fantastic collection, then went to a local dining place to cap off the evening. It was great spending time with many good friends and fellow collectors. Then came the big day. Needless to say I got little sleep.
Monday we were up very early and at the auction door by 7:30 AM. The crowd was already gathering. Morphy Auctions had donuts, rolls, bottled water, coffee, juice and more. Whatever you wanted was provided, gratis! Later that afternoon there was an open bar - which I avoided for two reasons: 1) I really cannot and should not try to outbid a millionaire even after three drinks; and 2) broken globes have little value…
Nine AM was the start time and other than being a bit nervous I was quite impressed! The back wall of the auction room had at least seven staff lined up with phones in their hands ready for phone bids. The front of the auction by the podium had several people getting ready for bidding from other venues like Proxibid, eBay, Morphy's own site and Live Auctioneer's. What a coordinated effort!
Oh yes, the seats were $500 but if you bought anything it was refunded and if not it would be refunded in a few weeks. There was limited seating as only about 200 comfortable seats were available and the place was packed at the auction start. I honestly could not imagine attending this auction without buying anything as we all wanted a piece of the famous collection. You just had to go home with something.
But it wasn't the $500 that concerned me. It was constantly calculating the fast paced auction adding 20% to your bid as you go. If that doesn't wear you out after 12 hours nothing will! $1,000=$1,200, $5,000=$6,000, $10,000=$12,000 but these are even numbers. When bidding slows at $3,750 you need to be adding about $750 to decide if you want to bid again and you have little time to make that decision! I was spent by 10 PM!
People had asked me in the weeks before the auction; What will this due to prices? What will this due to the hobby? Will prices skyrocket? Plummet? What about my business? What will this go for? That go for? Can the hobby absorb a 20 million dollar collection? Yes it can...
The only thing I knew for sure was that auctions tend to have a pattern, but also meaning you just never know anything until the hammer hits! I figured many pieces would go retail, several would go sky high and being this huge an auction, that some pieces would fall through the cracks! That's pretty much what happened.
I could point out many great deals. I could point out crazy prices way above retail. The rest fell somewhere in between. My concern was the amount that the hobby could absorb. In this case it was $3.5 million for this first auction alone and with four more of these auctions of Kyle's collection, what will happen to the hobby? The following auctions from what I understand at this point will be in January, April, July and October next year. I wouldn't say this first one hit us hard, as we all got back on our feet and shook it off fairly well! I really don't think the hobby took any kind of big hit. I do know though that we all went home with a couple great pieces for our collections! There was no one person that “cleaned house” per se. A few guys bought strong on some signs and globes but with an auction that large it was fairly well spread out. Many items went to phone and on line bidders, too, so pieces went along to new homes everywhere! We can handle it!
I was able to purchase three globes for my collection and several for resale so I feel I did well. Bidding was strong, so strong that I watched 300 of the 800 lot auction before I bought my first piece. The auction was exactly 12 hours long; do the math, about four hours plus and nothing! Fun, but frustrating. One had to be patient! By auction's end my friend and I had purchased several globes.
Graphic tin signs were very strong, many stronger than porcelain signs, some bringing $15,000-$40,000 plus! So much for the, “porcelain always does better than tin.” theory. But these were graphic flange signs, many tire ones, like you've never seen before. All I can say is, wow!
By the time the auction ended (12 hours later) the crowd was mostly gone. What a day! The staff remained with free boxes and packing material to help you load up, pack, sort, again, whatever you needed.
Please visit Morphy Auctions on line for all results. Here are some of the highlights. Most signs and gas globes were in excellent condition. All gas pumps were professionally restored. Please add 20% to the price you see…Maybe we will see you at the next auction.

Saxon Motor Cars porcelain sign $9,500
Texaco Crystalite with boy in hut $9,000
Kelly Gas and Oil Flange porcelain $38,000
Mustang Gasoline 48” rare porcelain sign $16,000
Signal 48” porcelain $10,000
Ford Service radiator shaped, one known $10,500
Gulf Marine Products $1,500
Mobilgas Socony 72” $4,750
Chandler Service porcelain $3,500
Hood Tires tin flange $16,500
Savage Tires with Indian tin flange $32,000
Marathon Tires tin $13,000
Fisk Tires tin $6,500
Michigan Maid gas globe, green ripple, two broken inserts $12,500
Badger gas globe $7,500
High Hat single 15” metal with hat $24,000
Penndrake gas globe single blue ripple $6,000
Bengal gasoline globe single on metal $20,000
Raymond “4 in one” 5 gallon pump killer piece $38,000 (Back in the day I had told Kyle Moore about this pump I had seen south of Toledo, Ohio. I just knew it was strange. It took Kyle about 25 years to get the guy to sell it but he finally did! Wish I could have bought that piece.)
Crawford five gallon pump $8,000
Roman Column pump $23,000
Rapid Dayton Bellboy pump $4,750
Eco air station early air pump $10,000
Sinclair Aircraft 24” rare porcelain $9,500
Royal 400 Red Hat 32” porcelain sign $33,000
Paragon porcelain curb sign $17,500
Red Hat Motor Oil 48” porcelain sign $27,000
Kelly Tires 42” porcelain single sided sign $74,000
Clipper porcelain sign $34,000
TP Porcelain sign with hanger $13,000
Rare Penn Trump porcelain sign $19,500
Vacuum Cup tin sign great graphics $41,000
Wil-Flo Motor Oil tin sign $22,000
Mayflower Gas metal frame gas globe $9,000
Tioga yellow Hull glass globe $26,000
Rare Standard chimney cap crown globe $15,000
Power-X with ape holding car globe $12,500
Bruinoil gas globe back side different $25,000
Mint Ford Benzol gas globe $13,500
Bolene Gasolene one piece globe graphic $17,500
Rare Black Charger single gas globe on metal $10,000
National Duplex gas pump $13,000
Super rare Eco-Meter double clock face gas pump $54,000
Sinclair Aircraft 48” porcelain sign $24,000
Rare Mohawk 28” porcelain sign $44,000
Packard Radiator shaped porcelain sign $40,000
Polly Gas porcelain sign die cut $75,000
Pegasus Neon porcelain sign rotator $24,000
Boyce Moto Meter tin sign $16,000
Sunrise/Sunset curb porcelain sign $10,000
Partridge Tires tin flange sign $25,000
Great early Goodyear tin sign $7,500
Superior Gasoline metal frame globe $19,000
Westland one piece buffalo globe $11,000
Atlantic one piece chimney cap globe $4,750
Red Crown Polarine oval one piece $9,000
Jenney Aero single back Ethyl metal frame gas globe $15,000
Independent three marching men globe $34,000
Sinclair Benzol one piece globe $12,500
Super rare Purol oval one piece $11,000
National Simplex gas pump $8,500
Bowser twin Xacto Sentry clock face gas pump $11,000
Evangeline 42” porcelain sign with tree $10,000
Packard Genuine Parts porcelain sign $20,000
Rare Koolmotor 12” one piece globe $7,500
Fyre Drop one piece gas globe $3,500
S-S Oil Company unusual one piece Red Hat globe $9,000
T-P metal frame globe $10,000
Hi Speed Aviation one piece globe very rare $3,750
Canadian Twin 10 Gallon gas pump $13,500
Rare Correct Measure double clock face gas pump $28,000
Rare Midland/Skelly one piece gas globe $2,000
Bull Dog Pep gas globe $4,750
Little Bear gas globe on red ripple $23,000
Sunoco milk glass topper for Tokheim 36 B gas pump $1,200
Indian Gasoline small one piece gas globe $11,500
Rare Barnsdall monument shaped one piece gas globe $13,000
Please see Morphy Auctions on line for all results as these were just some highlights.
We'll see what the remaining four auctions of the Kyle Moore collection will bring. There are hundreds and hundreds more great gas globes, signs, cans and more. This was just the beginning, which is hard to comprehend.

Hershey PA., October 6th, 2015

The day after the big auction was the Hershey meet. But we had no time to rest getting in the night before from the auction about 10:30 PM, then getting up early to drive back to Hershey.
The drive was short, only about 40 minutes, the sun was out and the temperature was expected to reach about 70. Wow, that's not normally Hershey weather, but I can live with that. We only had one day for Hershey this year instead of the normal two days so this had to be short and sweet before the six hour ride home Tuesday night. Lonnie would then have another five hours from my house to his Wednesday morning.
No room for bikes this year as the van was filled with glass, so we hit the pavement running to hopefully cap off a successful trip. Hershey seemed like a spillover from the auction as many collectors were at Hershey that I had just seen the previous day.
I usually hit the old Chocolate field first and saw dozens of signs from a couple vendors. The first gas globe I saw was a rare Standard of New Jersey. “Standard Motor Gasoline” single on 15” metal. Priced fair at $550 but it had wear like most of these do, so I passed. Other nearby vendors had several gas globes fairly priced mixed with countless gas and oil signs. One porcelain flange sign, a scarce, “Red Crown Gasoline” early Sohio with the green border, was priced at $2350 I think which was a bit high but it is a rare sign. A Hi Speed porcelain sign was priced up there, too, but it was in good condition. I also saw a really nice porcelain Buick sign for $3,250 and that was snatched up pretty quick from what I understand.
We mixed it up a bit hitting various aisles, crisscrossing now and then, to find that special piece. More signs, gas pumps, globes, neon signs, countless cans and other collectibles were mixed in with the millions of car parts you see at a huge show like this one.
I didn't see anything great this year other than some interesting signs vendors brought, pieces that I had already seen at Iowa Gas or Columbus. But as for something new and unique I don't think there was much out there this year. I did find a scarce “Socony” single insert 16.5” which was a version you rarely see. One vendor had a mint large porcelain Hi Speed sign and was asking about $6,500! Nice sign but, wow! I saw some rare beer globes which are really hard to find. Actually a good amount of gas and oil but you had to look hard for the scarcer items. We only had a chance to see about two thirds of the vendors on Tuesday, then we had to head home.
I go to Hershey for other items too and just to look at all the cool stuff. It's like miles of vendors with everything you can imagine. Since I didn't find many gas globes I could take home this year, I did find something I always wanted. I bought an early Fire Alarm box from the 1920s, all original with its cast iron pedestal base, pole and original key! I paid only $600 from a retired fireman. What a great price on that one. Lonnie gave me, “the look” when I asked if we had room for the piece. Ha ha...Seems like a 300 pound piece of cast iron doesn’t mix well with expensive glass. Wonder why? Anyway, we quickly reloaded a portion of the van and I told him it'll be ok as long as he doesn't roll the van! And that, my friends, is Hershey…]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:51:55 -0400
<![CDATA[Trading Up is Okay...]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/sinclairbenzolpair.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/sinclairbenzolpair.jpg.html
Trading Up is Okay

If you are in this hobby, I know you probably think you are unique; you have this crazed collector blood in you and you can’t get rid of that. The second part of this statement is correct. Once in your blood, you can’t get rid of it. There is no cure. You itch from the inside and really just can’t scratch it. You might use credit cards with the hope to pay later. Perhaps borrow from your reserves, your Roth Fund, your bank account, your wife or brother, whatever. You just have to collect, even when you sell your collection and somehow avoid getting back into gas and oil, you’ll find another hobby to enjoy and pacify your needs. It then starts all over. Just some observations here--I don’t have all the answers.
The first part is not so true. Yes, we are all unique but it’s amazing how, as collectors, we are so similar from one person to the next. Let’s face it, I have yet to meet a person who would not like to buy just about everything they see and never sell a darn piece. We really are all like that. But, unfortunately, it comes down to the all mighty dollar and very few of us have unlimited resources. Over the years I’ve had a few people ask me, “How can you sell all these great pieces and be a collector too? You cannot be both!” They are wrong. If there was any way I could keep all these items I pick up, well yes, I would! I wouldn’t sell a darn thing! I’d even keep duplicates on most pieces because I like this stuff so much. I used to pick out a rare globe I liked and count all the known ones out there and if I could possibly get all seven of them, I’d have them all. I’m a little crazy I know, but that’s okay. I had a good friend who had 13 of the same exact gas globe before he passed away. Bless him as he is so much like me and the rest of the hobby, I think? Yes, they’d haul me away to the funny farm and then the family would have a big sale but who cares? Even so, I can’t keep it all. So I keep what pieces I can and the rest go down the road. I can collect, too and I have a decent collection, not by any means the best, just decent. Would I like more? Absolutely, but I have bills to pay and kids to raise so I filter out what I really would hate to sell. What do you do when you get to that crossroad? I’ve been there too many times over the years. Something always comes up it seems and then darn, I have to sell something I really don’t want to sell. There is another scenario too. You have that one time chance to buy that unique piece and you just don’t have the money or the resources to do it. Different problem but same dilemma, you need the money…
I’ve become an expert at something I dislike very much. That is, sell an item I really don’t want to. Avoid it at all costs if you can, but if you have to, take some advice here.
First, sell an item you know you can replace. Or, sell an item you are likely to replace. If you have several say, Skelly gas globes or more common Sinclair globes, common Mobil pump plates, sell them if you have to, as most or all can be replaced down the road. Signs, pumps, cans, whatever it’s all the same advice here. If you are digging deeper, then sell a scarce or rare piece rather than a one of a kind or an item that just never turns up. It’s okay to ask for advice. Get on the forums and the phone and ask advice. Say you don’t want to sell that rare Sinclair Aircraft sign or rare Musgo gas globe. You know that either piece in decent condition would net you $15,000 plus. I would sell either as these pieces are not rare at all. There are over 100 known Musgo globes out there and dozens of Sinclair Aircraft signs. They might seem rare to you actually they are not rare at all. Maybe it takes a year to find another. So the guy at the next gas and oil swap meet has a rare Royaline Gasoline porcelain 30” sign, which never come up, in near mint condition and he wants $20,000 for it. You are broke but may have something else to sell. Just buy it and then figure out how to solve your problem later. That’s what I do when I can. If you don’t have the money on you have someone vouch for you, leave a deposit and have him bring it to the next show. You can borrow from a friend on lesser valued pieces, just random advice here. You’ll figure it out.
Let’s say it is worse than that. Let’s say you deeply prize every piece you own and something comes up that you have to have and you are broke. Another option is to sell the one piece, though you have enjoyed over the years, to someone else who really wants it. You can sort of justify getting rid of it because of all the years you have enjoyed it. I know that’s easier said than done. Often I have sold a piece and said, “I’ve enjoyed that for 12 years now and Bob really wants it so let Bob enjoy it now.” Then you might have Bob promise that if and when he sells it, you get first shot. Am I the only one that thinks like this? Anyway that’s what I do and over the years I have sold several unique pieces only to get them back down the road when I had more money! Sometimes that piece slips away but hey, it’s not the end of the world.
Here is another piece of advice when these scenarios come up. If you are willing to trade something, be willing to sell it too. It leaves you either way. It’s time to move on. Trading in this hobby is scarce and hard to do sometimes. Selling is easier. Just take the money and buy something else. Good to great pieces show up all the time in our hobby. If you have some money, believe me you can spend it quickly in this hobby.
I got in a bind once, sold a one of a kind Hi Speed gas globe to a long time friend with the promise if he ever sold it I’d like it back--at a higher price of course. He had it for a few years and started selling a few pieces off from his collection. I was able to get it back so this situation all worked out. See the photo here in this article.
Another time, when I was much younger and had no money, I sold off a very rare gas globe to a long time friend with the same promise. I had needed a down payment on my first house! After about 10 years I finally got it back with a trade to my friend. Then a couple years later another one was found so I sold the one just found to my friend. So in this case everyone won.
Years ago I had a friend with a cool collection of common gas globes. He only had so much money and back in the 1980s a lot of great globes were coming up. I kept telling him to sell off some of the common pieces and upgrade to some of the better pieces he really liked. He just couldn’t do that! He couldn’t sell anything. A few years later he told me he wished he had sold off some of his collection and upgraded to some better pieces, which were now way out of his price range. Lesson learned but he made that decision at that time. We all make decisions, some good, some not so good.
Sometimes it’s as simple as just switching gears. Maybe you like Mobil and several cool Gulf items keep turning up that you really enjoy. Again, keep what you can but realize space and money keep many of us from the funny farm as mentioned above. So, consider selling off a part of your collection and shift to something else.
Often it’s as simple as selling some other items off, an old car that’s really too expensive to restore, an old antique that’s been in your family but you really have no interest in it. We can’t keep everything and the sooner you realize that the more fun you’ll have.
I once asked a very wealthy friend, who is now gone, “What’s it like to buy everything you ever wanted, whenever you wanted? Is it the most awesome thing in the world to be like this?” His reply, “Not really, I get bored as there is no challenge, no hunt really. It’s not as much fun as you think it would be…”
That made me think, I really got what he meant. I guess all I’m saying is if you have to give something up to get something else, it’s okay. It’ll be all right. ]]>
Scott Benjamin photo Thu, 14 May 2015 14:07:58 -0400
<![CDATA[magnet]]> http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/magnet.jpg.html http://www.pcmpublishing.com/gallery2/main.php/v/articles/magnet.jpg.html
Owner Not Found/Found!!!

When Wayne and I finished the original two volume Gas Globes Books set back in 1998 or so, our biggest concern was the cross reference problem. We did the best we could with the limited space we had. Many globes can be found using that system back then, but there were just as many gaps. We realized a complete cross reference would wind up as big as one of the large books! So, if you find a gas globe that says, “Valor” which is a very rare Texaco globe, good luck finding it in the books! Today with current technology, gas globes can be searched on our Gas Globes CD we made in 2012 and this will also be the same in our new CD due out soon. Search functions are priceless in today’s fast changing techno society.
I tinkered with the idea of posting on FaceBook, gas globes which the company does not show their name on the globe, such as the “Valor” Texaco globe. I quickly realized the list would be too long but I did post the ones that I feel were the most interesting. These globes are from well known large or major companies and I found it interesting to post photos of a couple dozen of these on the page and also to share this information with our PCM Magazine readers.
Why did companies do this? There are a few main reasons and here they are. Many of these gas globes without a company name are Motor Grade gasolines and the company did not want to put their name on the inferior gasoline. Sometimes the company bought out another company and used their name instead on a sub grade product. Often it was just another logo to attract customers without interfering with their other products. There are perhaps more reasons but these, I would think, are the main ones.
After looking at the photos and seeing what company these represent, you can see how the search engines of today would find such a gas globe in the thousands out there. Some of the examples may surprise you, some you can kind of figure out yourself and others are so rare you would have no idea the company used such a gas globe unless you did a lot of research. One of my favorites is the “Valvoline” magnet gas globe. This globe is not only very rare; it pictures a large “magnet” on it and comes from a very well known and collectible company. Most other major companies used some type of gas globe without posting their name on it and these, to me, are the more interesting ones. It’s strange that sometimes the colors are completely different too!
So you can see from these photos and captions another fun facet of collecting gas pump globes. I’m sure you have something in your collection that falls into this category. Owner Not Found

When Wayne and I finished the original two volume Gas Globes Books set back in 1998 or so, our biggest concern was the cross reference problem. We did the best we could with the limited space we had. Many globes can be found using that system back then, but there were just as many gaps. We realized a complete cross reference would wind up as big as one of the large books! So, if you find a gas globe that says, “Valor” which is a very rare Texaco globe, good luck finding it in the books! Today with current technology, gas globes can be searched on our Gas Globes CD we made in 2012 and this will also be the same in our new CD due out soon. Search functions are priceless in today’s fast changing techno society.
I tinkered with the idea of posting on FaceBook, gas globes which the company does not show their name on the globe, such as the “Valor” Texaco globe. I quickly realized the list would be too long but I did post the ones that I feel were the most interesting. These globes are from well known large or major companies and I found it interesting to post photos of a couple dozen of these on the page and also to share this information with our PCM Magazine readers.
Why did companies do this? There are a few main reasons and here they are. Many of these gas globes without a company name are Motor Grade gasolines and the company did not want to put their name on the inferior gasoline. Sometimes the company bought out another company and used their name instead on a sub grade product. Often it was just another logo to attract customers without interfering with their other products. There are perhaps more reasons but these, I would think, are the main ones.
After looking at the photos and seeing what company these represent, you can see how the search engines of today would find such a gas globe in the thousands out there. Some of the examples may surprise you, some you can kind of figure out yourself and others are so rare you would have no idea the company used such a gas globe unless you did a lot of research. One of my favorites is the “Valvoline” magnet gas globe. This globe is not only very rare; it pictures a large “magnet” on it and comes from a very well known and collectible company. Most other major companies used some type of gas globe without posting their name on it and these, to me, are the more interesting ones. It’s strange that sometimes the colors are completely different too!
So you can see from these photos and captions another fun facet of collecting gas pump globes. I’m sure you have something in your collection that falls into this category. Send us some photos!



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Scott Benjamin photo Sun, 26 Apr 2015 10:49:38 -0400