I never experienced the era of gas station attendants wearing bow ties and caps, who would pump your gas and clean your windshield for you, but it sure must have been nice. This Standard Oil gas station stood at the corner of Beverly Blvd and La Brea Ave circa late 1920s, and those two peppy fellows look like they’re ready to serve. Their sandwich board reads “The New Winter Red Crown” – does anyone know what that refers to?
Morgan R says: “Red Crown was a brand of gasoline sold by standard oil, so presumably it was the winter formulation of the gas. Gasoline is still sold in summer and winter formulations, but I guess they aren’t really advertised any more. The changeover has something to do with fuel volatility and ambient temperatures, enabling engines to start easier on cold winter days, at the cost of some performance and efficiency (and which in turn would vaporize too quickly in the heat of summer.) And which if I recall is the cause of seasonal price spikes around spring and fall when the refineries close down to re-tool, causing a brief drop in supply; and in general of seasonal differences in gas prices.”
I don’t know which corner of Beverly and La Brea that Standard Oil stood on, but these days, it has two Chevon gas stations kitty-corner from each other. I’m guessing it was this one, but if it was the other one, it looks the same as this image from February 2021.
“Red Crown” was a gasoline brand from Standard Oil, which became Chevron. Certainly shows continuity! 😀
Ah! That makes sense. Thanks, MMM
The winter blend of gasoline.
Was that a thing back then? A blend especially for winter? Or was it more of a marketing thing?
You’ll still see summer and winter blends of gasoline today. Different additives and different percentages…
Is that more of a northern/northeastern thing in places with more extreme weather?
Yeah, although I think it’s a thing in Northern Cali as well. 🙂
Can anyone read the name of the architecture firm’s sign on the building behind the gas station? I can’t quite figure it out but am intrigued. I’d like to look them up if only I could decipher their name. Thanks in advance for any help or guesses.
Apparently they were known as “Pope and Burton” and opened their offices in 1927.
Thank you, Martin and happy new year!
I know of two gas stations that still offer full service in Los Angeles. One is on the northeastern corner of the intersection of Wilshire and 26th in Santa Monica and the other is on the south side of Wilshire near the Beverly Hilton. I avail myself of the services at one or the other before I take a driving trip, just to make sure all my car’s fluids are good. (Sadly, the attendants at neither sport bow ties.)
I’m amazed and impressed there are any, let alone two!
This one appears to be the same arrangement as the small station that long survived at the southwest corner of Franklin and Canyon, diagonally across from today’s Gelson market. Into 1964, that one sported the by then usual small sign with the Standard Oil name over the chevrons. Given that all the Taft development (circa 1921-33) replaced lemon groves from the east side of Van Ness on, that location may have been a prime spot for the entire district including the houses above Franklin. I don’t recall any other pumps operating around there, but there was something further east toward but before Western Avenue (on the southern edge of the road).
There is the 76 station at the SW corner of Little Santa Monica & Cresent in Beverly Hills that offers full service, I use this one frequently and the 76 at SW corner of La Brea and 6th Street in Miracle Mile. I’ve lived in Miracle Mile all my life except for a brief stint in Hancock Park at Ravenswood my early 20’s and then Beverly Hills, My early 30’sLove all the historic info/pics Martin