The outdoor lube area is interesting. I have seen many such in photos, from pre-WW1. By this era, so much was indoors.
The Irondale Cafe is a landmark restaurant that sits adjacent to the throat of NS's Norris Yard in Birmingham. It's quite the railfan hangout and some interesting photos can be seen there, including this one of the most basic of gas stations.
If you look closely at the right front building corner, and rubble next to it, this seems to have at one time been a structure having a shared wall with something else.
The TP station in Azle TX is a nice snapshot of everyday life in a 1940s small town. Interesting how there's vegetation growing around the right-hand pump. Need engine oil? Grab one of those bottles and fill it up from the bulk tanks, then just pour it in. Tell the clerk what you took and that's all she wrote. Nice scene - relax, hang out, cool off with your favorite refreshment.
Well, maybe not. The dino is on all the oil cans. If you could zoom in, this is what they look like. The dino advertisement campaign started in the early 1930s.
I believe that all of the Sinclair branded stations (C-stores) are now gone, from my part of this State. It's all Exxon-Mobil and Conoco, with a few Holiday or CHS.
OK, I am confused as to what brand of gas station this is. Photo taken by Russell Lee in 1939 at Harlingen, Texas.
Pittsburgh PA area: Texaco Sunoco Atlantic Mobil Amoco Boron Esso Gulf Sinclair City Service Phillips 66
It may be flying again some day. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/world-war-two-b-17-bomber-restoration-underway.html
One globe says Texaco and another seems to have the Fire Chief helmet on it. It's clearly not a company store.
I think the "Fire Chief" helmet is just a Bell Telephone sign in front of the globe. Check out the pump on the far right and tell me what you see.
It's probably a dealer but those names, Fire Chief and Sky Chief, were Texaco brand names identifying regular and high test.