I stumbled on a very cool black and white photo of the Adair Mobilgas service station that used to be located on the north end of San Bernardino on Rt. 66, next to the Santa Fe mainlines going up Cajon Pass (see below). I would love to build a model of it for my Cajon layout. Anyone care for an informed guess as to what the color scheme should be? I'm thinking white with red trim and at least some lettering, other letters in blue? Any other colors? Assistance would be appreciated. Otto K.
Building is white, with either red or black trim. Gotta believe those pumps are red. The Pegasus of course was red. The signs at right side, frame outlines should be black. I started working at a Mobilgas station when I was seven, 1959. It had two pumps. My memory is one was red, the other white. I believe they were Tokheim pumps. The building was cinder block, body painted white. Use of blue came in when they went to simply "Mobil" in 1963.
My impression of a Mobil station in the 1950s, N scale model courtesy of Showcase Miniatures #104 "Wally's Filling Station" and Microscale decals. Of course, since my layout was set in Texas, the sign should have read MAGNOLIA instead of Mobil.
Hi Otto, The station above would be white with red trim, red wainscoting, and of course red pumps (there were white pumps too, but not in your photo). To match, "Adair's" sign was likely red outlined in blue, and "Mobilgas" text on pump is blue, but as far as I know, black on the Mobil station itself would have been very unusual if not unlikely, as red on white with black trim was of a major rival - Texaco. I have seen white Mobil curbside signs with black trim and lettering though, but red and blue have been part of the company's image since inception. This red on white motif (with a touch of blue) began after the breakup of the original Standard Oil in the early 1900s and continued until the merger with Exxon.
Otto... I'd have to agree with the above that white with red trim is the way to go...the blue accent striping also fits the company colors and the era... Bruce
One potential issue is that Micro-Scale was required by ExxonMobil to discontinue the sale of their Mobil decal set and destroy any remaining stock they had on hand. There was a thread on that, either here on 'on another network,' last year when this occurred.
I don't recall blue accent striping until the 1963 change. Prior to that where I worked the entire building body was white. 1963 and on, blue was much more prominent. Even prior to that date, there were not strictly held standards for the painting and signage, nor even afterward. These days such things are strictly mandated as part of your contract. They have contractors who come out and do all the work, which costs a LOT of money. And when they decide to change it again, usually more $$$$$$$$.
Looking at the color descriptions has brought me to the following question. Was here yet another paint scheme or has Micro Engineering got it wrong? They have a small gas station kit with an outside lift and two pumps plus a tow truck. They call for white walls and Pullman green doors, windows, and roof. The gas island is white with a red edge while the pumps are white with a red base. The two horses on the roof are red. Signage is provided simply stating Mobileoil.
John- Back then, the way gas stations operated was quite different. It depends upon what they might have used as a prototype for their model, if anything. If it was a privately owned facility, the oil company would have owned only the tanks, up to and including the pumps. Oil company responsible for the maintenance of the fuel storage and delivery system. The rest of the layout might have been whatever the site owner did. Gas stations if they exist for many years, can be re-branded many times. Thus repainted and remodeled a lot, or not much at all. Some of what is seen could be from a previous branding contract. Things changed a lot in the 1970's, and since then.
I have started two small kits both gas stations. This is the Micro Engineering kit for a Mobile station. It seems to fit right into my steam era and I finished it up this evening. The other kit is a single bay wood kit that also seems to fit that era by J L Innovative Design and I'll start it next.
Decals Thank you for the heads up... I got on feebay and ordered a set of pricey decals while they are available. And thanks for the feedback everyone! Otto K. Doh, I was just reminded I kitbashed the ME kit some 20 years ago... I based it on an old fuzzy photo of another service station; sketched the general design and freelanced the little station to sit against the backdrop on 3rd Street in San Bernardino where it's been gathering dust ever since... See pics. Time to get out the mini vacuum... Otto
Otto!... very nice! Bruce PS-tried to PM you here but the message doesn't seem to have gone through...a wonderfully written, lengthy series of questions for you...I'll try to contact you via email later this evening!
I had a Micro Engineering service station kit, and used the building as the office for a gravel pit. (Barely visible behind the gravel pile.) The N scale loading hopper and conveyor were built with "extreme repurposing" of a 1/700 scale Hasegawa Japanese Navy harbor crane.
Bruce, thanks! Sorry about the lost PM, I've been having a lot of issues lately with my Trainboard interface, it just doesn't behave the way it used to. I keep getting unsigned, sometimes halfway through a response. Somebody somewhere had to " improve the experience" for us...drives me nuts. I'll look forward to your email. Best regards, Otto
