Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Vintage Signs

I have seen the Signs, Signs meme for quite some time and never seem to have the right photo to submit; but during our weekend in Cass, West Virginia we were driving around the countryside and stopped at a gas station to fill up. When I pulled up I saw these restroom signs that were straight out of the sixties and my memories of day trips with my family growing up. Back then we always needed to keep an eye out for a gas station when we needed to use the restroom. They were few and far between and the gas station was just that - a gas station. You could buy gas, get a tire changed or minor repairs and use the restroom. Sometimes you might find an old fashioned coke machine inside or an ice cream freezer. On our visit this station was being run as it had been for decades with simple services and amenities. The once helpful station attendant was long gone so hubby put gas in our tank, we made use of the restroom not knowing when we'd see the next one and we shared a really frozen ice cream bar. What we didn't find at this quaint little station was yesterday's gas prices!

21 comments:

diane b said...

I guess we are still in the 60's here as our signs still say ladies and men. We find it strange to hear people saying 'bathroom" to us this is where one washes , showers or bathes. However, I have noticed some young ones using "bathroom" as we have a lot of American TV shows here.

Lindy said...

Nice find! I hope the "powder room" was in better shape than the sign, however. :-)

Thank you for your visit and comment on my sign entry. You mentioned that the area in my photo looked deserted. That is how the Navajo land looks, in general. Actually, the road that aligns that image is a highway and was quite busy.

I like your blog - we seem to have a lot of the same interests.

Andy said...

Now of days it seems to me that most restrooms signs are like road signs. They have international symbols instead of words. For ladies it's a silhouette of someone wearing a skirt and for men the silhouette has pants on.

Halcyon said...

I like the old-timey feel!

EG CameraGirl said...

Thanks for the nostalgic look back at the 60s. Yes, the gas prices sure have changed.. I never would have guessed that $1.20 a litre (that's $4.54 a U.S. gallon) would actually look like a GOOD price.

Kim, USA said...

Remember these signs.

Signs

Inger-M said...

Great sign finds!

Ebie said...

Even the walls and the lines look so vintage. Love the borders around your photo.

Anonymous said...

glad you are on board with this meme. welcome.

genie said...

Carletta....We have got to figure out where the two of us are located....we are on the west side of Lexington, VA....exactly where are you. And I am so jealous that you all got to ride Cass. We did it years ago and had the time of our lives. Now the time is gone to see the beautiful colors of 2011. Loved eyeing your series of photos in your last post. They were great. Now to the signs. Yes, they really do remind me of years ago...I would love to have gone in that filling station even without the fellow who used to pump the gas. genie

RedPat said...

The signs are sure a blast from the past!

Magyar said...

Sign sign, every where, a sign.
__Nice trip back in time; I've just aquired a steel sign about 18 inches by 10 inches, its painted blue with white letters that spell
-PHONE-. Gee, I wonder what that was. :<) _m

Pat said...

Nice old looking signs - just hope the bathrooms were clean and modern, or at least clean!

George said...

The signs are definitely from a different era, but your photo is perfect for the meme. It's just too bad that you couldn't get some prices from that era as well.

Carola said...

Great signs. Nice to meet you here.

lina@women's perspectives said...

Great find. Interesting signs :)

Lola said...

Love vintage signs - great post!

And thanks too for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed the fun.

Have a great weekend & look forward to *seeing* you again next time,

XOXO LOLA:)

Lesley said...

I am so glad you joined in!
And yes, I too, remember those road trips keeping one peeled for that elusive gas station. Now, we can hit almost any McDs or Tim Horton's (and those are not always so clean, either!)

steveroni said...

Excuse, please: I love your blog, imagination, and photos. But when I read the word 'Vintage' my mind immediately translates, "Ahhh! 1938-50, give-or-take...

So actually I was pleasantly , happily, surprised that your signs did not read "WHITES THIS WAY" and "COLOREDS THAT WAY".

Praise God those day are gone (if they are?) and I hope nobody is offended by my conception of 'vintage' of which one definition is 'bygone'...

I've been looking backward through your blog and think your photos are AMAZING, and I feel ever as if I've been where you have been, enjoying every sound and sight! Thank you!

PEACE
Steve E

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I remember waiting and waiting for that gas station and then having to get a key from the attendant. Yikes! And then often holding your breath. Prices are definitely higher nowadays but the bathrooms are usually better.

Stephany said...

Great shot of the restroom signs! I won't get started on gas prices...