by BaliMermaid

Created on: May 30, 2008

Nostalgia and the Price of Gasoline

I am old enough to remember when automobile gasoline was 25 cents for a gallon of premium. Regular was, at one point, 18 cents a gallon. That's right 18 cents a gallon. That was 1967 and was the lull before the storm as the gas shortages of the 1970's was soon to hit. In the days before the 1870's gas shortages you could pull into a gas station and expect the following things to happen.

A minimum of one and sometimes two attendants would rush to your car. They would check the oil, check the water in the radiator and battery. Your front windows and back window would be washed and dried. While this was happening your tank would be filled. If your car needed any fluids added, such as oil or break fluid, they would be quickly added. Oh yes, they smiled all the time they were doing these chores, they said "Good Morning and Good Afternoon". They spoke English as well.

The numbers on the gallon dials turned much faster than those indicating the amount to be paid for "This Sale" Actually we did wait in lines at gasoline stations, but that was mostly because it was so cheap at some stations and they had other enticements as well for us to chose their station at which to fill up our cars.

After paying you usually would be given S&H Green Stamps which you kept in a book in the glove compartment. Once you had enough "books" filled with stamps you could go to the redemption center and get your choice of many fine and useful gifts. Many families had their best everyday dishes and eating utensils from the redemption center.

Also often there were scratch and win promotions where you could win up to $10,000 but usuall you would win some smaller amount. I once did a survey for my math class on what the odds were for winning the "gas station" scratch and win lottery. It was one win in 10 tickets. Considering the tickets were free it was a fun and great extra benefit of visiting your gasoline station.

If you were a resident of a small city, usually the boys at the gas station were from your own city. They were happy to get a job at the gas station for several reasons. First of all they considered the job an opportunity to earn cash. Secondly they had the opportunity to meet lots of young ladies who came by, either with their friends, or with their parents.

Having a car and knowing how to take care of it was a big deal in those days. Cheap gasoline was, unfortunately,taken for granted.

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