19 cents with attendant who checked air, battery, tires, and cleaned windows for you
with free Blue Chip stamps
and
a free glass or plate for your dining room
(regular price was 22 cents, this was a ‘gas war’ sale)
You’re right, they were always giving out free stuff. Owning a gas station was not prestigious in the least.
I remember seeing the gas war signs when I was a kid in the 60’s.
S&H Green Stamps!
Bought my first tennis racket with them...the rest is local athletic history!
I think I recall 23 cents. This would have been Rockford, IL 1960’s. Big intersections would have a station on opposite corners and I recall the ‘gas wars’ where one would inch down the price a penny, then the opposite corner follows suit, etc.
And yes, full service absolutely. How clean our wind shields must have been.
Never heard of the blue chips. It was S&H green stamps in my neck of the woods.
When I was in High school I lived in my own apartment, and had to work at filling stations to pay rent and eat.
It was just as you say, we checked everything, cleaned the windshield, we would air your tires and top off the battery and radiator for free, and you got drinking glasses and stamps with minimum gallons bought, we were courteous, and kept a rag in our pocket to wipe you headlights, or the dipstick, and we knew how to give you directions.
It was pleasant work, and people were nice and would engage you and be appreciative, we were a more homogeneous, connected community of fellow Americans back then.
"You can trust your car,
To the man who wears the star.
The big, bright Texaco star!"
I miss hearing the bell ring when you run over the black hose.