From a time when local service stations gave away free maps as a service to their customers.
Many of the insets on the right are thumbnails.

1920 Texaco Front 1920 Texaco Back

Charlotte Inset "Click Me"

1920 Texaco

This may be one of my favorite maps in the collection.  It has a route mapped down the east coast in pencil which I imagine is a young couple just married in 1920 taking a road trip.  Of course these people are not alive anymore and that makes it that much more intriguing.  Most of the roads they traveled don't even exist anymore.

1934 Sinclair Front 1934 Sinclair Back and Center

Center Inset "Click Me"

1934 Sinclair

 Young Johnny pulls his pet dinosaur as he waves goodbye to the couple in the Cadillac as they leave the Sinclair filling station/repair shop/general store.  Could this be the first convenience store?

1937Sinclair Front 1937Sinclair Back

Picture Inset

1937 Sinclair

 Another good Sinclair.  This one gives step by step instructions on how to clean and pack your bearings.  Six steps, each with an actual black and white picture to illustrate.

1941 Texaco Front 1941 Texaco

On the inside

1941 Texaco

 Texaco's restrooms were "registered" so you always new they were clean..  Thousands of Texaco dealers from coast to coast posted this sign to verify this fact for you.

1945 Gulf Front, Mostly BP/Amoco Now 1945 Gulf Back

Dont cross the yellow line... "Click Me"

1945 Gulf

 Go to Gulf and get your car Gulflexed. I'm not sure really what that is but it sounds nice.

1947 Esso Front, Exxon in the US and Esso in Canada 1947 Esso Back

1947 Radio stations "Click Me"

1947 Esso

 Make your trip more enjoyable by subscribing to the Esso Road News issued throughout the summer.  They show you where the best scenery is along with a detour map for construction along major highways.  "Points your way to travel pleasure."

1949 Cities Service Front, Now Citgo 1949 Cities Service

This way to Cities Service, Now Citgo

1949 Cities Service

 Cities Service dealers help make every trip a great treat!

1949 Shell Front and Back 1949 Shell Front and Back

Compass

1949 Shell

 One thing I did notice was that the North Carolina-Tennessee border was also the line that separated the Eastern from Central time zones.

1952 Amoco Front, now mega BP-Amoco 1952 Amoco Back

Amoco card good in 42 states, "Click Me"

1952 Amoco

 Keep going 'till you see the sign!
AMOCO-GAS*the original special motor fuel
AMERICAN GAS*the regular with a pedigree
AMOCO Cushion-Flex TIRES*the tires experience built

1952 Esso Front. Baby is Virginia Dare, first English baby born in the new world 1952 Esso Back

Pictorial of North Carolina

1952 Esso

 In these days when our democratic life is on trial, when hard won liberties are challenged, it is reassuring and inspiring to look at the past.
The oil industry is justly proud of it's contribution to American progress and American defense.  The first oil well was drilled just 93 years ago; since that time 900,000 successful wells have brought to the surface the petroleum that runs our cars and trucks, heats our homes and factories, and powers our planes, railroads, ships, and machinery.

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