The first gas stations

The First Gas Station

In the early years of motoring, before dedicated gasoline stations existed, motorists bought gasoline from hardware stores, general stores, pharmacies, and even blacksmiths. These businesses had pre-existing relationships with the refineries through their sale of kerosene, used for stoves and as a lighting fuel. Stored in five-gallon cans stacked curbside or in large above-ground tanks, the fuel was poured into the automobile’s gas tank using a funnel with a chamois as a filter.

Due to fire danger and a series of unfortunate mishaps, public concern and regulators forced the sale of gasoline to dedicated retail facilities outside of city centers, creating a new type of business called the filling station. Both the filling station and the gas pump would evolve into what we now know as the modern gas station.

Several locations around the United States claim to be the site of the nation’s (possibly even the world’s) first gasoline station, known to motorists at the time as filling stations. According to the 1994 book “The Gas Station in America” by John Jakle and Keith Sculle, “Where and when the first gasoline station appeared is difficult to establish since various types of ‘stations’ appeared on the American scene between 1907 and 1913.” 

According to our research, a few historical firsts have been identified:

  • 1905 – The first dedicated gas station is established in St. Louis, Missouri at 420 South Theresa Avenue
  • 1907 – The first service station is installed by Standard Oil of California (now Chevron) in Seattle, Washington, at what is now Pier 32.
  • 1909The oldest existing gas station in the United States is Reighard’s Gas Station in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
  • 1913 – The Gulf Refining Company opened the world’s first drive-in gas station at the corner of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair’s Street.

Early Gas Stations

 

The world's first dedicated gas station. St. Louis, Missouri
The world’s first dedicated gas station. St. Louis, Missouri – 1905 First gas station in St. Louis, “east side of Theresa Street just south of Market.” Photograph, 1939. From “Origin of Drive-In Gasoline Service Station, St. Louis 1905.” LIB: St. L 629.2 Or16. n27937 Source: https://twitter.com/zxgasstations/status/558288790834270209
first service station 1907 standard oil of california
The Standard Oil of California service station in 1907 – Considered the World’s first service station. Standard Oil (California) is now Chevron.

In 1913, Gulf Refining Company opened the world’s first drive-in gas station at Baum Boulevard and St Clair’s Street. In addition to selling gasoline, it offered crankcase service, tire installation, and free road maps, air, and water to motorists. This was also the first architect-designed station. On its first day, the station sold 30 gallons of gasoline at 27 cents per gallon. On its first Saturday, Gulf’s new service station pumped 350 gallons of gasoline.

The first gas station
On December 1st 1913 Gulf Refining Company opened the world’s first drive-in gas station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Until then, drivers got their gas at general stores, hardware shops, even soon-to-be-obsolete blacksmiths.
The station offered free air, water, crankcase service, and tire and tube installation.
On its first day, the station sold 30 gallons of gasoline at 27 cents per gallon. On its first Saturday, Gulf’s new service station pumped 350 gallons of gasoline.

 


History of the Gas Pump

Before the dawn of the filling station, hardware stores and general stores stored kerosene in large tanks to be ladled into customer containers. It was 1885 in Fort Wayne, Indiana where kerosene gas pump inventor, S.F. Bowser sold his newly invented kerosene pump to the owner of a grocery shop. This solved the messy problem of a storekeeper ladling flammable liquid into whatever random container the customer brought in. At that time, kerosene was used to fuel stoves and lamps. Gasoline was simply a volatile byproduct of refined kerosene. And the Evolution of the Gas Pump was officially underway.

History of the gas pump infographic


Bulk Loading Fuel and Petroleum Products

As with most things in the early days of industry, work was dangerous with fatalities and serious injuries accepted as part of the job. Getting bulk liquids from the source to the retail location required vehicle or container top loading. Regardless of treacherous weather conditions, workers climbed on top of vehicles to align the loading arm, load, and top off the tank. Not only was this dangerous, but awareness and concern for the health and environmental hazards associated with spills and fumes were still decades away.

As technology has evolved, modern-day workplaces still face elements of risk, but injuries or “recordables” are thankfully rare. SafeRack is the leading innovator in bulk transfer and fall protection equipment. With dozens of patented safety features, our equipment is the safest and most ergonomic in the industry, manufactured to increase throughput and last longer with less maintenance.