Artmink

American Service Station Porcelain Advertising 'Texaco Gasoline Motor Oil' Round Sign

By: The Texas Company (Texaco); specific porcelain maker not visible (often Ingram-Richardson or similar on originals)

Style: Early 20th-century American petroliana / gas station advertising

Origin: United States

Materials: Porcelain-enameled steel (vitreous enamel on steel)

Age: Circa 1925–1936

Condition: Fair (heavy porcelain loss, rust, edge chipping, and multiple non-factory punctures; back and maker’s stamp not shown)

Value: If authentic in this condition: $1,200–$2,000 at auction. If a later reproduction/distressed copy: $75–$200.

Maker's Marks / Writing: Visible: 'TEXACO', 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY', 'REG. T.M.'; no porcelain maker’s stamp visible in the provided image.

Date: 2025-10-31 16:25:22.276038

Description:

Large round porcelain-enameled steel service-station sign for Texaco Gasoline Motor Oil. Red outer band with white block letters, white inner field with the red five-point star and green 'T' overprinted by 'TEXACO' in black; bottom reads 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' with 'REG. T.M.' Visible perimeter mounting holes; heavy chipping, rusting, and multiple field punctures/shot holes. Likely originally double-sided, but back not shown.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This is the classic Texaco round station sign with the early red star/green T motif and the wording 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY,' a usage consistent with late 1920s–1930s production. Typography and layout look right at a glance, and the wear pattern shows edge chipping and oxidation typical of long outdoor display. However, I cannot see the back, porcelain shelving close-ups, or a maker’s stamp, and there are numerous non-factory field punctures that complicate condition and make evaluation harder. A word about fakes.. The petroliana field—especially Texaco—has many modern porcelain and metal repros (some deliberately distressed with shot holes and acid). For a decisive call, verify: (1) correct overall diameter (often about 42 in.) and weight for thick-gauge steel; (2) crisp porcelain “shelving” at color breaks; (3) factory mounting holes only at the perimeter (bullet holes are post-use damage); (4) period maker’s stamp on the face or reverse (e.g., Ingram-Richardson, Baltimore Enamel); and (5) proper reverse color and enameling. Absent those views, I assign moderate identification confidence but only cautious authenticity. If authentic, the heavy damage keeps value in the low auction range; if repro, value is purely decorative.

Individual Images:

• none

Provenance:

None provided.

Condition:

Fair (heavy porcelain loss, rust, edge chipping, and multiple non-factory punctures; back and maker’s stamp not shown)

Identification Score: 98%

Iconic Texaco layout, fonts, star/green T device, and 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' legend clearly identify it as the well-known Texaco Gasoline Motor Oil round station sign; form and graphics leave little doubt about the model type.

Authenticity Score: 45%

Single front-view photo only; no reverse, edge, or maker’s stamp shown. Graphics look plausible for late 1920s–30s, and the wear could be natural, but the market is saturated with artificially aged Texaco signs. Without close-ups of porcelain shelving, correct thickness/weight, and a period maker’s mark, authenticity cannot be confirmed.

Image Memory Note

None     None

Keywords

Texaco, porcelain sign, gasoline motor oil, American petroliana, service station advertising, United States, round sign, The Texas Company, 1920s 1930s

Report ID:  : v5n27g

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