Artmink

American Texaco Red Star with Green T Porcelain Enamel Gasoline Motor Oil Advertising Sign

By: The Texas Company (Texaco); specific sign maker not visible

Style: American petroliana advertising, early-to-mid 20th century

Origin: United States

Materials: Porcelain enamel on steel

Age: circa 1930–1940s

Condition: Fair (heavy porcelain loss, rusting, edge chipping, and multiple extra holes visible)

Value: $1,000–$2,000 at auction (assumes authentic period porcelain sign in the pictured condition; modern reproductions typically $100–$300)

Maker's Marks / Writing: Text visible: 'GASOLINE • MOTOR OIL' around border; 'TEXACO' across star; 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' at bottom; 'REG. T.M.' beneath the lower star point. No separate maker/date stamp visible in the photo.

Date: 2025-09-21 13:53:54.171408

Description:

Large round porcelain-enamel-on-steel service-station advertising sign for Texaco gasoline and motor oil, featuring the classic red five-point star with green 'T' and black 'TEXACO' across the star, encircled by a red border reading 'GASOLINE • MOTOR OIL'. The bottom arc inside the white field reads 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' with 'REG. T.M.' beneath the star point. Surface shows scattered rusting, porcelain loss, edge chipping, and several extra holes, consistent with long outdoor use.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

Classic and desirable piece of American petroliana. The design elements—red star with green 'T', 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY', and 'REG. T.M.'—are appropriate for genuine 1930s–40s Texaco signage. Condition is fair with substantial rusting and chipping, which lowers value but supports age from outdoor exposure. A word about fakes.. petroliana is heavily reproduced; many Texaco round signs exist as modern porcelain or baked-metal copies, sometimes artificially aged. Confirm authenticity by checking for porcelain on both sides (if double-sided), original mounting hole placement with possible brass grommets, correct font weights, and (if present) a small maker/date stamp from firms like Tennessee Enamel or Veribrite. Without back-side photos or a maker stamp, caution is warranted.

Individual Images:

whole item

Provenance:

No provenance provided.

Condition:

Fair (heavy porcelain loss, rusting, edge chipping, and multiple extra holes visible)

Identification Score: 92%

The graphics, wording, and construction visible strongly indicate a Texaco round porcelain 'Gasoline • Motor Oil' sign, a well-documented model from the 1930s–40s. While size and single/double-sided status are not confirmed, the object type and branding are clear.

Authenticity Score: 40%

One photo only, no view of reverse, edge profile, or grommets; no visible maker/date stamp. While wear looks plausible and typography matches period examples, this category is widely faked and some reproductions are convincingly aged. Additional inspections (porcelain thickness, reverse color and gloss, true age patina versus chemical rusting, hole spacing) are needed before higher confidence.

Image Memory Note

Object: Large round porcelain enamel Texaco advertising sign leaning against a light-colored wall beside a yellow metal roll-up door. Approximate diameter appears large (likely ~42 inches). Design: red outer band with white block letters reading clockwise 'GASOLINE • MOTOR OIL'. Inside, a white field with a red five-point star; centered is a green capital 'T'; across the upper star segment is 'TEXACO' in black bold sans-serif. Below the bottom star point the small text 'REG. T.M.'; along the inner bottom curve 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY'. Condition details: numerous rust spots and porcelain chips across the face, especially along the edges (notably between the letters in 'GASOLINE' and 'MOTOR'), and scattered across the white field. Several irregular holes/punctures are visible: one through the letter 'O' in 'CO' of 'TEXACO', one above the 'A' in 'TEXACO', one near the upper border at 'GASOLINE', and others near the star center; additional edge losses around the circumference. No visible brass grommets; hole placement seems irregular (could include non-original punctures). Reverse side not shown; no maker/date stamp visible on the front. Colors: red outer ring, white background, red star, green 'T', black 'TEXACO'. No additional inscriptions or serial numbers visible.

Keywords

Texaco, Gasoline Motor Oil, porcelain sign, petroliana, advertising sign, red star green T, The Texas Company, United States, service station, 1930s 1940s

Report ID:  : v8dnhw

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