Shell Gas Station

[Eshaver]

Here is the model of the Shell Shaped Shell Station i have been talking about for months now.

Ed Shaver.

[CB]

Wow! outa this world, Ed! When did Shell have these? Love all the little details. What is the carport lookin thing here? and what're them wires doin hangin out back? you gonna light the place? Nice work!!!

[JamesW]

Wow, Ed, great work, looks awesome.

[Jello]

Its Magnificent Ed!! Amazing work and I love it! I remember seeing a pic of one years ago and now to see a diorama of one is even more impressive. Great attention to details and excellent work!

~ Jeff

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

What can I say Ed. Another great job. The small details look superb. Color is right on. I can see you put a lot of time and effort into it.

[MrObsessive]

Now that is some great work Ed...........and very clever!

I like it!!

[Eshaver]

Uh I want to thank every one who took the time to comment on the Shell station however My computer blew up. since I'm trying to pay for getting the Chrysler from hell paid for I"<M making a general statement here. I will be aT THE cLEMMONS sHOW . THATS JUST OUTSIDE wINSTON sALEM n c AUGUST 16TH FOR EVERY ONE TOSEE BOTH THE pURE STATION AND THE sHELL STATION tHANK YOU EVERYNE FOR YOUR COMMENTS eD sHAVER

[Jello]

Sorry to hear about the 'puter Ed and if its not one thing its always another thing huh? Hope you get back soon!

~ Jeff

[Eshaver]

O k , now for the story on the Shell station: First there really is such a station in Winston Salem North Carolina . They were erected in and around 1930-1932 by Mr. Joe Glen Jr. , the new head of Quality oil co. The station was to be TWENTY FEET WIDE AT IT's widest point within it's perimeter. and SIXTEEN FEET TALL. Mr. Charles R. Johnson a draftsman who worked at the Frank Blum construction company was given the assignment to carry out the design of the " Shell" building in 1930. In the same year, the first "Shell " shaped building opened in Winston Salem. It's reported that newspapers printed the fact that it was to be the "First station of it's kind in the world". This station was then followed by seven more similar stations in the area with the last being built at Spring and Sprauge streets in Winston Salem in 1932. Over the years these unique stations were sacrificed in the name of progress. That is all but one, the Spring and Sprauge location somehow managed to operate as a lawn mower repair shop well into the late 1980's About 1994, the State Historic comission fo North Carolina decided to buy the building . It's said that 30,000.00 was raised to rebuild the structure through private donations. In 1996, replacement pumps were placed on their origional islands complete with reproduction Shell globes. The metal canopy on the left side was rebuilt to rtesemble the origional was bay. A wooden grease rack was also added as per the old plans called out. Now it's also been reported that Shell Corperate officials pressured Quality oil not to build any more of the Shell shaped buildings because they couldn't accomodate mechanical services. Shell was following the lead of Texaco and Gulf Oil companies as they were building stations with service bays that were enclosed on the Eastern Markets due to the weather encountered there. This was also about the time that Texaco introduced their " Functional " porclean box stations that became thye basis for all service stations built up until thye early 1960's Now if any one out there has any photographs of stations they might want me to make a model of , Please let me know. I would like to do a station or two from the west coast as they had their own building styles. If you have the actual building measurments, it really helps too. Ed Shaver