Used atop the early pumps for both identification and advertising purposes, illuminated gas pump globes command considerable interest - and considerable income. With very few exceptions, oil companies phased these out of existence by the early 1960's, primarily as a cost-saving measure, so they are fundamentally extinct. Other collectors display globes seperately from pumps, often wiring them for use as lamps. People collect signs of all types and sizes, ranging from small medallions used on pump bodies in the days before vinyl decals to huge metal or plastic driveway signs designed for visibility from passing cars signaling motorists to pull in. Even less expensive for the entry-level collector, thanks to their widespread availability in general, are varieties of containers , primarily those for automotive fluids such as motor oil and automatic transmission fluids.
Oil cans range from the plain, common, and inexpensive to the gorgeous, rare, and expensive.
Collectors seek all sizes, not just the ubiquitous round 1-quart can most consumers are familiar with, and a growing number with eyes towards the future have focused some of their energies on the current generation of plastic bottles. Others prefer friction-sealed automotive grease cans or household handy oilers. Myriad smaller items also whet collectors' whistles, including freebies given out to customers by gas station management as tokens of appreciation and premium items obtained with a qualifying Among giveaway items, road maps constitute the fastest growing segment of the entire hobby, with demand sharply up since the start of the decade as other items grew too expensive. A majority of collectors do so intrinsically for nostalgic value - not merely an effort to preserve part of their own personal history, but also that of the petroleum industry and a social lifestyle forever changed by the automobile. This, however, does not mean the hobby has trouble attracting interest from younger generations which did not experience the heydays of globes, visible pumps, or full service firsthand.