I remember the gas wars. The TV is reporting that that's kind of like
what's happening now. At least here in the Twin Cities. The stations
inch down, until one of them can't take it anymore and then shoot up.
What really erked me was there was a Standard at the bottom of the
street, where I got gas for the lawn mower for my lawn mowing jobs. A
lot of times, I had to go get the attendant to fill my gallon can, and
then they'd go to the 'full service' pump instead of the 'mini service'
pump. And that'd cost me 5 cents for nothing.
We didn't actually have to have big lines for gas. The rationing was
artificial and didn't work. Out in the country stations had plenty of
gas. It's just in the city where people panic that the lines formed.
Same thing happened here on 9/11. Stations raised prices to over $5 a
gallon to try to stop the people from panicking and hording gas. That
didn't stop people from filling plastic trash cans full of water. I bet
they felt dumb a couple days later.
Paul.
Aeseeyou@aol.com wrote:
> Hi,
> I know that this is going to reflect my age, but does anyone else remember
> when there used to actually be "Gas Wars"? No, not like the bloody ones that
>are
> being fought today where people are dying. But ones where the gas stations
> would actually lower their prices five or ten cents to entice people into
>their
> station instead going across the street or to another gas station. I can also
> remember when the various gas stations would undercut their prices so much
> that they wouldn't or couldn't afford to stay open so they'd just put up a
>sign
> that said "Gone Fishing" We'll reopen when we can afford to sell our gas
> again!" Then one by one the prices would start to stabilize again and we'd go
>back
> to having to pay the outrageous amounts like 45 or 55 cents a gallon for
>leaded
> Ethyl premium and 35 cents for leaded regular! Plus the attendants would
> check all your fluid levels (except the rear end, of course!) and they'd
>smile as
> they washed your windows checked your tires for air pressure brought your dip
> stick up to your drivers window to show you your engine oil level and or
>color
> of the oil...plus the bathrooms were always open and as clean as the one at
> your house! That all changed after the oil embargo of 1973 when we had to
> ration gas and you could only buy gas on the day of your color for either odd
>or
> even designations! Remember the flags that the gas stations would fly to
> indicate which group could buy gas on that day?
> Albert Escalante, Editor
> "THE CLEAR HOOTER"
> www.ccbcc.org
--
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