The Mobil Pegasus is perhaps one of the most recognizable and iconic logos of the golden age of motoring the world over. When it comes to petroleum collectors items, it is arguably the most sought after advertising sign, easily surpassing the much loved Texaco star with the green T.
Its origins go back to the 1930’s when Socony-Vacuum was associated with Magnolia Petroleum Company. At the time, Mobil was not a company name but was the name given by Socony to their product line. “Mobilgas” or “Mobiloil” (trademarked in 1920) being the most commonly known. Evoking images of power, speed, and flight; the flying red horse, Pegasus, has been used in their advertising artwork ever since. It has survived name changes, style changes, mergers….and is even still used in some markets today.
This example, a double sided neon sign, once adorned the Mobil station in Conroe, Texas. At the time it was built, gas was about 18 cents a gallon.
Shortly after I learned to do neon work, around 1990-ish, the person who helped get me started had a very special project. It was the restoration of this sign. Years of weather and neglect had taken its toll, the glass broken, etc….but some of the original Jefferson transformers inside were found to still be functional! (I may even have one of them still kicking about someplace.) A crane was hired and the sign carefully moved to his shop in Bryan, TX. At some point, I do not remember exactly when–I ended up helping him do some of the work on this sign. Then it went back to Conroe. Life being what it is sometimes I never did see it after that and after a while nobody I spoke with knew where it had gone. The gas station, once located on US hwy 75 (Frazier St in Conroe) was long gone the last time I had inquired about it….gone too, it seemed, was the sign.
In 2014, the sign was rediscovered and donated to the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, located along I-45 in Conroe. It was fixed up after years of storage, installed, and re-lighted. It is now a focal point of the outdoor area of the museum and they are in the process of building a gazebo under it that recreates the general look of the roof of the service station it adorned for many years.
Today we were able to go drive over and take a look at it. It is a nice little museum with some wonderful local exhibits–well worth a visit! Needless to say, many photographs were shot and I look forward to getting the film processed.
Cool blog! I don’t suppose any Sinclair dinos were neon-lit.
Yes, glowing dinosaurs did exist….I’ve not seen one in quite some time, but will keep an eye out for a photo opportunity.
It was nice taking a little trip with you setting outside on this Sunday evening. History and yourself being a part of it , is a good thing. Thanks for getting me out of Lubbock Tx for a few mins . Nothing like neon don’t care how many Led’s my company install.