Children of the Spurned Nozzle

Townhall.com ^ | January 7, 2018 | Paul Jacob

[JimRed]

It all changed after the “oil crisis” of the Carter years. I remember the full/self service price difference, then the cash/credit difference.

I remember those days, and the rumors that there were tankers steaming in circles offshore waiting for the price to go up!

[jeffc]

Ha! Back in the day before that, you ran over the hose bell thingy and a crew came running. Pumped gas, wiped windshield, checked oil, water, battery, tires.

That "crew" was me! LOL. 1968 to 1972, pumped gas at my Grand Dad's gas station, rain, snow or shine. Gas was around 30 cents a gallon.....

[jeffc]

You have brought back to me many memories, especially of the cute girls and leaning over the windshield to get a better look....

[VanShuyten]

Those guys would really freak out in Iowa. There are rural gas stands that are open 24 hours a day, but with no attendant or even building, just pumps. You have to belong to the local coop to use them, but I imagine they make the farmers’ lives easier.

[farming pharmer]

Reading quickley and bleary eyed, I thought the title was ‘Children of the Spermed Nozzle’ and I thought WTF?

[CrazyIvan]

We have a local station where all the nozzles are green. Asking for trouble in my opinion.

[jimtorr]

Back in the day, as you describe, imprinting the credit card. I worked at a truck stop in Eugene, OR, pumping diesel into big rigs. When the drivers said they had a card, I was required to call a number in Portland for approval of their card (never did get a bad one).

Pre-approval before fueling a truck was understandable. Even at 1974 prices, 150 gallons of diesel was pricey.

[super7man]

Had a similar experience going into Oregon from Calif. I had no idea I was not allowed to pump gas. The young attendant came out took a quick glance at my license plate and politely informed me about Oregon law. He took over and finished the job, no problem. He was very nice about it.

[Daffynition]

Along w/ your full service, you probably got a glass tumbler, dish or S&H green stamps. Those were the days!

[Larry Lucido]

LOL!

[msrngtp2002]

I remember being flashed more than once when I was washing a windshield... great fun working at Frank’s Sunoco! Learned how to take care of my own vehicles as well as how to deal with people.

[Larry Lucido]

I remember many years ago my mother telling me that when she went to the butcher to [get] some meat and Cold cuts, she always watched the butcher that he wouldn't put his thumb on the scale.

Well, if we can pump our own gas and grind our own coffee...

..they should trust us behind the counter to grind our own meat

...and slice our own cold cuts!

[sportutegrl]

My dad was a big wig at a major oil refinery. During the oil ‘crisis’ he would bring me 5 gallons of fresh premium for my car (Sedan deVille). Every day I was cruisin’ and street dragging, leaving the boys behind at the light. No one could catch me.

[factoryrat]

I was surprised by this when I moved out here to Oregon.

Stopped at a truck stop to fill up, pulled up to a pump, started fueling, and an attendant came up to me and read me the riot act. Told him first stop in Oregon.

I’ve pumped my own gas pretty much since forever. There’s very few “full service” gas stations left in the midwest.

[TexasGator]

Back in the day full service was a way to sell a quart of oil and check out the miniskirts.

[SkyDancer]

It seems that OR does cut some slack for out of state plates.

[vmpolesov]

Ha! now that’s funny! Eugene to my knowledge is a real hippy college town.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

What a great picture!

[catnipman]

ROTFLOL!!!

[US_MilitaryRules]

Lol. That nozzle won’t go in the filler neck of a gas vehicle like it is in the pic. That is a diesel Audi Q7 TDI being filled with a diesel nozzle. The real green fuel!