Leadfoot Blue #10080

The Story

Here’s a vintage Esso Extra leaded gas pump sitting in the lowering sunlight as day slips away. It’s in very nice condition dressed in faded jaybird blue paint with a white face and belly. The top glass globe is still intact, which would have been lit at night back in the day. Although there is no price per gallon showing on the pump face, I’d say this is roughly seventies vintage.

Behind it is a former country store and gas station full of old memorabilia and antiques relating to gasoline retailing, something called petroliana. This very interesting place was found alongside a winding country road out in the way back and it’s clearly a beeline straight back in time.

This gas pump is clearly a piece of classic roadside Americana. There is a red Esso version on this website to see called Leadfoot Red #10079 and another view of the entire old country store and gas station called Fill R’Up #10082. Gilbarco made these vintage gas pumps by the hundreds then and they’re still manufacturing gasoline dispensing and retailing equipment today. I’m sure you’ve used some of it in your travels, whatever the decade.

Location: rural West Virginia. Picture and story ©Andrew Dierks