Retro Road Maps: Atlantic Refining Company

Atlantic Refining Company Road Map

We are continuing to feature retro road maps in our blogs from many oil companies, some of which no longer exist. These service station roads maps will bring you back to a time when drivers had to map out a trip for themselves and many of the major roadways we use today were not even in existence. We hope you enjoy our nostalgic look at these retro maps.

This road map from the Atlantic Refining Company dates from about 1953. The state maps that are included are for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In addition, the reverse of the map covers the eastern half of the United States. Shown in the cover artwork is the new interstate highway system that sprouted up in the country after WWII. They were built in the more isolated areas, away from the suburbs. Note there is very little else but the highway in the picture, with the exception of the Atlantic filling station.

Also evident are the large, comfortable cars filling the highway. These were the early days of more luxurious, more powerful American cars. They allowed people to travel longer distances in greater comfort than the earlier cars did. Their larger size also allowed families to travel together to places that were now more easily accessible by way of the interstate highways. In general, people were doing better financially and had more time for leisure, which enabled them to take family vacations and to travel.

On the back of the map are pictured a couple of uniformed Atlantic service station employees helping a customer. In the foreground is a gas pump that has a strong resemblance to the Tokheim 39. Note also the ad on the back advertising Atlantic Motor Oil.