Retro Road Maps: Gulf Oil

Gulf Oil Maine Road Map

We will be featuring retro road maps in our blogs from many oil companies that no longer exist or some that may have gone through many changes over the years. These service station roads maps will bring you back to a time before the GPS was invented, when drivers had to map out a trip for themselves. Many of the major roadways we use today were not even in existence when some of these maps were printed. We hope you enjoy our nostalgic look at these retro maps.
These are photos of a 1940s-era Gulf road map for the state of Maine. This map was published by the Gulf Refining Company and was printed by Rand McNally. It includes a map of Maine on one side, and on the other there is a map that covers the eastern seaboard from New Brunswick to Virginia. There is also a detailed map of the Boston area. There is a mileage table to calculate the distance from a given point in Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire to a variety of other locations.
Beginning with Gulf’s first road maps in 1915, the cover design featured an old roadster driving up a hill with a large orange disk behind it. Within the disk were printed the words, “There is More Power in That Good Gulf Gasoline”. This design was pretty much maintained through the 1930s, with only minor changes. Rather than the slogan in the orange disk, around 1924 the “Gulf” logo was placed with in the circle and small adjustments were made to the design of the car.
The cover on this map features the first major redesign to the Gulf road maps. The style is less realistic and is more Art Deco. The Gulf logo is now featured on a sign and is more prominent than the car. In addition to being smaller, the car has changed direction and is now pointing to the right. Below the car is the slogan, “Stop At the Sign of the Disc”. This design appeared on Gulf road maps until about 1951.

Notice on the back of the map that there are three uniformed attendants helping the driver who has stopped to get gas. In addition to filling the tank, the copy says they will clean the windshield, check the oil, inspect the tires and “render a host of other free services”. It looks as if the driver’s getting help with directions, most likely with a copy of this very map.