Comments on: Vintage Service Station Maps - Buying Guide

By: Rookwood Pottery Bowls

Rookwood Pottery Bowls — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:06:39 +0000

I like paper maps and the old ones are so fun to look at. I really like looking at the maps from before the interstate highway system was completed.

By: Cheap Sailboat Parts

Cheap Sailboat Parts — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:06:58 +0000

These old maps are great. Sometimes lakes are shown that don’t exist anymore, and sometimes I cannot find a lake that I know is there! Interesting how the landscape changes for development. And remember William Least Heat Moon’s book Blue Highways? He probably loves these maps as well.

By: Vacation Packing Tips

Vacation Packing Tips — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:01:47 +0000

I love maps of all types and the old Vintage Service Station Maps are would seem to very collectable. We used to have old AA maps in NZ but I don’t think the service stations actually put out their own maps so Vintage Service Station Map don’t really exist

By: Buy Discount Books Online

Buy Discount Books Online — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:07 +0000

Oh how we used to beg our Dad to get gas at the Big Dinosaur Sign station! Those photos of vintage maps for auction sure do bring back the memories. Memories of my parents getting lost, and my Dad refusing to stop to ask for directions, and my mom trying to make sense of the map while my Dad drove around in circles. A good GPS unit can really take the fun out of a road trip.

By: jfc

jfc — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:18:55 +0000

Hi Used Apple,

The TripTik is a good service, or at least it used to be. They would not only tell you the best routes but provide relatively current information about your routes. This is something that’s hard to get from current Internet maps or GPS systems or the few print maps that are still around. There have been several incidents, particularly in the western US, where bad GPS course routing or incorrect/incomplete maps, on and off line, have led people into dangerous and deadly situations, like that CNet editor in 2006.

By: Used Apple Computers

Used Apple Computers — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:50:28 +0000

I think the AAA still offers a service similar to this, called a TripTik … we used one once on a long drive from the Midwest to the West Coast. Not as lovely as a vintage service station map, but quite efficient IIRC.

By: trade show booths

trade show booths — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:09 +0000

hi Frank,
I think I remember seeing a “mileage wheel pen” device. That was back in the day before GPS and internet, when slide rules, protractors, and compasses ruled the world! (I used the later two, but never the former).
I recently finished reading the Patrick O’Brien / Jack Aubrey book series (Master and Commander was one of them). Imagine the 1800’s and navigating the sailing ships around the world. It was a little more difficult than today…
~ Steve (aka Mr Trade Show Booths)

By: jfc

jfc — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:48:31 +0000

Hi Steve,

Back in those days you could buy customized maps with your routes drawn on them. Ever hear the phrase, “Taking the scenic route”?

I remember my Dad had a pen like thing that you could roll across the map and get the mileage between points for when the miles weren’t printed on the map.

By: jfc

jfc — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:45:53 +0000

Hi Bunn,

If my Mom reads this article (she reads most of them here) she’ll probably end up finding our old shoebox full of maps and listing them on eBay.

By: jfc

jfc — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:43:58 +0000

Hi Pest,

We had a shoebox full of these maps when I was a kid. I loved looking at them. GPS kind of takes the fun out of it although I do like the look at the map sites like Google Maps from time to time.