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Original vintage black-and-white photograph showing the Valencia Service Station in La Habra, California, dating approximately to the late 1920s or early 1930s.
This excellent roadside scene provides a wide view of the service station from across the street. The prominently displayed Texaco canopy advertises “Texaco Gasoline,” while additional Texaco star emblems, early gasoline pumps, advertising signs and automotive-service equipment can be seen around the property.
Several period automobiles are visible, including an open passenger car parked in front and what appears to be an early service or tow truck beside the station. An attendant or station employee is also visible near the pumps. The photograph captures the station during the formative automobile era, when neighborhood filling stations served as gasoline retailers, repair garages and roadside gathering places.
The reverse is handwritten:
La Habra Calif.”
A compelling piece of La Habra and Orange County transportation history with strong crossover appeal for collectors of Texaco advertising, antique gasoline stations, early automobiles, roadside architecture and Southern California photography.
This appears to be an original photographic print rather than a commercially produced postcard. The reverse is unprinted apart from the handwritten identification and an old penciled price notation.
CONDITION
Good vintage condition with visible age and handling wear. The photograph has overall toning, light surface soiling, scattered scratches and marks, edge and corner wear, and some waviness or creasing along the upper margin. There is darker discoloration or silvering along portions of the image, particularly near the left side and lower foreground. The reverse has age toning, the handwritten identification, a small ink transfer or stamp mark, and an old penciled price notation.
The principal station details, Texaco signage, automobiles and service equipment remain clearly recognizable. Please examine both scans carefully for the complete condition.
ITEM SPECIFICS
- Type: Original vintage photograph
- Subject: Valencia Service Station
- Location: La Habra, California
- County: Orange County
- Approximate date: Circa 1930
- Date range: Late 1920s to early 1930s
- Image type: Black-and-white photograph
- Gasoline brand: Texaco
- Visible advertising: Texaco Gasoline and Texaco star emblems
- Vehicles: Early automobiles and service or tow truck
- Scene: Roadside gasoline station, fuel pumps and garage
- Identification: Handwritten on reverse
- Reverse inscription: “Valencia Service Station La Habra Calif.”
- Postally used: No
- Country: United States
- State: California
- Region: Southern California
- Theme: Gas stations, automobiles, transportation and local history
- Original/Reproduction: Original
- Photographer: Unknown
