John Mihovetz - Petroliana Column
John Mihovetz, Morphy Auctions' Automobilia & Petroliana Department
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Since early childhood, John Mihovetz has been been an enthusiast and collector of pre-World War II American ephemera, wild west, Gas & Oil, and country store themed advertising. He ran his own business, specializing in Gas & Oil advertising, as well as Country Store, and American Folk Art.
John has sourced antique advertising and completed visual display projects for clients including Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren (RRL), Club Monaco, and Levi Strauss. In 2016 he joined Morphy Auctions as an Expert and Director of Acquisitions; his focus is on automobilia, petroliana, and antique advertising. He has been profiled in several antique industry publications and is a frequent go-to source for expert evaluations, grading & appraisals in the Gas & Oil hobby. [email protected] |
Some of John's Articles: Petroliana Column
Mohawk curb sign. 28” diameter. Circa late 1920’s to ‘30’s. This one sold not long ago for $45,600.
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From a Blue Collar Hobby: Issue #2 Nov/Dec 2018
Over the past decade, the Gas & Oil Advertising collecting world has seen a massive spike in attention, prices realized in public auctions as well as private sales. What started as a small blue collar hobby, has now grown into a multi million dollar industry for dealers & collectors alike. There has also been an overwhelming amount of younger people joining into the fun of the hobby who have begun collecting themselves. Each area of the hobby has grown exponentially, from the beginning collector pieces to the advanced collector grade ‘holy grails.’ The advice I have offered to many beginning collectors is learn before you buy, and avoid the pitfalls of costly beginner mistakes. Time and time again, I see many beginning collectors buy first, and then ask questions after, only to end up getting burned on a phony piece that’s practically worthless. |
• Texas Rose Globe: This Texas Rose Ethyl Gasoline is a great example of a 13.5” Lens set into a Plastic Capco Body. Plastic Capco Bodies were popular from the 1930’s into the 1960’s, as Globes were slowly phased out of Gasoline Advertising.
Value - $4,000+ when complete.
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The Golden Age of Gas Pump Globes: Issue #3 Jan/Feb 2019
As Motoring traveled its way into Mainstream America in the early 1900s, Gas & Oil branding and advertising, became a new and very important way to attract the traveling customer. Traveling Auto Tourists would drive by Service Stations and see Curb Signs, Banners and even Billboards advertising Gasoline & Motor Oil. One of the most beautiful and eye-catching ways of advertising was the Gas Pump Globe. The illuminated Gas Pump Globe would sit atop the Gas Pump, as well as on sconces at the edge of stations, and attract the eye of the weary traveler, especially in the evening and at night. Gas Pump Globes were a new marketing tool to display the brand of gasoline being sold. Each brand developed unique and beautiful artwork to display their particular brand, and attract new customers. |
POLLY: One of the most sought after brands in all of Gas & Oil is Polly. This quart can from Polly Motor Oil is highly sought after, and features their iconic parrot graphic. Can is fairly common, but very sought after and continually rises in value each year. Value in 9+ condition, $3,000.+
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The One Quart Motor Oil Can: Issue #4 Mar/Apr 2019
Beginning in the 1930s, American oil companies began selling oil in the standard One Quart Oil Can. These cans were branded in thousands of independent & incorporated brands, and were distributed to service stations throughout the country. One Quart Cans were displayed on racks on gas pump islands, as well as in windows of service stations, and were a great way of everyday advertising for thousands of brands of Motor Oil. One of the reasons that One Quart Cans are such a unique corner of the Gas & Oil collecting hobby, is that so many were disposed of in their time. Thousands of times a day all throughout the country, the tops of these five inch tall cans were popped, and their contents poured into engines of the everyday travelers cars. Once the contents were poured out, cans were quickly disposed of, or repurposed in some way. Over the years, I have seen amazing Folk Art done with empty Quart Oil Cans, and I have also seen walls insulated with empty Quart Oil Cans. These disposable pieces of advertising have now become a cornerstone of the Gas & Oil hobby, and are beautiful pieces of hand drawn American art work. |
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The Early Service Station Photograph and its Significanse: Issue #5 May/June 2019
As time marches forward, we are slowly losing our fellow collectors and people who had first hand experiences with Early Service Stations, and their owners & operators. Over the years, a great respect and following has grown for original Service Station photographs, and what secrets they hold. New technology has helped the way we can scan and zoom into these photographs, discovering new Globes, Cans & Signs. New discoveries are being made, and photographs are a great way of authenticating pieces never before seen, as well as helping to date some pieces to a certain time. |
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The Tin Lithograph Tire Flange SignIssue #6 July/Aug 2019
When it comes to Automotive Advertising, not much more is sought after than the Tin Lithographed Tire Flange Sign. In all of Automotive Advertising, the Tire Advertising signs made from the late 1910’s into the 1930’s are some of the most graphic and beautiful signs ever made. During this era, companies such as H.D. Beach, American Art Works, Shonk Art Works, Passaic Metal Works, Donaldson Art Sign Company, and many more produced hundreds of different beautiful pieces of artwork for Tire Advertising, which we still seek out today….one hundred years later.
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