Posted 16 years ago
robwiltgen
(2 items)
This is a Gargoyle Mobiloil steel 65"x28"x12" shelf unit. I believe it to be circa 1910-1920s. It was found in the basement of my house in a dirt cellar under the porch when I moved in. My house was built in 1929.
It is an advertising display used for shelving oil cans or bottles. The original paint is dark green and has gold san serif lettering that reads on the shelf edges as follows, Gargoyle Mobiloil, The Chart Specifies, The Correct Grades to, Lubricate Your Engine, Transmission and Differential, VACUUM OIL COMPANY.
It is in really nice shape. It would be a perfect piece for an oil can or bottle collector. I have been watching ebay for several years for something like this to come up. The only other shelf for Gargoyle I found was one listed a couple months ago that had 2 doors on each side, with porcelain signs with charts and a place on top for an advertising globe on top, globe was missing. I think it went for a couple of thousand dollars. I want to find out what the age of this unit is and what my shelf might be worth.
Hey I'm praying your still active on here. I just bought the same shelf with 2 compartments that hold 6 of the 1 quart glass oil bottles on each side. Resembles the condition yours seems to be in. I have been a Mobil antique collector for 20+ years and have never seen one. There are only a handful of "PICTURES" on google, value can't be estimated because this item is so
incredibly rare. Price to the highest bidder. "Yeah in 30 years from now"
Email me at Triagony@gmail.com if you know what the hypothesized value of this item is.
I also have the Gargoyal Mobiloil Display Shelf that Wesley describes. I have been looking for information on it for about six months. When I google it this has been the only one that comes up. I finally found a picture online,
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/8459/gargoyleoilrackad19181wx.jpg
If anyone knows of one of these out there, I sure would like some information also. I would be happy to find some close ups or copies of the oil charts as mine are missing. Also would be interested in the value of something like this. rockerville@aol.com