Vintage gas stations – in pictures

Text on reverse reads: 'A sign with a sense of humour.' This neon display elicits chuckles from passing motorists in Anderson, Indiana Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

A wind-damaged Shell sign in a gas station on 55th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway, 26 April 1979
Photograph: Edward Wagner Jr

A Shell employee washes windscreens Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

Gasoline shortage in January 1974. At this Shell station motorists lined up in their hundreds waiting to fill up Photograph: Jerry Tomaselli

Gasoline shortage in Baltimore, Maryland, 15 June 1979. The text on the reverse says: 'Pat Sullivan, frustrated' Photograph: Richard Childress

Auto accident, 23 May 1962 Photograph: Robert Blaski/Sun Times

Text on reverse reads: Gas station at 4420 North Point Road Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

A filling station attendant, 4 July 1970
Photograph: Clarence B Garrett

Scott Stenmark takes a Sunday break on a bench that just clears the floodwaters at a gas station at Grand Avenue and River Road in River Grove, 16 August 1987 Photograph: Chicage Sun Times/Al Podgorski

Signs urge motorists to watch the baseball here and 'get our tune-up now' Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

Text on reverse reads: Closeup of the new head to be inserted in gas pump – this one will record four digits instead of the old three Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

Gasoline Photograph: David Campany/courtesy MACK

Text on reverse reads: The car will adapt not die, 3 May 1981 Photograph: Mary Schroeder