Have you ever pondered who invented gas stations, a vital aspect of contemporary society? The solution is a little more nuanced than a single individual or business can provide. Early automobiles needed to be refueled, therefore gas stations, or filling stations as they were originally called, developed. Hardware stores, drugstores, and general stores all sold gasoline in the early 1900s, but as cars became more and more popular, specialized fuelling stations started to crop up.
S.F. Bowser, who created a self-measuring gas pump that could be used to distribute gasoline in 1885, is generally credited with creating the first gas station in the United States. However, the first gas stations as we know them today didn’t start to develop until the early 1900s. In Pittsburgh, Gulf Oil opened the first drive-up service station in 1913, and in California, Standard Oil did the same in 1914.
The number of petrol stations increased along with the popularity of automobiles. Over 100,000 gas stations existed in the United States alone by the 1920s. Gas stations were once frequently run by individual business owners who would purchase gasoline in large quantities from oil companies and then resale it to customers. These early gas stations often only had a petrol pump and a small storefront where oil, tires, and other car-related items could be purchased.
Gas stations started to transform into the full-service stations we are familiar with in the 1930s. More complex gas stations with service lanes, bathrooms, and even restaurants were being built by oil firms. These stations were frequently run by corporate personnel who did more than just pump petrol; they would also check the oil level, clean the windshields, and make little repairs.
According to current estimates, there are 168,000 gas stations worldwide, with the United States, China, and Japan having the most. Even though they have advanced significantly since their creation, gas stations are still vital to our daily lives.
Who owns the first flying gas station is a more difficult issue to answer. Aircraft have been utilized to transfer fuel to far-off locations on several occasions, but the idea of a flying gas station is uncommon. But in 2017, a business by the name of Air BP started a test-run of a drone-fueled ship delivery service in the United Kingdom. Although it isn’t really a flying gas station, it does offer a unique method of refilling.
Last but not least, although the terms fueling station and filling station are frequently used synonymously, there is a small distinction between the two. A facility that can dispense numerous fuel types, such as gasoline, diesel, and propane, is referred to as a fuelling station. On the other hand, a facility that simply distributes gasoline is often referred to as a filling station. However, particularly in casual discourse, the terms are frequently used interchangeably.
In summary, gas stations have advanced significantly since they were first developed in the late 1800s. Although the idea of a gas station may seem uninteresting, these establishments are crucial to our everyday lives and have influenced the way we move around and transfer things.