The Washington Chief Gasoline Sign
The Washington Chief Gasoline brand was created by the Inland Refinery in Spokane, Washington, which operated between 1939 and 1957. Inland had plans to open stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The porcelain signs were produced and ready to mount as their new stations opened. Inland opened the 1st station in Spokane followed by Aberdeen, shortly thereafter they were bought out by Wasatch Oil.
The original signs went into storage with little to no value, only to start surfacing in the 1990s when a few of these signs in NOS condition turned up in an antique store in Seattle.
Garage Art Family History with Washington Chief Signs:
We bought two, kept one, and sold the other years ago! The original 6-foot signs have vibrant colors and have become very collectible and valuable. Prices for originals sold between $20,000 – $75,000 + with larger auction companies such as Barrett Jackson over the years. A very sought after original sign for a collector.
Garage Art offers several different Made in the USA reproduction Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana Chief Signs ranging from $19 to $299 for larger versions