Vintage Kitsch Gas Pump "Cities Service" Salt and Pepper Shakers

Great-looking gas station kitsch "gas pump" advertising or souvenir salt and pepper shakers. These are in excellent condition, especially for their age. The cylinder bodies are bright yellow and the scalloped bases are off-white or cream. There is an "S" and a "P" embossed on the tops of the shakers. The lettering is in green. One shaker has slightly clearer lettering, but both are legible and entirely intact. See all the photos for the best idea of the set's appearance and condition. They stand about 1 3/4 inches tall and are 1 inch in diameter.

The shakers read "Cities Service" with "Petroleum Products" written below. In 1910, Henry L. Doherty founded the Cities Service Company, initially a public utility business. The logo on the shakers is recognizably a precursor or early version of the Citgo logo still in use today. Cities Service was the original company that became Citgo; the Citgo brand was introduced in 1965 for the marketing arm, and the whole entity eventually became CITGO Petroleum Corporation after asset sales in the 1980s. These shakers therefore predate the 1965 name change and from their atomic space-age styling, are most likely from the 50s. Add these colorful MCM finds to your vintage kitchen, S&P collection, retro hangout garage, kitschy bar area, man cave or she-shed.