DX stations

[Nittanylizard]

This is just one of those little nitpicky details, but it keeps gnawing at me, so I finally sat down and did a little research. If anyone finds anything to add or knows otherwise, feel free to correct me.

I do not think that in 1960's Oklahoma, a DX station would have had anything like a convenience store attached to it. They would have sold cigarettes and soda, maybe things like windshield wipers, oil, etc., and either sold or given away maps, but that's about it.

Originally, in the 1950's, convenience stores were gaining popularity and becoming chain stores due to the increase in suburban areas, where people were looking for a quick place to stop for little things without having to drive far. Eventually some of them started selling other things, like gasoline. But, from NACS online, "Convenience stores began offering gasoline when self-serve became popular. The number of gasoline stations declined while the number of convenience stores selling gasoline increased."

DX was a big name in gasoline in the midwest long before convenience stores were commonplace. From what I gather, it wasn't until later on that any of the gas companies added convenience stores to their service stations. Most of the convenience stores that sold gas were not run by the gasoline companies.

This isn't a big deal, but I see it all the time in fics, and I just can't picture it. My dad worked full time, and then part time, at gas/service stations from about 1958-1966, and there was no such thing as having a convenience store attached. They fixed cars, they put gas in cars, and they did oil changes and other types of auto service.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the DX stations in 1967 would have looked more like this:

home.mchsi.com/~sjmills5/keota/keota4.html

[anotherillusion]

That's definitely something I will take into account when I'm writing now. I wasn't sure if there would be a shop so I've tended to focus on the garage/petrol aspect in writing.
Another Illusion

[Tensleep]

Good point, good point. I think that is something a a lot of us take for granted. I know this sounds bratty, but I knew better. I base my DX off of talks with my Papa. He owned a Texaco for a while ('62-'71). It's now an Esso, but hey. Anyways, he used to stop for gas and just start spouting off about how they only ever sold pop, cigarettes, candy, gum and air fresheners back in his day. Everything else was oil, gas and mechanical. Basically if it took you more than five minutes to decide what you wanted, you were pretty much either mental or casing the place. Either way, you got threatened with the cops. It was a place to get gas. If you wanted food, you could go somewhere else.

Yeah, he was a little cantankerous...But damn, he and Nana were great sources for my fan fiction indulgences.

[theinsider]

Hmmm... that's interesting. Although the picture was exactly how I saw the DX, I sort of pictured the inside of the store looking a bit too much like my present-day gas station down the road... lol.
I keep forgetting that this book is historical fiction. I wrote about cell phones in one of my one-shots.

[murderofcrows]

lol that pic is pretty much exactly how i pictured the dx, only the shop side was on the left and the garage side was on the right...funny!