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Fuel For Thought – 1970s Energy Crisis

1970s, Everyday People • 11381 Views • Comments Off on Fuel For Thought – 1970s Energy Crisis

When the UK had a fuel scare that led to motorists queuing for hours to fill their cars, jerry cans and (in one case) jam jars with petrol made us ponder how the world coped during the bona fide energy crisis in the mid 1970’s. A glimpse came via our discovery of these fantastic images taken by David Falconer in Idaho and Oregon from April 1973 to May 1974. Having looked at his photographs and following the advice of George Santayana (yes, we had to google him too) who stated “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” all at VoEA are now putting our faith in God, car sharing and – if all else fails – handguns.

The Energy Crisis in the States of Oregon and Washington Resulted in Attempts at Humor by Businesses with Darkened Signs Such as This One in Vancouver, Washington 11/1973

Country's Fuel Shortage Led to Problems for Motorists in Finding Gas as Well as Paying Much More for It, and Resulted in Theft From Cars Left Unprotected. This Father and Son, Made a Sign Warning Thieves of the Possible Consequences 04/1974
Gasoline Dealers in Oregon Displayed Signs Explaining the Flag Policy During the Fuel Crisis in the Winter of 1973-74...05/1974
Oregon Still Had Scattered Gasoline Problems in May, 1974. A Downtown Station in Portland Shows a Sign Saying the Day's Allocation Is Sold Out. A Bicycler Uses an Alternate Method of Transportation 05/1974
Gas Station in the Portland Area, Away From the Freeway. One of Many Signs Reflecting Gas Shortage 06/1973
One of Many Service Stations in the Portland Area Carrying Signs Reflecting the Gasoline Shortage 06/1973
Gas Shortage 06/1973
Closed Service Station 06/1973
Gasoline Shortage 06/1973
After the Oregon Governor Banned Neon and Commercial Lighting Displays, Firms Used Their Unlit Signs to Convey Energy Saving Messages Which Could Be Seen During the Day. The Sign Was in Portland 10/1973
Sign Posted in a Doorway Entrance to a Restaurant Explaining Shorter Hours Due to the Fall of 1973 Energy Crisis in Oregon. The Business Was Located Along Interstate #5 10/1973
Out of Gasoline Signs Were Increasingly Evident in Oregon During the Month of October, 1973. Stations Such as This One at Lincoln City Along the Coast Closed Earlier and Stayed Closed Longer, Including Weekends 10/1973
The Energy Crisis in the States of Oregon and Washington Resulted in Attempts at Humor by Businesses with Darkened Signs Such as This One in Vancouver, Washington 11/1973
The Energy Crisis in the States Or Oregon and Washington Resulted in Attempts at Humor by Businesses with Outdoor Signboards. There Is Some Confusion on This One in Portland, Oregon It States Lights Are Off, But They Are on 11/1973
A Car Battery Operated This Neon Advertising Sign over a Business, During the Energy Crisis in December, 1973 12/1973
Unlighted Business Sign Reminds Motorists to Conserve Gasoline During the Fuel Crisis 12/1973
Lack of Rain Turned Into a Message on an Outdoor Advertising Sign, Asking People to Conserve Their Energy Output During the Fuel Crisis in Late 1973 in the Pacific Northwest 12/1973
Sales of Gasoline Tank Locks Increased Dramatically During the Fuel Crisis in the Pacific Northwest, and Their Prices Doubled. A Gas Station Attendant Is Shown Unlocking a Customer's Tank 01/1974
Gas by Appointment Signs Increased Each Day in Portland and Other Parts of Oregon until the State Put Into Effect the Odd-Even Gas Plan. Other States Also Adopted the Scheme to Decrease the Gas Lines 01/1974
Oregon Gasoline Dealers Were
Gasoline Stations Abandoned During the Fuel Crisis in the Winter of 1973-74 Were Sometimes Used for Other Purposes...04/1974
Retained a Car Pool Office in May, 1974, Even after the Gas Shortage Was Virtually Over. The Phone Number for the Agency Spells C A R P O O L 05/1974

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