Remember when air was free?

[Big IV]

Remember when air was free? I don't. Most of my life air and water have been commodities. I know a world where the fortunate have air compressors at home and everyone else have to use gas station parking lot air hoses. I hate parking lot air hoses. The gauges aren't correct. Some of the valves won't let it pump over 35 lbs of pressure (or less in some cases if they are set up wrong). Worst of all is having to fish out quarters to pump into them or buy something to get change.

The temperature has been fluctuating wildly between low 40s and mid 80s. So, I noticed the bike's tire pressure had changed.  I was thinking about that as I left out from work. When I made it home I knew an air compressor was there, and hoses, and everything else but I'd have to drag it out in the dark, use it, and then put it away. I dreaded the late night hassle. After 9:00 I just want to punch out at work and head home to relax.

As I was cruising home I passed Stiles Garage in Dallas, NC. The Stile building was an old gas station/service station. Now it is mostly an inspection site but they can do light repair work and have a lift. I use them when I can for my inspections and the occasional bulb but not much else. I like the folks there. They're friendly and always treat me well as the customer.

As I passed by I glanced at the freshly repainted building. I noticed the air hose on the outside of the building. They've taken down the sign "Free Air" but they always leave the hose out after hours. I swung in and helped myself to the free air.

It was nice. I could pull up in front of the lit building, use their hose, and head home. Later I will double check the pressure with my tire gauge but it feels right now. I must be close to the right pressure.

Remember when air was free? Apparently I do.

[rmrc51]

Yes, I clearly remember when air was free at all gas stations! We still have a few around my area that offer free air but the hoses are taken in at night.

[Westernbiker]

My dad is a do-it-yourselfer so we always had a compressor at the house when I was a child.......BUT! We could not use the compressor unless dad was arond. It was turned on/off by a breaker in the panel and dad did not want us messing around in the electrical panel. So we had an old green tire pump that we used......I still have that tire pump. 
And yes I remember when air was free at the gas stations and they left the hose out all the time. Of course back then we were in the middle of nowhere with all dirt roads......AHHHHHHHH those were the days! 

[Serk]

Even though I have the luxury of a compressor at home, I try to keep a mental database of which gas stations still have free air (I believe most QT's do, and maybe RaceTrac's as well), and I go out of my way to buy gas from those stations as much as I can to, in my own small way, thank them for keeping the air free...

[Cruzen]

While the gas stations may no longer have free air I find that if you pull up to the service door at a tire store they will usually allow you the use of one of their air hoses free of charge.  Discount Tire, Big O and Sears here in Arizona are just a few whose air I have used.  When possible though I just wait till I am at home.

[rmrc51]

This thread has me thinking, due to the extra storage space I have with my trike, I should also carry a manual pump. I have one of those older foot operated air pumps. I'll put that in the trike's trunk later. 

[BF]

I remember when.....

Air was free

Water was free

Gas was 25 cents a gallon

When an attentent pumped your gas, washed your windshield and checked your oil

When you'd get a free tumbler (a green plastic glass/cup) with each fill-up

Minimum wage was a buck sixty (that's when I got to pump your gas, check your oil and wash your

windshields for a $1.60 an hour)

Cokes came in a green glass bottle and costs 15 cents.

And I remember when my posts didn't look like Big Al's.  

[3fan4life]

This thread has me thinking, due to the extra storage space I have with my trike, I should also carry a manual pump. I have one of those older foot operated air pumps. I'll put that in the trike's trunk later. 

I carry a small 12 volt pump in my saddlebags (bought it @ Walmart for about $10).

I have since I had to nurse my Interstate home after the front valve stem sprung a leak while on a ride a couple of years ago.

I went through alot of quarters that day. 

[Ice]

I remember when.....

Air was free

Water was free

Gas was 25 cents a gallon

When an attentent pumped your gas, washed your windshield and checked your oil

When you'd get a free tumbler (a green plastic glass/cup) with each fill-up

Minimum wage was a buck sixty (that's when I got to pump your gas, check your oil and wash your

windshields for a $1.60 an hour)

Cokes came in a green glass bottle and costs 15 cents.

And I remember when my posts didn't look like Big Al's.  

Holy Crap that was a long time ago  not realy but it sure seems that way now dont it......

[Jason O]

There are two gas stations that I know of who have free air here in Topeka. Both put the hoses away at night. One use to leave it out but got tired of jackasses stealing it. I personally know the owner of the latter and he is old school, one who you would just assume stop in to chit chat rather then call.

Sometimes I think I should have been born 30 years earlier.

[boss hoss bill]

I pulled into a gas station in Asheville, NC up the street from the Biltmore House. after buying some gas I asked if they had a air hose.
The attendant said they do, but it'll cost a dollar.

I said forget it, it just made my blood boil.

As I headed to my  house  I stopped at the Enmark where the air is free!

At home I have my compressor as well, but sometimes you got to air up on the road.

Miss the old days!

[old2soon]

The shop where i have my car serviced has an air hose/line he lets me use. He closes up at 5 p m local time. That air line/hose is mounted to an inside wall so not available after hours. Of the two handi marts here in town one of them (Caseys) has a free air line/hose but they close at 11 p m and shut off the compressor. I go back to .23 cent a gal gas and .25 cent Lucky Strike ciggarettes.  :uglystupid2:They pumped it cleaned the glass and i got stamps. Need to pick me up one of them Slime 12 volt compressors from wally world i guess. Back when i got my drivers licsense 50 + years ago all the gas stations were giving something away and they pumped the gas and cleaned the glass and mirrors. They would check under the hood to if you asked them to.   Also remember 6 or 8 ounce coke and/or pepsi fer a nickel. I got a 20 ounce pepsi yesterday in Poplar Bluff after i filled my Valkyrie(3.099 a gal) and the pepsi was $1.83 out the door. RIDE SAFE.

[alph]

We use to have a gas station with one of those quarter machines out front.  it was better than nothing, and in reality it had a chincy little compressor just like the ones from wally world.

Last week i taught 6 boy scouts how to check the tire pressure and change a tire.  they checked the tires on my wife’s van that had brand new tires on it, the guys at the tire shop only put 30#'s in each tire!!  made me wonder why?  the vehicle door post says 35#'s and the tire its self says 51# max. 

i've got two compressors, one in the shed and one in the garage.  we carry a simple cigarette plug in air compressor in the van also just to be on the safe side.

[czuch]

YUP! I recall doing the pump yur gas, Clean the windshield and check the oil for 1.80 an hour.
Took the card one time and it was Dick Clark. I miss the 70's.

[Hoser]

I made my living pumping gas, cleaning windshields, changing oil and patching tires in my high school years.  Wish I was still doing it.    Hoser

[thumper]

I always buy my gas at Quick Trip.  There prices are usually the lowest in town and they always have free air.

[da prez]

  Dad used to make a Saturday morning of going to the gas station to fill up his car at $.27 , and get a nickle hershey bar with each gallon of gas. He would then go to the car wash and give a candy bar to each person , (pre automatic ) and always got a very clean car. 
  In 1967 I left Fort Hood Texas on leave to come to Illinois. Fuel on post was $.28. I got into Missouri and there was a gas war (for those old enough to remember) and I filled up at a Gulf Oil for $.129 and thought of how lucky I was until I got up the road a bit and saw the sign
        FREE GAS , JUST PAY THE STATE TAX  $.099
 Man , I could have saved $.03 a gallon.
                                                           da prez

[Fritz The Cat]

Years ago I got pissed because I couldn't get the $%$#%$# blade off my lawn mower. I went out and bought an air compressor and an air wrench. Took the blade off effortlessly. I never realized till then just how handy an air compressor is. I wore out the first one and I'm now on my second. If I out live this one there will be a 3rd.

[alph]

Years ago I got pissed because I couldn't get the $%$#%$# blade off my lawn mower. I went out and bought an air compressor and an air wrench. Took the blade off effortlessly. I never realized till then just how handy an air compressor is. I wore out the first one and I'm now on my second. If I out live this one there will be a 3rd.

is that when you realized it was a reverse thread nut 

[Moonshot_1]

Where did all you socialists come from wanting freebies?

Don't mind freebies. It's good business to provide a perk or two for your customers.

Just not from the gubmint. Cause ain't nothing free from the gubmint..

[jer0177]

Last week i taught 6 boy scouts how to check the tire pressure and change a tire.  they checked the tires on my wife’s van that had brand new tires on it, the guys at the tire shop only put 30#'s in each tire!!  made me wonder why?  the vehicle door post says 35#'s and the tire its self says 51# max.

Last semester I took a public speaking class at school (one of the classes that fulfilled a requirement for "General Education" requirements), and the first speech we had to present to the class was an instructive speech. 

I gave instructions to the class (mostly juniors/seniors and about 75% nursing students) on how to check air pressure, check oil and how to change a flat.

I had several of the students tell me after that class or the next that they'd never been shown how to do that, and that they were making photocopies of the tri-fold pamphlet I passed out for all of their roommates to keep in their cars!

I even had the instructor tell me that he'd never thought about keeping ALL body parts out from underneath the car while it was jacked up....   

[junior]

I remember when.....

Air was free

Water was free

Gas was 25 cents a gallon

When an attentent pumped your gas, washed your windshield and checked your oil

When you'd get a free tumbler (a green plastic glass/cup) with each fill-up

Minimum wage was a buck sixty (that's when I got to pump your gas, check your oil and wash your

windshields for a $1.60 an hour)

Cokes came in a green glass bottle and costs 15 cents.

And I remember when my posts didn't look like Big Al's.  

 how much was an icecream cone back then?.............i can remember my dad and grand dad telling stories like that. and did you have to walk 5 miles in a blinding snow storm up hill both ways?

[Big IV]

Last semester I took a public speaking class at school (one of the classes that fulfilled a requirement for "General Education" requirements), and the first speech we had to present to the class was an instructive speech. 

I gave instructions to the class (mostly juniors/seniors and about 75% nursing students) on how to check air pressure, check oil and how to change a flat.

Sounds like a good speech topic.

One of the best dates I ever had with my wife was the night I pulled her car behind the shop and removed the wheels and taught her how to put them back on.

[DIGGER]

Yes, I clearly remember when air was free at all gas stations! We still have a few around my area that offer free air but the hoses are taken in at night.

If they don't take them in at night there is a really good chance they won't be there in the morning.

[Jess from VA]

I made my living pumping gas, cleaning windshields, changing oil and patching tires in my high school years.  Wish I was still doing it.    Hoser

Me too, at 15.  No one charged for air.  And we'd sell you a (very) used tire for five bux, mounted.

$1.25 hr to start, after I could do an oil change, $1.50 her.

My fondest memory was washing windshields and miniskirts (which were all the rage in those days). 

[DIGGER]

I made my living pumping gas, cleaning windshields, changing oil and patching tires in my high school years.  Wish I was still doing it.    Hoser

Me too, at 15.  No one charged for air.  And we'd sell you a (very) used tire for five bux, mounted.

$1.25 hr to start, after I could do an oil change, $1.50 her.

My fondest memory was washing windshields and miniskirts (which were all the rage in those days). 

Me tooo.    My dad had a service station in 1968....i was 18 years old.....mini skirts were just starting to be the fad.....it was great.   washed their windshields whether they wanted me too or not.....ha.....my dad always said that in my lifetime I would see WATER cost more than gasoline......I didn't believe him.   Today if you buy enough bottled water to make a gallon at the service station stores you will pay more than a gallon of gasoline.

[hubcapsc]

I aired up the Mini at a free real-compressor place just over the causeway in Ocean Isle North Carolina
a couple of years ago... I told the owner how awesome it was, and asked him if he would move
his business to Seneca, South Carolina 

-Mike