Blakely Gas Frosted Glass Set, 1950s/60s Gas Station Giveaway

Set of eight Blakely Gas frosted glasses featuring Arizona cactus varieties.

In the 1950s, as the post-war boom in car travel was on the rise, gas stations were creative in their marketing efforts to attract customers and convert them to loyal repeat visitors.  At its peak, Blakely Gas operated 88 stations in Arizona, California, and Nevada. In 1951, Blakely stations gave away a new Ford automobile every 51 days through a ticketed raffle.  Winners were announced at a community event that often featured live entertainment, with Patsy Cline and Wayne Newton among the performers.

Blakely became a leader in customer promotions.  Among the many marketing programs rampant across the United States in the 1950s, giveaways related to kitchen and dinnerware were common.  Blakely created a line of fine china, everyday dinnerware, and frosted and clear glassware featuring cactus varieties that were found throughout Arizona, and offered these pieces to customers for as little as a 10 cent gas purchase.  The idea was that once a customer owned a piece from the collection, he or she would return over and over to complete a set of glasses or dinnerware.

This set of eight, purchased from the original owner who collected them while living in Arizona in the middle years of the 20th century, is in excellent condition with vibrant colors.  Included are the following cactus varieties:  Saguaro, Yucca, Prickly Pear, Cholla, Century Plant, Organ Pipe, Barrel , and Ocotillo.  Measuring apaproximately 6 1/2" tall with a diameter at the opening of 2 3/4", these glasses were perfectly designed for tall, cool drinks of iced tea or lemonade or something a bit stronger to beat the Arizona heat!