11-2002-super

Supertest Monthly Feature November 2002

The Clock Head Office and "Service Station F" of the Supertest Petroleum Corporation on Pall Mall Street, at Richmond street, in London , Ontario , circa late 1930's . Red neon tubing outlined the words SUPERTEST and GASOLINE while the brand name WONDER was illuminated in green, providing a striking contrast. In the late 1950's the sign was updated to reflect the latest company logo and slogan. The neon messages on the new sign changes. At night, it intermittently changed from "SUPERTEST GASOLINE", to the message "Canada's Finest" emblazoned across the outline of the maple leaf (below). If you look closely at the photo below you may be able to make out the outline of the neon "SUPERTEST" and "GASOLINE" script in the background. I believe the brand name " WONDER " was eliminated.

Supertest Clock Familiar City Landmark (The following has been reproduced with permission from the July 16 , 1959 London Free Press, an issue dedicated to the grand opening of the new Supertest Headquarters in London.) For more than two decades one of the most valued and loyal servants of Supertest has been the famous old clock that sits high above Richmond street, atop an enor- mous illuminated sign. From its lofty perch, this Supertest timepiece has faithfully ticked off the years and become a familiar landmark to thousands who daily glance up at its big round face. The old clock , looking much as it did 20 years ago, has helped many a stranger find his directions and sped many a traveler to his train at the nearby CPR depot. The clock is as accurate as science can make it . It is activated electronically by an IBM master clock in Supertest's London Divisional office below. It receives electrical impulses which advance the hand each minute, is self- correcting on the hour and has a pendulum loaded with mercury to compensate against weather changes. In changing times, the Supertest clock remains unchanged, a reliable symbol of the Supertest service it represents. The clock and its sign also serve as a eye-catching promotion for Supertest's headquarters service station which for years has fronted Richmond street at the northeast corner of Pall Mall. This station has been modernized and completely renovated in time for today's official opening of the new headquarters building nearby. It is from the headquarters building , incidentally, that Supertest tour service is provided. This service is available to any motorists requiring information on routes and accommodations for trips to any part of North America. Request card are obtainable from any Supertest dealer, and each year several thousand customers make use of the service. Maps are marked with routes specified and along with other required informa- tion are mailed within 24 hours of the request being received by the advertising and public relations department. After 33 years of service(1939-1972), the clock and the sign were showing their age. BP Canada , which took over the London based Supertest Petroleum Corp. Ltd in late 1971, decided the sign had deteriorated so much it had outlived its usefulness. In late September 1972 a crane was dispatched and the sign was removed . The head office/ service station was opened on May 23, 1925 and received several additions over the years which included the addition of service bays in 1936. It was replaced with a new head office nearby in 1959 and was eventually demolished in 1989.

This "cottage style" Supertest station is dwarfed by the giant neon sign and clock. The "Gasoline " portion of the sign is almost hidden behind the station roof. I believe this station was in the Toronto area . Can anyone confirm its location?

Plastic clock used at Supertest service stations, circa 1960's. Thanks to Kevin Lawr for the photo This clock came from CONRADI SERVICE STATION in ST. Catherines. This garage was recently sold by Peter and Butch Conradi. It was originally started by their father, I believe in the 1930's. They have a long history of great service in St. Catharines. Return to the Supertest Monthly Feature index

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