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Introducing Dave's Garage!
Dimensions: 10-7/8”W x 6-1/16”D x 6-3/4”H

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The basics: A completely assembled and decorated low relief service station. The building is constructed of plastic and has a shallow front of a garage with an office and a single service stall. In front is an overhang protecting two gas pumps. Dave’s tow truck is parked by the garage door with illuminated headlight shining brightly. The building’s footprint is 6-1/16 inches by 10-7/8 inches.

Illumination requires a Menards 4.5 volt power supply, Menards SKU 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050, sold separately.

Why you need this: This is a perfect structure for that odd spot where you have too much empty space, but lack room for a full-sized building. The office is just 1¼ inches deep, but the front design belies that. The steep roof connects with a large overhang, masking the shallow nature of the structure. The front has Quaker State graphics and signage proclaiming that this is the spot for towing, tires, and tune-ups.

Two old-school gas pumps are placed between the supports for the roof, and in the background you can see a container for Quaker State products, a toolbox, cans, and a Dave’s Garage sign.

There is a taller sign, evoking memories of gasoline brands of the past – signs without internal lighting, but just a heavy painted sign that might move a bit in the breeze.

Dave has a pretty impressive tow truck, and it is parked in front of the garage door. There are several logos for Dave’s shop on the vehicle. When power is applied, the office and the truck headlights come on.

The backside of Dave’s is a cardstock printing of the rear of a building. It has printed green roof tiles and a rear wall has a brick design. There is also signage for Quaker State and Goodyear as well as Pepsi and Mountain Dew. The result is that you don’t have to have anything behind it – anyone looking at it from a distance it will think it looks like a full-sized structure.

Dave’s garage is a clever building that is designed to fill those locations too small for a factory or warehouse, but not for this gas and go!


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Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

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Hi Mark, I like Dave's Garage very much.  But I still have a lingering problems with the era that Menards is trying to duplicate.  Mark, I am not a nit-picking, but could you tell me please,  in what years in the 1900's did Quaker State oil company produce gasolines,  both reg. and/or ethyl.   I want to see the 40's and 50's gas pumps on my layout filling the 1949 ford coupes.  Thanks Mark and all other comments are appreciated.

My best regards

Tommy

wild mary posted:

Make it $19.99 and ditch the modern out of place tow truck and I'd buy one.  I don't understand why Menards would mix two totally different time periods.

Given Menards habit of releasing freight cars in fantasy paint, I don't think they spend a whole lot of time doing research.

The gas station flat looks like the one made by Beyond Infinity:

Gas Diorama frm Beyond infinity

Rusty

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  • Gas Diorama frm Beyond infinity

My opinion is if they can find tooling that isn't used anymore then use it. That would definately keep costs down and the savings passed along to us in their low prices. Fantasy paint schemes seem to be selling and it is not just Menards that is doing it. MTH has been doing it and Lionel just released a Niagara in a fantasy paint scheme along with a challenger in a what if scheme. I have passed a a few offerings from Menards because they have been more modern then what I want. This station fits right in for me. The vehicle I can change out if I want to. Keep em coming Menards.......................Paul

My first take was I didn't like it.  My second take was, hey there is a lot to offer here, and for $29.99, it's great!  Yes I would remove the modern truck.  As to Quaker State gasoline stations, here in Northwest Pennsylvania Quaker State stations were selling gasoline up into the time after I started driving, 1972.  That is an interesting research item, that I would be curious, but don't want to research now.  A high school friend worked at the local Quaker State station when we graduated in 1974.

My wife is asking for Christmas ideas.  Looks like I found one.  

Fellow Menards lovers;

When I first saw Dave's Gas Station, texaco service stationIt reminded me of something I already had. I went downstairs and I found a box with the name Texaco Old Timer Collection II.  As you can see, I have never placed it on the layout.  This is the first time I think I opened the box.  

I agree with others that it needs to be at a corner but as a caveat, it is o gauge plus.  It is a little oversized to be in the rear of a layout.  Due to its size it is more appropriate next to similar items the size of the original Lionel Gateman or the oringinal crossing signal or gates.  IMHO It probably needs to be near those items at the front corner to your larger pieces.

I also agree, due to the old gas pumps, it needs an older truck or vehicle.

This is not to say that I don't appreciate Menards and their efforts to give us choices.  Mark, keep 'em coming.

In fact, I went to a train garden recently and was amazed how much Menards has influenced layouts. The garden was done with various sections and various groupings. One grouping was mostly Menards and in my opinion, some of the more interesting items.  One that the kids really liked, with a push button to turn on momentarily, was the police station with the helicopter. 

That said, this offer is not my favorite.

 

 

 

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  • texaco service station
EML posted:

Fellow Menards lovers;

When I first saw Dave's Gas Station, texaco service station

Yes, I recall seeing it before. The Beyond Infinity 'Ford' station lists itself as 1:32 scale (Gauge 1), so we're in our late friend Thor Shiel's "tinscale" territory. Nevertheless, I like it, and thumbs up to Menards for kicking off a low-relief offering. Let's see some more.

thebeeman posted:

Hi Mark, I like Dave's Garage very much.  But I still have a lingering problems with the era that Menards is trying to duplicate.  Mark, I am not a nit-picking, but could you tell me please,  in what years in the 1900's did Quaker State oil company produce gasolines,  both reg. and/or ethyl.   I want to see the 40's and 50's gas pumps on my layout filling the 1949 ford coupes.  Thanks Mark and all other comments are appreciated.

My best regards

Tommy

I southeastern Ohio, we had Quaker State gas stations from before WWII, up until at least the late 60's. I know, because my Dad worked at one from about 1938 until he enlisted in late 41. He worked there again in the late 40's and early 50's. I remember the Quaker State station in the 50's and 60's, as they had a small store there that sold appliances and LIONEL.

I think K Line sold these once.

Years ago Menards had these with the Pennzoil logo and a 1940 ford.

I am probably going to pass because of the new truck.

I bet they still sell very well.

Feel free to offer them with one of the vintage panel trucks you sell and under other station names   

Here are the old K Line ones

Please do this Texaco one

http://www.legacykline.com/app...ml?p_oem_sku=K-40731

I am pretty sure you sold this one just in a box that didn't say K Line

http://www.legacykline.com/app...ml?p_oem_sku=K-40733

Glad the tooling is still around.

Last edited by Garfield

I think this is a really neat building. I like it, because the structure and base is rather compact and will not take up a lot of my limited space. I hope Menards will produce some more smaller structures like this one.

As for the new style truck, I think it will be easy to remove it, and just touch up the pavement. Or, put an older truck in it's place. The truck lights are not important to me.

Jeff

I have a 1950ish toe truck, but I think I will replace the modern truck with a car filling up at 32 cents a gallon for high test. I forget what QS called their gasoline grades.

I agree if they had several interchangeable gas company signs, it may have wider appeal.  But then the station would need s more generic color scheme.  All said, I trust Menards for their research of products to produce.  They do a great job!

Mark Boyce posted:

I have a 1950ish toe truck, but I think I will replace the modern truck with a car filling up at 32 cents a gallon for high test. I forget what QS called their gasoline grades.

I agree if they had several interchangeable gas company signs, it may have wider appeal.  But then the station would need s more generic color scheme.  All said, I trust Menards for their research of products to produce.  They do a great job!

I remember a Philip 66 station in my home town across from the grade school that was the exact design of this one.

I like it, the truck can be replaced if you want but for $29 how can you go wrong. My layout is a combination of eras although I do try to stick to similar eras. Btw we had QS stations here in the philly area also, don't remember much about them though. One gas station I do remember is Lone Star which i believe became Hess in the 70's. I remember .15 cent gas when I worked there in the 60's.

Dave   ( one of the reasons I like Daves garage )

W I think its a great building for the price! We had a Union 76 with the same building. I agree with a lot of people here that it has may options that can be done to fit almost any layout! I like the fact that it is made to be a semi flat for back against the wall. It will go on my wish list for the kids for Christmas! LOL

Hi guys, Mowingman, Mark, and all the others. I understand and welcome all of your comments.  Please, I want to state again I'm not nit-picking. I like "my era" building and trains on my layout.  As I said prior, the QS station is not a replicate of the gas stations of the 30's, 40's and 50's.  WHY???  Quaker State Oil Company of PA. did not own or lease any gasoline refinery's in this time frame. If I am incorrect in this statement, please, please let me know. Now, they could have had an agreement with The Standard Oil Company of NJ and/or others, to buy and sell gasoline under the QS logo. Don't know??  The pumps on the Menards unit  clearly state they are selling Quarter State gasoline.

I'ama gonna sign off this subject.

My Best Regards

Tommy

Oh Tommy, All I meant was, yes I remember there were gas stations with Quaker State's name on the sign and pumps.  Where the gas came from or even who owned the stations is beyond my knowledge.  I learned from these links that the whole thing was a massive conglomeration of company names, which I admitted, I didn't want to take the time to sort out. 

I was surprised Menards picked Quaker State for the model building. 

Thank you, it has been a good discussion. 

thebeeman posted:

Hi guys, Mowingman, Mark, and all the others. I understand and welcome all of your comments.  Please, I want to state again I'm not nit-picking. I like "my era" building and trains on my layout.  As I said prior, the QS station is not a replicate of the gas stations of the 30's, 40's and 50's.  WHY???  Quaker State Oil Company of PA. did not own or lease any gasoline refinery's in this time frame. If I am incorrect in this statement, please, please let me know. Now, they could have had an agreement with The Standard Oil Company of NJ and/or others, to buy and sell gasoline under the QS logo. Don't know??  The pumps on the Menards unit  clearly state they are selling Quarter State gasoline.

I'ama gonna sign off this subject.

My Best Regards

Tommy

If I may. There were and are many independent gas stations. Name brand, and individual owned. Many also were Rural Stores that provided gasoline for their area were there were no name brand companies willing to locate a station there. As then, and even today, ( I worked for Amoco for 26 years and later after retiring, a manager of a Terminal afterwards). Gasoline is gasoline, and many times there weren't terminals for name brand competition, nor independent brands, yet we had contracts for Amoco, Mobil, Shell, etc. and independent no brands. Sometimes all we did as fuel was pumped into tankers or railcars was add an additive which a major would advertise.  There were also small owner owned small stations which were and never were a part of a major name or brand. An example, we had a rural store that sold gasoline to farmers and people of his community. The pumps were just stenciled with "Joe Oakes, regular, and Premium gasoline". He also had a pump for Kerosene with his name on it. As late as 2008, our Terminal still had one no name contract for a small local privately owned country store that also provided fuel for locals.

One way gto find more, is lok around your area and see all the different brand named gasoline station and see if there is a Terminal for all these brands separately? Be surprised that the gasoline you buy at a corner station, didn't come from the same terminal you see across the street with a different brand name.

Just to add, you don't rent a refinery, you contract for the product and this is usually done at Terminals who add the additives. Same for medium blend. Refinery only makes 2 Octanes, the middle Octane comes from blending High and Low at the Terminal as its loaded.

Last edited by josef

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