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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area GAS STATIONS Historical Photos gallery - All Years - click on image to view > 1950s - Watson's Gas Station on NW 7 Avenue, Miami, Florida
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1950s Courtesy of Jeff Levine

1950s - Watson's Gas Station on NW 7 Avenue, Miami, Florida

NW 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida


Thank you to Jeff Levine for contributing this image.


other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 30-Oct-2018 02:51
Worked at this station in summer of ‘57. Fell in love with the Pontiacs that used to come in from Colonial across the street, and ended up owning 3 of them in my younger years. Now own a ‘62 Grand Prix. Believe the ‘58 Impala in the picture may belong to Mr. Watson.
Don Boyd28-Jun-2017 01:17
Okay Mr. Watson, I forwarded your message to Jeff a minute or two ago. Hopefully he will respond to your e-mail address.

Don
.
watson 27-Jun-2017 22:27
I'm looking to speak with Jeff Levine if possible...
Msw77@att.net....

MW
watson 27-Jun-2017 22:26
Correct.... Searchlight.

My father's first location in Florida.
jmore 18-Jul-2013 08:53
are you guys aware if Watson gas
stations had their own credit charge cards
I am a credit and charge card collector for
obsolete dept stores and gasoline stations
Guest 01-Sep-2010 00:03
Those searchlights were used during WWII according to my parents. It seemed like every new business grand opening was accompanied by one or more of those powerful lights. Potential customers were attracted to the businesses like moths to light bulbs!
Don Boyd25-Apr-2008 13:47
That's what it looks like to me too, an old searchlight to draw traffic to the scene. We used to ride our bikes for miles at night to go check them out close up. Don
Ray25-Apr-2008 03:08
Can anyone identify that round thing, just below the center of this pic? Could it be one of the old style search lights used at night to draw attention to a business? They worked on carbon arc and I think were made by GE or Westinghouse. No bulb, just copper covered sticks of carbon that had low voltage on them. When they kissed an incredible amount of light was produced. A parabolic mirror reflected it upwards into the sky. Since there are banners hanging I bet this was a grand opening picture.

The lights used today are much smaller and faster. These big ones I remember from my childhood may have been leftovers from WWII or maybe just a similar design. In the war they were used to find bombers at night.

Ray