A-1 Motor Co.
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The A-1 Motor Co. sign in Tulsa has a nice little detail tucked along its left side. That arrow, picked out in gold and red, points motorists straight into the lot. Add the bulbs that once flashed around the display, and you had a sign working hard to turn passing traffic into potential customers. 08-17

The business was located at 5017 East 11th Street, along historic Route 66. Used car lots were a natural fit for the Mother Road, and this sign made its pitch with bold lettering, lights, and a clear indication of where to turn. No need to leave much to the driver's imagination.

UPDATE: The sign reportedly survives with different business lettering, although the date of that change hasn't been confirmed. Its distinctive arrow remains the feature to look for, recalling the years when another independent dealer was competing for attention along Tulsa's automobile corridor. 06-26

James Transmission
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This former gas station found another automotive job as James Transmission. The pumps were no longer the attraction, but the building still looked ready to help motorists get back on the road. It's a familiar kind of discovery when exploring Tulsa's older commercial streets. 08-17

Service stations often made practical repair shops because they already had vehicle bays, garage doors, and room to bring cars inside. Here, the change in business left enough of the station's appearance to make its earlier purpose recognizable. A different sign could advertise a new service without requiring an entirely new building.

UPDATE: The station's original brand, construction date, and current business status haven't been confirmed. The view records its transmission shop chapter, when an older roadside building continued serving automobiles after gasoline sales had ended. Sometimes a useful garage gets a longer working life than the pumps outside. 06-26

Brake Supply
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Brake and Clutch Supply sign gets right to the point. No cartoon mechanic or enormous arrow was needed to explain what customers would find here. The faded lettering supplied the message, while years of Tulsa weather gave it the character that made it worth stopping to photograph. 08-17

Automotive supply signs like this represent the working side of the roadside. Behind the motels, diners, and glowing gas station signs were businesses supplying the parts needed to keep vehicles moving. This one advertised two things motorists generally prefer not to think about until something stops working.

UPDATE: The business history and present condition of this particular sign remain unconfirmed. Its straightforward lettering is the attraction in this view, preserving a glimpse of an automotive supplier whose advertising was built around the job at hand. Apparently, brakes could stop traffic in more ways than one. 06-26

Import Car & Truck
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Import Car & Truck sign offered another automotive discovery along Tulsa's roadside. Its straightforward lettering left little doubt about the vehicles being served, giving this parts business a practical advertisement that fit its surroundings. Not every worthwhile sign needed neon or a spinning globe. 08-17

The wording is part of what makes the sign interesting. Rather than simply advertising auto parts, it singled out imported cars and trucks, reflecting the variety of vehicles that local repair shops and owners needed to maintain. It's a small detail, but one that gives the business its own identity.

UPDATE: The shop's opening date and current operating status haven't been confirmed. This view preserves its roadside advertising without assigning it a history that hasn't been established. Among Tulsa's flashier signs, it's a reminder to look for the everyday automotive businesses, too. 06-26

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