1955 March 12 ~ Rocket Service Station - West Side Brownsville Junk -N- Treasure Anniversary Photo

Back in early 2014 local antiques dealer Nora Vasquez asked if I could look at some various sized negative photos she had saved and of course I was interested.  The bulk of these were over a hundred in a cardboard box, average sized about 4" x 6" and stored in bunches of wax paper the way they would have been if you ordered photos back in the late 1940s or early mid '50's which is what we estimate the collection to be from.  No one has fully studied the collection but we've seen several posted on the Facebook page and here.

One envelope found in the box was Kodak manufactured printed for Alex Studio which was at 1107 S E Washington St., Brownsville, Texas but others might be from Rogers Studio on E Levee or some other photo studio.  

My apologies to the Cisneros relative who supplied us with the above information which I embedded on the photo so people can keep the most accurate info about it.  I hadn't planned on making this post. Otherwise I would have written up a nice history but if you're resourceful enough you'll find more Cisneros Gas Station photos and info posted on this blog elsewhere.  Some of them are colorized by yours truly.

Anyway, it's been a long but good day.  God is great.

1955 Lowrider-revised

1955 Pontiac Chieftain at Cisneros Rocket gas station on W Elizabeth and 5th

1955 Rocket Gas Stations in the RGV

 Grand re-Opening in March 1955.  Photo:  Nora Vasquez Ernesto C. Cisneros is the man sitting in the car getting gas at his station at 5th & West Elizabeth according to his daughter Cecilia Cisneros

January 1, 1950

 Antonio Cisneros Sr had seven sons.  Antonio Jr and Ernesto owned the family business which began in in the 1930’s from a corner market and majority of businesses on the block which was sold with capital moved toward the expansion in the oil business.  As the sons aged each took a role in the family businesses which operated seven gas stations.  Antonio Jr. eventually took over operations and Ernesto bought half of the company after he returned from World War II.

October 1, 1952

 They added more stations over time.

October 1, 1952

The Cisneros family owned trucks that delivered fuel and canned their own brand of motor oil.  Fuel was purchased locally from McBride Refinery at Elsa and Port Fuel Company at Brownsville.

March 3, 1955

To celebrate the opening of new refurbished stations Cisneros Oil Company offered four gallons of Rocket gasoline free with purchase of 5 gallons of gasoline and 5 quarts of motor oil.  Free gifts were also given for a four day period from October 2 to 6, 1952.  Gifts included key chains for men, hose mending kits for women, special “Rocket” balloons for children and free cold drinks for everyone.

Cisneros Rocket “Courtesy Cards” were credit cards you could use to purchase fuel, oil, batteries and other automotive supplies on credit.

Cisneros Rocket Service Station

October 1, 1952 Brownsville Herald