Second Muffler Man Trip Complete

Posted on 05/13/2013 by jbaker98

As you may have noticed the blog has been silent for almost two weeks now and that is due to the second road trip for American Giants. Overall I made 15 new sightings and that brings me up to #97, obviously I have some catching up to do here on the blog. We started out in West Virginia with a visit to the Parkersburg Indian who stands at a car lot. I have a habit of showing up at places when they are closed and that was the case with Parkersburg. We got some good pictures and video anyhow and a call to the office will fill in the blanks. From there we headed up to PA and hit all 4 of the muffler men located on the western side of the state. I learned some interesting

history on the giants as well as some good news out of Greensburg, that their headless giant will soon no longer be headless. As roadside america puts it, “it’s always nice to see a muffler man re headed” Along with his freshly painted head the muffler man will be returned to his original colors for a classic bunyan. Next we hit the western side of New York stoping in Irving for an update on

the Indians as well as visiting Mark Clien’s soda jerk nearby. In Syracuse we found the bunyan in Liverpool and unearthed some really interesting history on him. Like many muffler men he’s got some travel under his belt and even spent some time high above I-81 on a bill board for many years before settling down to where cars are mostly parked and not driving.

The next stop was a big one for me as I have always wanted to see the canadian headed muffler men and I was finally able to visit Mr Furnace in Ontario. We are still working on trying to find out the history for these guys (the other is located in Montreal) I believe they were made by international fiberglass because we have found post cards dating back to the 60’s of them. The trip started to wrap up with stops in Wisconsin to check out the restoration of the Wabeno muffler man and meet the man behind his restoration as well as some history on the Oshkosh bunyan.

Finally we visited two indians in Indiana, the one in Toto and also Brookston. The indians are both in great shape and we learned that the they both have migrated south from the Gary, IN area. It seems like the 70’s and 80’s was a migratory period for many muffler men and it is during these years that I have learned that many of them were sold and relocated. These days they tend to be

more permanent fixtures as owners are very reluctant to sell them. Allot more time was given on this trip to video production and interviews with owners and much of this trip will appear in the second season of American Giants with many more details then I have shared here. As always we met allot of new people and made some great finds! Season one is just weeks away and due to my heavy work load and this latest trip it has been pushed back a bit but we are still very close. Thanks for your patience!

Watch American Giants Episodes HERE

#42 Caguas, Puerto Rico M Man

Posted on 04/23/2013 by jbaker98

My 42 sighting was truly a hunt and thankfully there was a scratch of information about it online that I was able to track down. In 2012 I was able to use a work trip to Puerto Rico to follow the rumors and track down this Muffler Man in Caguas. The story of how he got there and his history fascinated me and also being able to confirm he actually existed. You may be surprised to find out where he is today and what his future holds.

The original article about this discovery has recently been recently updated with more info and pictures and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access and the entire story.

The Phillips 66 Cowboy

Posted on 04/18/2013 by jbaker98

In the mid 1960s Phillips 66 petroleum initiated an ad campaign around the slogan “Go with Phillips 66… the gasoline that won the west”. The ads featured images of cowboys along with some snappy copy that talked about Phillips’ “down home hospitality and service”, as well as their gasoline’s performance, which they claimed “gave you more gallop per gallon”. Motoring at this time was still a major recreational activity for most Americans and Phillips effectively used cowboy imagery to symbolize the “freedom of driving on the open road”. Much like the American cowboy who had rode west and tamed the wilderness, Phillips aligned itself with the cowboy mystique, aiding adventurous 1960s travelers as they made their way westward.

As we all know a number of muffler men were put to use in conjunction with this campaign. I’m not sure if International Fiberglass created a special version of the muffler man for Phillips or not, but we do know that a standard Phillips 66 cowboy had a hat and rolled up shirt sleeves… sporting Phillips 66 logos on their breast pockets as well as on the front of the cowboy hat. In some shots one can see cowboys wearing a holster and six shooter, there has been some speculation that some also carried rifles, but I have yet to see an example of this. Through my research I’ve come across a number of vintage images of various Phillips 66 cowboys, all of which are long gone. Luckily for us a few of these muffler men ended up on promotional postcards created by the proprietors of these stations. One of the nicer ones I’ve seen was used to promote Vaughn’s Phillips 66 Station located on Highway 20 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I have no idea whatever happened to this muffler man, but it’s a great example of roadside vernacular especially with that huge mutant head located on the roof. Another Iowa cowboy can be seen on this postcard from the Landmark Truck Stop and Restaurant, located in Williamsburg. This restaurant is still in operation today but unfortunately the cowboy is long gone. Locals referred to him simply as “Phil” – he must have had some impact because as you can see he even made his way onto their matchbooks! There is also a well documented Phillips 66 cowboy which was located in a station next to the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas in the mid 60s. Gabriel Aldaz devoted a whole chapter in his book “Right Palm Up, Left Palm Down” on his attempt to find this particular cowboy , unfortunately he was unsuccessful in obtaining any relevant information about his current whereabouts.

Another great source for vintage Phillips 66 cowboy imagery can be seen in newspaper articles from the period. I’m guessing if the town was small enough having a 20′ tall fiberglass statue erected on main street was something worth reporting. One can see this in this blurry newspaper article from Conroe, TX. I also uncovered this press photo from St Petersburg, Florida. This is a particularly good shot in that one can see this cowboy’s holster and gun clearly as well as the rolling base. The little kid holding his arms up is also pretty funny. He’s identified on the back of the photo as “Little Donnie Brown” age 3… his father ran the Phillips 66 station located coincidentally on 66 Street North. (I noticed that this photo refers to these cowboys as part of a “touring promotional attraction” so perhaps some of these moved around from site to site? ) Article by Roger Bywater

Editors Note: It seems most cowboy versions left today were at one time Phillips 66 Cowboys. Many have lost their hats and are mistaken for the service man version when in fact they were once Phillips 66 cowboys. The cowboy hat was made from a simple mold they made at International Fiberglass and because it’s so thin and fiberglass becomes brittle over time they often crack and fall apart and are long outlived by the cowboy. Very few left today still have their six shooters on their belt. These were often the first items to “walk off” and I only know of 3 that still have their six shooters. As Roger mentioned, it has been reported that they also carried rifles although I have yet to see a vintage picture of this. A few hold rifles today and when talking to Marvin Hawk who used to own a cowboy m man in Roseville, IL he stated that when he got his muffler man from a western store in Monmouth he was wearing a cowboy hat and holding a rifle. Some cowboys still are standing on the platform patented by Steve Dashew like the cowboy at the top of this article in Wendell, ID. This would support the idea that these cowboys did move around from gas station to gas station as part of a ongoing promotion by Phillips 66. I have heard it said that the area reps were less then excited about these muffler men as moving them about from site to site was not a “fun activity”. Today very few if any still wear their original stickers but if you look closely at the cowboy in Wendell you can still make out the outline of a Phillips 66 sticker and a time gone by.

This original article from 2012 has recently been recently updated with more info and pictures and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access!

Special thanks to Roger Bywater for his contribution to this blog. All pictures used with permission from a private collection.

#41 Phoenix, AZ M Man

Posted on 04/10/2013 by jbaker98

When a friend of mine asked me if I would drive his car out West for him back in 2012,I jumped at the opportunity. My first thought was, I wonder how many muffler men I can spot. The answer to that question turned out to be 7 and sightings and I have been at it ever since! The Phoenix Bunyan was one of my stops and it turns out this giant started out life at a gas station in downtown San Francisco! He was hauled here in the 70s by owner Don Parks who ended up selling him to a shoe store.

To learn the full history of this giant and how Dog got him back and the interesting back story, check out the full article which has recently been updated and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access!

#40 Picacho Trading Post Burnt M Man

Posted on 04/09/2013 by jbaker98

My 40th sighting almost doesn’t count because sadly this indian was destroyed in a fire back in 2002. However part of a leg and some feet still remain at the site to this day and believe it or not I’m not the only one that still stops by to pay my respects! It has been over 20 years since a fire burned the place to the ground but you can still drive up and check out the old site and sign. Back in the day this was a popular place to stop between Tucson and Phoenix, AZ. It was visible from the interstate and was full of interesting things for visitors to look at and buy. On November 16,2002 and electrical problem started a fire that was finally put out by the fire department but not before it burnt the entire store to the ground and most of the muffler man standing nearby. When it was over part of his right leg remained as well as his half burnt arms.

To learn the full history of this giant and the interesting back story, check out the full article which has recently been updated and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access!

#39 Tucson, AZ M Man

Posted on 04/09/2013 by jbaker98

This classic Bunyan started appearing on roadside america reports as early as 1997 but actually arrived in the area around 1964. He was set up by Leo Toia and his family still runs the hot rod shop here after all these years. When I visited him he looked great with a fresh paint job, blue pants, red shirt and yellow knit cap which seem to be the standard colors for these Bunyans. His shirt says “Caranada Heights Neighborhood”. To learn the full history of this giant and the interesting back story, check out the full article which has recently been updated and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access!

Elkins, WV Missing Lumberjack Mystery

Posted on 04/08/2013 by jbaker98

So here is an interesting side story. While browsing Debra Jane Seltzer’s website I came across this picture she took back in 2001 in the little town of Elkins, WV. She mentioned when the picture was taken and that it looked like it was sawn off at the ankles and also that she had no idea where the rest of him ended up. Missing feet or in this case missing bodies always have a good story behind them so I found a local that was able to do some digging for me. So for those of you who are interested in this long lost muffler man here are some details for you. The story starts in 1998 when a few guys partnered and opened the “Lumberjack’s Restaurant” on the upper floor of the Elks Lodge at the Elkins Country Club south of the cities airport. The main partner in the business had arrangements made for a lumberjack statue to be made in Roanoke, VA. After it was completed the lumberjack was brought to Elkins and set up in front of the lodge. His feet were set in concrete on top of a slab to keep him secure. By the latter part of 1999 the restaurant went out of business and shortly after the statue disappeared. It is not certain if someone stole him or perhaps the owner cut him off at the feet and hauled him away. I am also not sure if his feet are still on the property or not, it has been over 10 years so I am guessing they have been removed by now. It would be interesting to learn where he went and what he looked like. I have speculated that since he was made in 1998 that he is one of Mark Cline‘s creations since Mark’s studio is only about 40 miles from Roanoke. Anyone with more information please enlighten us! Check out the update to this story!

#38 Hatch, NM Soda Jerk

Posted on 04/05/2013 by jbaker98

In Hatch, NM there is a Mark Cline Soda Jerk that has had a rather interesting life looking for just the right spot but never has seemed to figure out where he belongs. I first saw him when he was out back at the RV business. When that closed he was set up at a short lived chicken restaurant and today is on his back behind a fence.

#37 Hatch, NM M Man

Posted on 03/28/2013 by jbaker98

The old Phillips 66 Cowboy in Hatch NM doesn’t look much like a cowboy with his hat at his feet but he certainly us one. He started out in Oklahoma and ended up at a truck stop by the mid 90s. He was then sold to a collector in Ohio who also owned a waving giant. From there he made his way to a museum that had a Route 66 exhibit but 9/11 cut funding and he was eventually sold on ebay to Teako Nunn of Hatch NM. I visited him in 2012 and made some interesting discoveries. To learn the full history of this giant and the interesting back story, check out the full article which has recently been updated and moved to our Patreon Account. Please join us there for full access!

Muffler Men Location Map

Posted on 03/24/2013 by jbaker98

I have received a few requests and interest in the google map I showed in the first American Giants promo. When I first started my hobby I wanted a way to not only see where all the muffler men were located but also make notes about each one. So I built a map in google that was private but gave me every muffler man location that I had heard about. This map is always a work in progress and every time I learned of a current or former location I would add it. Also every time I visited a location I would jot down in google maps all of my notes. The map is basically a copy of what Roadside America has on their site and includes former and current locations as well as additional discoveries I have made. The google map is also a nice tool to use with your smart phone and when on a trip you can see what muffler men may be around you. Roadside America has also updated their muffler man map recently and cleaned it up and added some cool graphics for easier navigation and identification. At the moment my map is not public because it is more like a personal notepad where I jot down all kinds of stuff. However if there is enough interest I will take the time to convert my google map into a public map that I will share here and anyone is welcome to use it when tracking muffler men. It will include all versions of muffler men and their current and past locations (to the best of my knowledge) as well as other closely related giants like the vikings, A&W Root bear family, Big John statues, Big Friends, Sinclair Dinosaurs, Beach Guy, Pioneer Man, Texaco Tigers and a few other International Fiberglass items. The map will be color coded so you can see for example what is an indian or a cowboy without even clicking on it. If you do choose to click on a marker you will get basic info on that muffler man. More information will appear on this blog about each location then will be available on the map. I also will have question marks on the map for missing muffler men I have not tracked down yet.