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by Richard Darby-Fresno Bee
The Fresno Bee
(Published Monday, July 1, 2002)
Grand ol' auto shop rides through time
Started in 1917 as an auto wrecking yard, Baskin's Auto Supply evolved into an auto parts business and then into an auto parts business and then into it's current incarnation, a custom auto upholstery shop.
But Baskin's Auto Supply & Upholstery still possesses a collection of water pumps, fuel pumps and other old, hard-to-find parts from the 1920s. As a result, car aficionados from around the world visit the business, said Bruce Baskin, who represents the fourth generation to operate the shop.
Baskin's has no plans to leave downtown Fresno, Bruce said. In fact, the owners just elected to renovate the vintage neon sign that was erected in 1956. The sign was built with parts from an earlier marker.
Bruce Baskin said the sign had become faded and vandalized. It was refurbished a year after the building was painted. Many businesses may have vacated downtown over the years, but Baskin's has no intention of leaving - or of parting with it's distinctive identification. "We would never get rid of the sign." he said.
We thought you would like to see the sign in color. We'll have a night shot of it soon.