Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Want to Buy Petroliana WTB: Pair of Bowser Electric Gas Pumps for Museum

Passing along this request:

"The Plainfield IL Historical Society is seeking 2 (authentic or reproduction) bowser 565a gas pumps (complete or bodies suitable for restoration) to install at our 1939 Philips 2 stall model a gas station, located along the only shared alignment of the lincoln highway and us66. As a not-for-profit museum, Our funds are limited."

link: http://Plainfieldhistoricalsociety.org

Plainfieldhistoricalsociety.il@gmail.com

Photo on their Website has pumps that look like Bowser 585 or 595 models. The 565 is taller and has the ad glass in a separate bezel from the face.

I have this one

Marine City, Mi

Straight and Solid

The Plainfield Historical Society is providing this early view of our gas station, which we believe is the earliest photo of our station. This view is guiding our restoration to the 1939-1943 appearance. In 1943, the Phillips Petroleum Co. changed the color schemes from dark green and orange to cream with maroon and orange trim. We are replicating the original 1939 colors. The image from our website is a later image, believed to be around 1954 and the original pumps were replaced. We are not experts by any means, but believe that the original pumps at our station were Bowser 565A models without globes.
Any help meeting our restoration goal is greatly appreciated!

Is the Plainfield Historical Society a registered 501c3 organization? Pretty simple process and not a lot of supporting justification material needed if someone were to donate a pump for their tax benefit. I've heard that having the value of the donated property under $5,000 also simplifies things. Please note: Anyone considering a charitable donation of real property (like an old gas pump) should seek guidance from their accountant or tax preparer...and not rely on the comments I've made in this post! John

Yes, the Plainfield Historical Society, established in 1977, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and personal circumstance.

Here is a detail of the original pumps at our Plainfield Phillips station.