I have an opportunity to pick up this pump, but being a rookie I have no idea of its' worth, or even what it is for that matter. Fella thinks it is a Gilbarco, but I cannot find one like it in my searching the web. He also has the "Shell" globe which he says is original, along with all the porcelin signage. I haven't seen the globe to know if it just says SHELL or if it is the older one that is shaped like a shell. Can someone ident it and give a rookie a ballpark figure as to what it might be worth? Thanks......Louis

The pump looks like a tokheim 876. Pump should have a value around 500.00 Hope this helps, Ryan

Buy it or you will regret it later.

Be careful on the globe and signage. I think they have mostly all been repopped. If they are real, BIG BUCKS, way more than the pump is worth.

Hmmm...thanks guys. I just got off the phone with the gentleman. He has had this pump since the early 70's, which is when he worked for the oil company that had this pump. I asked about the globe, and he says that it is original, milk glass shaped like a shell. How would I tell if it IS an original? Geez.....I wish I knew pumps like I know firearms, I wouldn;t feel so "easy". I get to look at it tommorrow in person, after work.
Any suggestions to keep myself from getting burned?
Thanks again

To keep from getting burned on a gas pump you should have a copy of my Gas Pump Identification (& value) Guide. It identifies over 1900 gas pumps, mostly in color all with values. Your pump the Tokheim 876 is shown on page 284. This pump was made by Tokheim for the Gulf Oil Company and was made between 1938 and 1948. You email me with the information on the ID tag and I will tell you when it was made. Ryan is correct on the value, but not if the faces are missing, the signs and globes will add to the value.

My book is available (autographed by me) on my website: www.petrocollect.com

Also if you would like to see a picture of your pump, go to this page on my website:

http://www.petrolianacollectibles.com/tokheim%20876.htm

Jack Sim

I agree with Ryan & Shawn! Good looking pumps

The sight glass assembly definatly looks "Tokheim"

Interesting how a Gulf pump ended up being Shell. I can see a outline of a shell on the door were a decal or sign was.

I think you need to get over there and get the pump. Chances are the globe and signs are original. The globe is not worth a ton, but the signs are very tough to find if they are original.

Ryan

Not a bad looking pump, IF those pump plates are real, you have a real score on your hands!! See if they reproduces the face plates? Im sure some one can tell you on here.

I asked about the globe, and he says that it is original, milk glass shaped like a shell. How would I tell if it IS an original?



The best way to tell if the Shell clam is original is to look at the letters. The originals are fired on and they probably will look faded, not bright red. A lot of the originals were outside long enough that the red would be almost "washed" off. The milkglass the originals were made from is not a bright white like the reproduction ones are, either.

Price on the original clams would be in the $200 to $500 range, depending on condition of the glass(cracks, chips) and the condition of the letters. If it has chips or cracks, it would not be worth even the lowest price. This is my opinion. Hope this helps....Dale

You also said it had porcelain signs, which ones the little contain lead signs or the the pump plates? big deference and big bucks.

The holes on the door do not look right for a clam pump plate. Maybe it is the lesd signs the owner is talking about. I can see the holes for them.

I stopped at looked at the pump today. The "clamshell" would appear to by old enough to be original...to my untrained eye anyway. The clamshell glass itself is in excellent condition..no chips or cracks. From looking at pictures I hadn't realized that the letters were "formed", or molded in the glass. The paint is all but gone though. On one side there is only about 1/2-3/4 inch of paint left on the bottom of the letters, and on the other someone had hand brushed the lettering. Covered in dust from 30 plus years in his garage attic.
The faceplates....one is in very good condition. No rust, no dents,just dirty from being up in his garage attic for the last 30 something years. The bezzle on the faceplate is heavily tarnished, but not pitted. The other faceplate isn't rusted or dented, but a section of the porcelain under the sight glass opening looks like it's had something corrosive leaking down it.
Missing one "contains lead" sign, and the one he has is rusted around the screw holes and edges.
Comes with the nozzle, no hose. The nozzle is cracked through the "hoop" ...the section that would be next to the "bottom" of your hand if you were pumping gas. The nozzle is a Tokheim 103something....maybe.....hard to make it out as it was cruded up with old dried grease and grim.
Sheetmetal was good, with the exception of the damage you can see in the photo and the bottom of the front. Looks like it had been cut to allow "plumbing" to pass. Easy fix though. As Matt stated, there are extra signage holes. The "lead" sign fits the 4 holes just below the access door on the front. I'm not sure about the 4 holes that make the larger hole pattern. Must have been prior to the Shell decal.
This pump came from a Shell oil terminal, where he used to work. The terminal was located along the Ohio river here, and I can imagine that it spent several weeks each spring under water as the river flooded often and most of the oil terminals here used to be on the wrong side of the floodwall.
The fella is asking 800 dollars. He's in pretty bad shape from a recent stroke and I'm not inclined to talk someone down on price when they are in difficult situations, if you know what I mean.
Anyway..........any ideas or thoughts?
Thanks, Louis

I get asked that question all the time "what's it worth". My consistant answer is "it's worth what you paid for it if you are happy with it". IMHO that's all that matters.

If you want it buy it for that reason and pay what he wants for it. Ignore the situation the gentleman is in. Just what I would; nothing more.

with the globe i think it is still a good buy, and what are you waiting for. it would already be at my house before someone else with cash in their hand comes along.

Seems like a good buy to me, also. Go for it....Dale

with a good globe ,even with paint missing i would also say go for it.signs would just be an extra!

Louis go for it!! If you pass let me know I will buy it for his asking price

I agree 100% with your last sentence

Louis,
I am no expert, but if you read and weigh everything the experts have said it seems that the pump is fairly priced with the globe. I can say that it looks in very good shape and will be easily restored, so if you like it, go for it. It will make a great looking pump when you are done. You can do it any way you want, but it really looks great as a Gulf pump.
John

Sound like a good deal with real globe. Ignore the pump nozzle and contain lead sign you can order all that out of Vic,s or Gas Pump Heaven catalogs. If you plan on doing a full top of the line restoration.

The first question you need to ask yourself, are you going to restore it back to it's original use as a Gulf Pump or are you going with the Shell. If going with Gulf you will need to buy a repro globe, then you could sell the Shell globe.

Repainting the Shell is not that easy, if you use a brush you will always see the brush marks.

As for the nozzle, they are shown on this page of my website:

http://www.petrolianacollectibles.com/tokheim%20nozzles-2.htm

Jack Sim

well, pump number 3 is now in my workshop. Turns out what I thought was some corrosive substance on the faceplate was Big Red softdrink or something....it cleaned right up. Both faceplates are pretty nice, not perfect, but good enough for what I want. Should be a fairly easy resto when I get around to it. Thanks to all that gave me the nuddge I needed.

Was the globe original?

Jack

Jack, I believe that it is, I can't say positively though. It would take someone with more knowledge than I posess. It does have "that" old look though, the glass isn;t clear white looking. It reminds me of the glass that some of my mothers' old old Christmas ornimants are made of....sort of a dull white/yellowed look. How long have reproduction shells been made, any idea? This fella says he has had this pump since the mid 70's. Louis