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Posted By: Thunder The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 09:59 AM
For those of you who dont know, I own my own trucking company. Our main focus in the business is Roll-off dumpster service.




On more than one occassion, the roll-off has been used to clean up an old farm. Armed with the knowledge that many petro goodies reside at, and are often discarded from old farms, I always ask to see what is going into the dumpster, and if there are any old gas pumps or signs.



This one was not quite understood by this particular customer. But it did provide me with a nice grease pump.

Recently, I had delivered a dumpster to an old farm. The woman had come out to meet me, and so I asked about any old pumps. She said "Well, there's two old pumps behind the old school house" (They have an old school house on their property, that was moved in from another site) So off we go through the tall grass, around the corner, and there they were.

Now I know how Dorothy felt, when she looked up the yellow brick road and saw The Land of Oz for the first time. Not one, but two Tokheim 36Bs, WITH TOPS!



I tried to keep my cool, and calmly said what ANY man would say when a woman showed him a pair of nice 36Bs, "Those are nice". My heart started to race. I asked if they were going, and and she said "I dont know what my husband has planned for them. They used to be his Father's pumps" So I asked if he might be interested in selling them. She replied "Well you will have to talk with my husband" So I told her that "I would like that opportunity to do so, please have him give me a call"

So now I had to wait for the call.
Posted By: gatorgaspumps Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 01:35 PM
Great fine Thunder, hope you get them. Richard
Posted By: Gary Drye Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 01:39 PM
Love these type of stories. Anticipating the results. Good luck Thunder.
Posted By: dodogas Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 02:42 PM
I think his Dad would have Beat him if he ever turned down 150.00 each for them...
Posted By: st.rod Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 03:39 PM
Jeff, Hope you get them. If you need a hand give me a call. Larry
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 04:40 PM
They'd look better TOPLESS ! LOL
db

[This message has been edited by Dick Bennett (edited 09-26-2005).]
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Mon Sep 26 2005 10:52 PM
And so the story goes on....

A few days later, I got the phone call that I was waiting for. The gentleman explained that his Father had bought those pumps quite some time ago, and used them to fuel his farm trucks & tractors. That had sat back there for some time now, and he wasn't opposed to selling them.




So I asked "Well how much do you want for them?" He answered "A thousand dollars." I thought, they just might be worth about that. "How much do you want to pay for them?" he asked. So I told him "I really want to steal them from you, but I'll give you ten bucks" He laughed, and asked "How much are they worth?" "Let me get back to you about that. And you think about how much you really want for them. Then we'll get together in a few days and figure out something that works for both of us." was my answer. He replied "That sounds good"

Now, I had a lot of things to think about. How do I really approach this. Should I tell him that they're only worth about fifty bucks? Nope, I couldn't do that. I'm a businessman, I can't lie to me customers, nor would I want to take advantage of somebody who really didn't know. Or worse than that, buy them for a song, only to have him find out that they were worth a fortune.

Now, the sleepless night started....



[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 09-27-2005).]
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Tue Sep 27 2005 12:41 AM
So after a few days of thinking about all of this, I decided to meet with the farmer who owned the pumps. After a phone call he agreed to meet with me at 4:00 in the afternoon, Saturday before last. I gathered a few photos of my other pumps, my books, and my camera, and off I went.

When I met the gentleman, I layed my cards on the table. I told him "I really can't afford to pay you what those pumps are worth" So he asked "Well how much are they worth?" I opened up the "Gas Pump Bible" (Thank you Jack Sim) and showed him the explanation at the beginning of the book, explaining pump values, then showed him Tokheim 36B section. After seeing the value of the pump he asked again what I would pay him. I simply said "Sir, you tell me how much you want, and I'll try to make it happen" I also assured him that these pumps were for me, they would not be sold, and then showed him in the restoration guide, how I would paint one of them.

He asked "Is --- dollars fair?" I thought for a moment, and said with a slight hesitation "I think that is a fair price for one of those pumps" He said "No, thats for both of them" I replied "I'll make it happen" He said "O.k. but you aint gonna be able to haul them in that little car of yours" I assured him that I had a truck capable of handling the situation.

I jumped in my car, raced home, and thought of how I can get the money. I discussed it with my better half. I asked if I could, or should, sell the old 36B that her Step-father had given to us. She told me that it was given to me, for me to decide, and that she was good with selling it to finance this deal.




I called Proffesor Bennett for some guidance in this venture. I sent photos and descriptions. He wanted the tops!!! NO WAY!!! I sent a few e-mails, had a few more phone conversations, then decided to sell my old 36B.

Although I did get a few offers, they fell a little short of what I needed for the other pumps. So the other option is to part it out to my gas geek brothers, then e-bay the rest.

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 09-27-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 09-27-2005).]
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: The thrill of the hunt - Tue Sep 27 2005 01:46 AM
WHO CALLED WHO ?
His daughter kept sending emails CALL ME! CALL ME!
PLEADING for me to call her DAD. Said he was going PUMP-NUTS waiting for the phone to ring, wouldn't sit still.
Sure, I offered to buy the TOPS, so he could have the pumps. Offered to buy 1 of the pumps, too.
BUT, WE ALL know that a PAIR of 36B's feels better than one, EVEN IF THEY AIN'T TOPLESS !!
LOL
db
Looking for LOOSE 36B [TOPS]

[This message has been edited by Dick Bennett (edited 09-26-2005).]
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Tue Sep 27 2005 10:01 AM
Thats right. There were numerous e-mails. I was actually a little jealous of my daughter.

I spoke with a few of my gas geek brothers who were interested in parts. The old 36B will soon be dismanteled for shipping of it various components.

It took a week to scratch up the money for the pumps. During this time, I had not kept in contact with the owner. I trusted that he would keep to his word, yet in the back of my mind, I feared that somebody else might convince him to hold out for more money. Worse than that, I was concerned that my existing pump would have been sold or parted out by then, leaving me with nothing.

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 09-27-2005).]
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 12:38 AM
My better half, bless her, told me "Just write a check, we'll cover it". I'm not sure if I've ever heard better words. Like a schoolboy, who just got the phone number of the new "cute" girl, I couldn't wait to call. The gentleman kept true to his word about the price. He even helped me load them with the help of his two sons. He shook my hand, and thanked me, as I thanked him. Then he asked "Will you be around for a while?" I asked "In the neighborhood?" He said "Well yes, I'd like to come by some time and see what you did with my Dads pumps" I told him "You just pick up that phone aand give us a call, we'd love to have you"

A few things happened here. I don't know how much was luck, or how much was business savy. I was lucky to find two pumps in such good shape, and owned by somebody that was willing to part with them. But the fact is, I showed him the value in the book so he knew how much he could get for them, I was honest and sincere, and I assured him that the pumps would stay with me. Besides getting two nice pumps, I won twice, I also met a very interesting old family with a lot of stories to share. It will be great fun when he makes it over here.

Good luck on the hunt guys... I know they're out there...



------------------
Anything Chevron?
Posted By: gatorgaspumps Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 12:54 AM
Thunder you hit the nail on the head. I've dealt with a lot of farmers, if your honest with them nine times out of ten they will bend over backwards to deal with you on what you can afford to pay. I noticed you didn't talk about selling a horse to pay for the pump, take it from me it won't work. I will go before my wife and kids horses do. Richard
Posted By: kmann Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 01:09 AM
thunder... i like your style... nobody got beat up here.. do the man proud.. restore them beauties so you BOTH can enjoy them.. nice story... you made a friend and thats more important than some of the **** i hear here.
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 04:03 AM
I offered Jeff enough money to buy BOTH pumps for 2 little pieces off of them ! LOL
db

36B's look good TOPLESS !
Posted By: thermactor Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 02:22 PM
Awesome find, Thunder. That's what I've been hoping to find, driving around to all these farms on the weekends - You've got awesome luck!

Which adglass is on the pump that's not the "Extra" pump?

Are you going to do them in Chevron? I say you should get a nice air/water/lamp pole and make an Island for them.

Wes
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 07:05 PM
**Thanks for all the input guys...

It was an interesting and fun deal to work all of this out the way that I did. I would have felt a little down if he stuck to the "Book" price of $1200.00, or if he sold them to somebody else who had the money in hand. But as I said, I would have felt a lot worse if he found out their true value after I lowballed them.

Gatorgas, although we have too many horses around here, 8 at last count, I never thought of that. Maybe next time though... LOL

Kmann, both of these pumps will get at least the amount of attention, in their restoration, as my 96C. Stripped to bare metal, paint inside & out, new bolts & wiring.

Thermactor, that adglass is what is left of a CARTER glass. Due to recent hail storms, it was broken. As far as the resto, I thought that one should be in Chevron independent colors, cream & green, and the other will likely be done as a Signal Brand, as they were part of the Chevron family. As far as the pump island goes, it's a great idea that I have been toying with. But we get just enough hail storms out here that leave me a little bit concerned.

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 09-29-2005).]
Posted By: 1PetroFan Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Sep 28 2005 11:26 PM
**Thunder - quite an inspiring story. I know a guy who has an old Erie with a stairstep top( can't think of the model number ) and I am going to take Jack's book to him and see what I can work out with him. Who knows ??? Thanks, and congrats on your find. Brady
Posted By: Tom Stover Re: The thrill of the hunt - Thu Sep 29 2005 12:23 AM
**Nice guys DO finish first!!! Great story & happy ending!!
Posted By: huskybob Re: The thrill of the hunt - Thu Sep 29 2005 05:15 AM
**Congrats Thunder..... can't wait to see the cream and green.... maybe farmers aren't such bad guys after all.
bob
Posted By: Peter Niessen Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Oct 05 2005 05:30 AM
Just thinking about hail damage - maybe you can have a pair of durable covers custom-made for the pumps? I know our hail is probably nowhere near what you get, but my BBQ has just shrugged off whatever Mother Nature has thrown at it...
Posted By: Thunder Re: The thrill of the hunt - Wed Oct 05 2005 11:57 PM
Thanks Peter, but we did have a hail storm out here about five years ago, and, well, even the Bar-b-que didn't make it... And I was fortunate to crack only three ribs...
Posted By: huskybob Re: The thrill of the hunt - Sat Jan 28 2006 07:47 PM
Just bumping this back up to the top cause it is such a good story with a happy ending....
bob
Posted By: Thunder II Re: The thrill of the hunt - Sun Jan 29 2006 05:43 PM
Thanks Bob....
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