Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Must be a full moon?

We've discussed this before so I appoligize if this seems redundant. Yesterday was the most interesting day in a while.....sarcastically speaking here. I got three phone calls asking questions about various pumps and wanting values. Normal, as we usually get one call every couple of days. I don't mind the calls if I can help? My problem arose when the first caller asked for a price. I pulled out Jack's book and quoted what I read about the pump. The caller took exception to the number saying that it was incorrect and too low? I told him that it was a referrance and if he'd paid more than it was fine by me. He was not happy but thanked me....... Call number two. Caller was asking about pumps in stock....unrestored prices,condition,etc....next were questions on the restored units and last on the repro units we market thru another manufacturer. The questions were random and without a theme, in my opinion? Finally, he got around to the real question......he was looking for a Harley Davidson Globe and wanted to know if we had any? Told him no and gave him the information about Harley and the licensing issue. He asked if I knew where he could find one??? By this time, I'm becoming short with my answers. Got him off the phone and went back to the restoration of Dave Hathaway's monitor top refridgerator. Last call came at 3P.M. with a guy asking about a certain visible pump and it's rareity? I requested that he be brief and to the point. Didn't happen. After asking questions on what I thought about different pumps, he got around to values, as all calls do. The caller had just gotten a fairly common visible pump, in unrestored condition, and wanted me to give him an estimate. Pulled out Jack's book, again and read the information therein. Boy.....he was not happy either! First blamed me for being uninformed then the book for being wrong......I'm sorry to say that this was too much for me and when he finally stopped ranting, I told him off. I usually am very patient with folks, as I truely want to help promote this hobby, but the last guy pushed all the right buttons. Guess the moon was full?

sounds like a typical day on here.

Oh well. I just tell myself to move on. Today there's probably four of them waiting for you and you will forget about the three yesterday.

By their knowledge (or lack there of) could you tell if they were "Pickers", Collectors, or car guys just wanting to add to the man cave. Anytime I talk with someone I don't know personally I always find this answer out; that lets me know how to best answer their questions and hopefully save me some frustration.

I answer 20 calls a day and many emails. If you put your info out there, this is what you get. For every 30 calls I get, 1 will pay off..

I'm glad that most of the calls I get are from fellow collectors that want to talk about what they just found of if I know where a part is that they need. Richard

Gasman, now you know why I won't give out values to gasoline pumps . if someone wants me to I. D a pump, that's one thing. To place a value on whats it worth, hey, I'm too busy......... Ed Shaver

I've had to deal with it several times with visitors to my place.In a way, I'm with GMC on this one.If I think they are earnest,well-intioned beginners seeking knowledge about the hobby I'll help all I can.Otherwise,I just start saying "i dunno,I dunno,I dunno".They usually get the point.It works for me,but then I'm usually in a face-to-face conversation.

Paul I noticed you didn't add your site at bottom of your post.
You really have had enough,huh!

Guys, just needed to vent. All done and I feel better now. Thanks for the support. I will not be giving values, over the phone, from now on. Lloyd, I'll never get enough of this stuff! LOL! Paul www.severngaspumps.com

I apologize in advance, because i am sure to be one of he calls you will get. Just know that i am a very excited collector. I am very inexsperinced with pumps and would only call for an id and value. This would be prior to my purchase and would never argue about your info. I apreciate all of you guys and your help.

Just buy jacks book?

I agree with you Kyle buy the books and do some homework. Jack has put a lot of time and effort into these books and they will help you espescilly when trying to buy a pump from someone who knows nothing about them, but has watched pickers way to mutch.

I have both of Jack's books, both well worn out too. The prices are a joke . Still, I bought both for doing scale models of every gasoline pump ever manufactured . True , the drawings are sometimes vauge . Still, I can glean a lot of detail and get an overall idea as to what something "Should " look like . That's the pointI would certainly point out . Both of Jack's books will do a LOT to "Educate" a pump collector ! Ed Shaver

DID you buy the book off ebay for $1,000.00? LOL

Re-write prices where you think they should be. Maybe Restored vs Barn finds or w/ & w/o cylinders/visi's/sheet metal.
I do.