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In restoring a Tokheim 620 visible, I would like to mount a reproduction 12" Texaco Porcelain Sign to the round skins.

What is the best way to bend/form the flat porcelain sign such that it will mount smoothly on the rounded surface of the skins?

Thanks for the help.

Buy Decals. Try to put a porcelain sign on a Tok 620 and you'll end up porcelain in your eye.

I wounder if anyone makes silk screened signs like the unleaded and others - they would work GREAT for rounded pumps! Decals work - but decals look like decals!


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

Gas Pump Heaven makes a Contains Lead that is aluminum & screened, but that is the only one I know about. There are some oil & gas tin signs available but are worse looking than a decal in a pump application.

Get a normal Texaco decal from any of the suppliers and have it mounted onto magnetic material. The magnetic material can be found at any 'sign shop' in your area. They should also be happy to do the mounting/trimming for you (for a fee of course).

The magnetic material will conform to the curvature of the pump. As an added bonus, the thickness of the magnetic material also makes the decal look like a porcelain sign.

This is especially true if you purchase one of our decals since ours have a nice shine to them that is not found on normal silk-screened decals.

Later . . .

Jim




Always buying Ethyl Globes, Ethyl Single Lenses & Misc Ethyl Items.

I have a correct measure pump with round skins and I put porcelain shell signs on it and they didnt chip a bit.I used a a pipe with the same roundness and slowly bent the sign.I threw them in the oven for a while to see if there was a difference and maybe a little but I would not do them when cold for sure.

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i was able to bend a round porcelin sign for my wayne 615.i used a sheet metal roller that i have.it worked well,but i dont think i would try it on a nice original,cause you just never know.

Why doesn't someone make rounded lead signs and various other rounded pump plates for our visibles? I've been keeping an eye out over the years figuring someone would offer them sooner or later.

Mike

Do as T-way suggest. Grind the screws off the HEADS & apply a small drop of silacon or hot glue to hold the head on your decal [will look like your decal is SCREWED ON].

Most porcelain signs can be bent slightly 1 time.
Lay edges on 2 2x4's, then cover with 1/4 plywood, STEP on it. Should give you just enough bend to attach to a round pump.
db

I was able to bend Shell porceain enough to install on my Tokhiem 300s which have a slight curve,like all of the electric pumps. It would have been great if they could have put mounting holes on the sides. As it is there are two on the top,and one on the bottom. Les Warner

Mike Smith, it is because the radius changes. From about 8 inch dia on a stovepipe pump to about 24 inch dia on a Wayne 777. Also top to bottom ..look at a G&B visible or a Fry..

Thanks for the tips. I'll try to use some of the suggested techniques in an attempt to bend the porcelain sign. (It's a repro so if it breaks it breaks -- and hopefully I'll keep from getting glass in my eye!). Failing that, I'll revert to a decal. Thanks again for the help.