Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Bowser 585 Restoration. My first attempt.

As I stated in my New Guy thread, I am going to be restoring my first pump, a Bowser 585. My plan is to turn it into a Hancock pump to surprise my dad. The station we both worked at growing up was a Hancock station when he worked there. I am leaning towards orange sides and top with the white doors. while taking the pump apart today I noticed some of the old paint flaking off so I decided to take a couple of layers off. After doing so I found that this pump used to have RPM decals on it.. Here are a couple of pictures before I took it apart today. I had to bust out my torches and heat up some of the screws .





Here it is disassembled. Notice the burned paint from the heat of the torch









Does anybody know what this hole is for? It is on the same side as the reset crank.


This is my next little project after I get the base and frame painted, the computer looks like it will take me a while to do, looks like there are a lot of little parts in there.

Here are the rest I took today.


Here you can see where the studs broke off for the sight glass warning plate. 3 of them on one door and 2 on the other. I am going to have the guys at school weld on some more studs.


This is the only rust problem besides the rusty bolts, nuts and screws. I am going to be making a new bottom part to the door.


And here you can make out the words RPM, Chevron, outboard motor oil.


Now I have a couple of questions. Where would I put the "contains lead" plate? On the sides or the corner of the doors? Would I use a vinyl decal or porcelain plate? Also should I use a porcelain pump plate or vinyl water slide decal. Keep in mind I am going to be using a 13.5" globe on top of the pump. I am not sure if I am going to be using Hancock ad glass or not yet. Any input will help me out greatly.
Thanks
Donnie

The Hole is Probably for a Light Switch. Use Porcelain "Contains Lead" signs vinyl decals look Cheesy you wouldn't be happy with them. I would say they most likely go on the side panels. The First Picture of the side panel you show looks like it has 4 small holes in it, most likely that is where the small Contains lead sign goes.

Thanks to Ted and the hot tank at the college the doors, sides, and top are now soaking. When I get home from school today I am going to finish gutting it and start cleaning the computer up.

Good start. I will show you where the lead signs go and find you a deal on some originals. Donnie is a quick learner when it comes to cars and doing good with pumps also. I told him I always take the best students with me to the gas bash. He is the first in 34 years of teaching. Not bad.

looking good there!Wow!"gaspumps 101"never had a class like that when i went to school!!and ted roach as the teach!!this young man scored big time!! keep the pics comin!!

Thanks Ted it means a lot to hear something like that. And we need a gas pump restoration class too..lol

Me likey the Chevron. Keep up the good work and pictures.
Mike

will do, and here you go. Its now in the body shops hands.



















Since it is now in the body shops hands I can turn my attention to the base and frame as well as the computer.

My poor computer has seen better days...a lot better days. The good news is I was able to spin the "This Sale" dials all the way around to 999, but I can't get them to reset. There is going to be a whole of pressure washing and soaking in WD 40.

Well got the frame back from the sand blasters today, have it primed and ready to do the body work on the base (I will be doing that here at home)

Here she is as bare metal


And here she is as primed


I can't wait for the body shop to finish the doors and skins, now I need to take apart the computer to restore the wheels.

Haven't done a pump yet but truely enjoy watching this through all the photos. Feel like I'm almost a part of it all somehow!! There's a pile of elbo grease going around here lately. You may need some of it for that computer!! Keep up the good work and the slide show. It's been educational.

Our body shop class takes forever to get anything done, but yesterday I was over there checking out the progress on the pump, it doesn't even look like the same pump I dropped off. The one door with a good portion missing from rust doesn't even look like it was missing. All the parts are in primer and the guys are doing the final wet sanding before the color coat. I have decided to do the doors in orange and the sides and top in black. And since I took a welding class over the summer I cannot wait to get my next pump and do all the work myself. I have yet to tackle the computer, I might just send it out and have it done. The base and frame are almost done, I just need to do a little more body work on the base. All of the cast iron parts that I kept are blasted and ready for some cast iron engine paint. I need to get started on building the island for my display. So for now there are no new pics, sorry. I thought I would let you guys know the progress on the pump and progress is very slow...lol

Keep us Updated!!!

Love them Bowsers - that's some bad hat Harry!

Looks GOOD! and it only seems slow! Your doing real good! Thanks for sharing your project! Take care! tt

Look what I got from the body shop today


Guess I have a reason to finish the base now...lol

THAT'S GOING TO BE A KILLER HANCOCK PUMP!

7 Months seems like forever, so here is a teaser shot for you guys. I picked up the sides and top today. This is all in mock up, nothing is bolted down. And what looks like stuff on the sides is actually the reflections of the stuff on the floor lol.







After Ted and I fooled with the VR we decided it's just best to send it out. I have been waiting for what seems like forever to get to this point, but it is so worth it to me. I still need to finish the base, as of right now I am working on the light manifold.
What do you guys think?

Looking GOOD.
Sure looks like ya need to clean the shop & give yourself more room to work !
Using an Auto Mech. teacher to redo a VR ! LOL

LOL, thanks Dick, the shop is actually clean, I was just to lazy and excited to move the pump into the center to put the skins on. I had to at least take a stab at the VR (and it stabbed me right back LOL)

I know a Good Plumber in Georgia that can help !

Dick I've been there. If he kept my shop at the college this dirty I'd fire him. Too busy with school and pump building to clean it up I guess. LOL Ted

Looks good so far Donnie

Very interesting Don ! Seems you have several projects going on as I can tell from the model forum you are a multi talented soul ! Oh yeah watch yer mail box, Im late as usual but Im hurryin up O K ? Ed Shaver

Ed, the way I figure it the more projects I have going on the less time I spend in the bars, which in turns means I have more money for my projects and hobbies. I'll be watching the mail box, thanks again.
Donne

That's right less drinking is good. Save it for the weekends and gas bashes. NO DRINKING on school nights. Ted

Don , I too had a problem with certain things for years . It took several therapists but I finially overcame some of my shortcommings back in the ninties . Meanwhile , I like the shade of Orang you chose for the Bowser , I always liked Orange too ! Ed Shaver

well, just placed my order for all the remaing parts, its getting closer. Nothing like almost finishing a project. lol

and here is the final mock up

This pump is painted EXACTLY like my first pump I restored which was a Bowser 575 in Phillips 66. Awesome looking pump even if the colors are not historically correct for Phillips 66. Your Hancock pump looks great already.

Keith

Thank you.

Got my order from Vic's today, been in the garage playing around. Still waiting on the trim to get here. And I still need to send off the Veeder Root. The "Contains Lead" plates are Originals, everything else is repop. I need to run to home depot to get some stuff for the light manifold, but this sucker will light up tonight.. LOL here are some pics.

Thats a great looking pump Donnie.
When its done, have a beer on me.
John

Looking good there Donnie

Gas pumps made me quit drinking on a regular basis.
It was not wise to be hitting bulk plants, farms, and businesses hung over or with alchohol on your breath.
Then there were the constant hours on the road.
Plus after spending all my money, I had something to show for it. Something that could be transformed into more cash, for more junk hunting.
Gas pumps are good for you!!!!!

I COULDNT AGREE MORE THERE JOE I stopped drinking when I turned 21 LOL

I was 25.
But that was so long ago, the drinking age was 18 when I was 18.

It looks like you are getting a little cocky with your first pump. LOL

Where did you get that NOS original Lead sign from? Ted

WOW
Looks like I better get the ad glass done & in the mail, or you'll be banging on my bad hand !
db

DB, take your time with the ad glass, I have a sub for now (lol) anyways, she is 95% done. The last 5% being the computer. I will try to get some pics when it is dark and the pump lit up. Gas pumps are addicting, I am already looking for another one, lol
Donnie

Beer might be cheaper but pumps last longer. Nice job dude. Ted
PS the garage looks a lot cleaner.

nice job donnie,wont be long and you'll have a bunch

Don that pump is to die for ! I wan it ! Ed Shaver

"Gas pumps are addicting" DOOOOOH
To make sure ya find something @ Bakersfield to buy, I'll have your ad glass there !
Look for a 1 handed Grumpy Old F*rt !
db

lol, I am going to come down to bakersfield on Saturday

...I started when I was 20, or 21...or maybe 19...about the same time I got serious about gas stuff...

...hmmm...

Just saw this! Good job Donnie! Can't wait to see what is next. Now I know why my pump hasn't been painted yet. LOL. ~Jason

Mine was painted before your dads lol, I need to come up to your office and take a look around, I saw the pictures you dad has.

Don , that pump will make an outstanding addition to your Dad's collection won't it ? Ed Shaver

If he had one Ed, Im the only one who Collects

"lol, I am going to come down to bakersfield on Saturday"
NO SHOW DONNIE.
Bed must have been warmer than the car !

Dads car went down, he stole mine

Hey Donnie, are you ready for a tall Bowser? I have this one you can have for $400.00. It is an earlier one with the extra wide mouldings that the later one do not have. It needs faces and a side access door.

If I had a way to get it here Matt I would be all over it

nice job donnie--did you happen to code the color for the paint--if i can id like to get the code --is it single stage--keep up the good work ruben

Ruben, Ted has the paint code, I will try to get it from him, I know it is a Mack Truck Orange. It is a color then clear paint.

Don your Bowser sure turned out fine ! Oh check yer mail later this week too . Ed Shaver

So far so Good!!! Looks great!!!!

Looks Great!!!!!

Wow, it has been two years since I have checked this place out. Life kinda got in the way and the pump was shoved into the back of my parents garage. I dug it out today before I came to work and started doing inventory on it. Found I am missing a few things, no big deal I can get replacements. I should be picking it up this weekend and moving it to my place. I want to finish this thing off, it has been sitting for way too long.

I just purchased a Bowser 585 on the weekend. Found this page in my search. It was nice to see your step by step progress.