Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion What Pump Is More Rare?

A friend of mine once rated the rarity of a select group of pumps under discussion as Tok 34 as most rare,then Tok 36,then Tok 36B,then Wayne 60.From what I've seen out here,I agree with those rankings.

Now,reason for the question,I heard someone say that a National A-38 is more rare than a 36B.I don't know much about A-38's except that they are GREAT looking pumps;it's just that we don't see them much here in NM.What do you think?On a national market scale is an A-38 more rare than a 36B?Thank you for your time.

I think so.

In different parts of the country.
I have found more A38's around here than 36B's when I was out looking.

Interesting question. I agree in that it is a regional thing. B36s aren't nearly as rare as A38s here in my area. IMHO, I think brands of gas had some bearing on this as some companies used some makes of pumps more than others. Some brands of gas/oil weren't found in all areas of the country back then.
How many years a pump was made and how many were made in that time frame probably has something to do with it too. Jack could probably give us some help with numbers too.
Just my 2 cents.
Rod

The latest issue of "Check the Oil" just arrived. In it I wrote an article about the National 60 Series, mentioning they were actually a Tokheim 39 with a different top. I mentioned that over 200,000 39s were made where only 14,000 60s were made. Use the Blue Book and determine how many 34s or 36s were made compared to the others.
Having owned over 200 pumps, been to way too many gas pump auctions, and attended just about every CTO meet at Columbus and over 23 Iowa Gas shows, I will say I have seen many, many more 34s and 36Bs than any National 38s.

Jack Sim

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the responses.That's what I was after;a national perspective.For me,it's so easy to get tied up in the local situation that I sometimes forget just how incomplete my knowledge really is.

I've got a line on an A-38 so now I'm gonna go chasin'!!

Good article in CTO Jack.I really like the uncommon stuff and that pump certainly qualifies IMO.

If you think the A-38's are rare - try finding an A-38H!

I spent over a year looking until another Oldgasser decided to sell me the one he had.

Jack could probably confirm, but I think the 'H' version was only produced for about a year.

Later . . .

Jim

I sold a really nice H a few years ago to a fellow oldgasser. Nice original pure pump. By far the coolest of the A-38 pumps.

Jim,
The trouble with using the Blue Book is that it was not written for us to use, it was written to show how old pumps were and to promote the scraping of them for the war effort. All the A-38s are grouped, so there is no information about the H. Can't remember why I listed the pump as being made between 1947-1949. I probably had something (ads, sales lit.?) that indicated that.
As I have mentioned before I seem to be the only person who has a copy of the Fourth Edition (that goes to 1960). The Blue Book that many of us have (it was reproduced at one time) is actually a combination of the first three Editions.
When Tokheim went bankrupt in 2002, all the paper records were rescued by a Tokheim historian, from the plant and are now being preserved. There was so much they overfilled a large room in his business. The one thing that amazed me was the log books for every day's production. If I remember correctly, the log book lists the Model number, the Serial number and where the pump was going if it had already been sold. Given the time, you could actually look up a particular Tokheim (or National after their acquision) and get this information. A ton of information that will probably never be looked at, but just too valuable to destroy.
Right now I am researching the traffic lights that were made by Tokheim during the 1920s.

Jack Sim

Jack,
Thanks for the CTO "around the station writing" this month!
Really enjoyed reading it and was amazed at the numbers on those tok 39s. WOW 200,000 short 39s. No wonder it seems like there still is a never ending supply of those!
Out of the 14,000 national 60 series pumps I wonder how many green Flying A green porcelin pumps were made?
Anyway keep up the good work.
Rob

In response to the first post, I don't believe a Wayne 60 should be in the running for rarity at all.

I agree with you KZ.Those rankings were given to me years and years ago when I was starting out and really didn't know.I asked the question,and the rankings helped me at the time,because all I ever heard was Wayne 60,Wayne 60.

As a matter of fact,a year or so ago I really got the pot to boiling around here when I pointed out that a Wayne 60 was more common in the local collectors circle than a tall Tok 39 and did a count and proved it!!

By the way,I think they are both great pumps.

I think there is definitely a regional factor involved. I have kept a journal since 1989 on every pump I bought or sold.I am in Washington state. The number is near three hundred and I have had (10) 36B's, (12) A38's,but only 1 Wayne 60. It seems like there is always a 60 on ebay, but mostly on the East coast.

I have really enjoyed this thread ,i have yet to own either pump "in discussion" ,"BUT I WILL SOMEDAY"Quick question for some of the pump guy's! IN YOUR OPINION: WITCH IS MORE RARE? THIS ERIE 129 "GULF PUMP" OR BENNETT 541 4 AD GLASS ,HERE ARE SOME PICS!
i understand these might be common to some of you pump guru's,i just want to know someones judgment that has been in this "FOR EVER" thanks!

Between my dad, brother and myself we have had 3 A38's and 1 36B and we still own them all. As for the 541 and 129 question I would say the Erie 129 is harder in my area anyway. We have had several 541's but only 1 129. I would rather have the 541's though as they are great pumps.

Keith

...what makes an A-38H different from an A-38?

Hose attaches to Base, then goes up over a holder & in to nozzle & holder [15' hose].

Here is a A38H



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Kinda reminds me that IF you have a very long hose, throw it over your shoulder drops back to your knee then stick the end in your ear !

To bad you live in NM I just posted my 38 A on ebay
item #250709521623