Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion OLD globe frame

I was doing some globe maintenance recently and it is real nerve wracking work. I find it odd that the three piece glass globe was even an accepted design. It is such a delicate item to have out in the elements. I would think a good hailstorm would take one out. When the light bulb inside burned out many were likely broken by a young pump jockey who was not careful when taking it off the pump or removing a lens. Many a globe must have ended up in pieces laying next to the bottom of a gas pump. Vandalism was not as big a draw as nowadays but I am sure a good many were smashed off the pump by hoodlums. I can understand why the capco eventually took over.

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Bigtom,
Hands still shaking from that. LOL

If the lenses don't have any loose paint and look strong, i clean mine this way! I wet them, put soft scrub with bleach on both sides and scrub with a blue scotch brite pad. Rinse and dry. Some people think what! Same thing used on porcelain bath tubs with are pretty much glass. I clean almost every globe this way. I got a tip from Scott Benjamin one time and tried it... had some stains on a lens and used 600 grit sand paper to lighten up the stain. Worked like a champ.
Anyone else want to share how they clean there lenses?

Jarvis needs a Break, I'll leave it at that.

If you had said from the start that it was a Thriftane globe I could have saved you allot of trouble by taking it off your hands. That's a great looking globe that doesn't turn up for sale very often.

Yes, you can caulk the lenses in. DO NOT set the lenses in caulk. Place the lenses in the body and caulk them. I'd just re-use the snap rings.

Make sure you test whatever you use to clean it in a small area first. We've had luck using toilet bowl cleaner, but accidentally used one with hydrochloric acid in it once, and it removed all of the red on the lens.

OK, the lenses upon closer inspection are pristine. not a scratch on the inside at all there are 3 small chips combined along the edge, but nothing that will be too noticeable and I am JACKED!!! I might try to put the snap ring back in if I can take a little of the spring out of it so I am not so freaked out and YES my hands are shaking a little at the thought of taking the ring out LMAO!
The frame has coats of paint on it so thick, I think I am going to have to used the hardcore stripper (the kind that burns your skin off) as that stuff works like a champ. Mostly I think that since the globe was buried for so long in that clay it may have protected the metal a little.

Anyway, thanks again for the great thoughts and greater inspiration. NOW on to my pump!!! I will let you all know about that when I go and pick it up!!!

CHEERS!!!

Now that your done w/ the globe for awhile, Finish the Case of Cold ones. NEVER mix the Pleasure of working on globes w/ BEER [or Hard Liquor].

Hello, "Jarvis". Was the Scott B. 600 grit sandpaper trick for lightening stains that are on the outside of the globe lens.... or on the backside of the lens? Thanks. John

Jolly,
Back side only. Be careful as you can sand it to thin. I was nervous but thought what the heck... nothing to loose. LOL