Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Gas Pump Island Help!

Ok guys I need a little advice. I am ready to start my island for my pumps. I am going to have two gas pumps, station light pole with light shade, and an air meter on one end of island.

(1) How long and how wide should the island be?

(2) How far apart should I space the first pump from the light pole and the next pump and then the air meter?

(3) The pumps are going to be Firecheif and Skycheif. I was planning to use these 646 Bennetts but after thinking about it a little. Are these pumps to early for the Banjo Texaco pole I have up? I have a couple of Gilbarco V Trim pumps I could use. I just really like the look of the tall 646's.

(4)Is the fluted revere to early also for this look? I have another light pole that is stair steped I could use.

Which look would be best for the Texaco Banjo pole?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Run with that! Looks good to me!

Islands were built according to the size of the lot, the bigger the lot the bigger the island. The island should be long enough to service two cars if you are going to have two gas pumps.
As for what you should use on the island, you should determine what era you want the island to represent. Not a sign person, but when was that sign introduced, and use everything after that date.
I have seen islands with 50's pumps and a air meter from the 30's, no problem with that, but if you are trying to stay within a certain era, the meter should be a 50s.
Or, as everyone, including me says, there are no island police out there to tell you something is wrong, so go with what you want, any which way you go will look great.

Jack Sim

Doesn't someone sell an island kit to mount the pumps up on....

I like what you have there now Sarge!

Mike

I love your display.
Bob Beck

Years ago when they were building stations, the equipment dealer that was doing the island would bring out a metal form, set it down and pour concrete. Not as simple as that but you get the idea.
This form would be used over and over. About two years ago, at an equipment dealer in Indiana, I pointed out the old form leaning against a fence, and he commented that he would give it away if anybody wanted it, otherwise it was going to the scrap yard.
Check with your local service station equipment dealer, he may have one you can borrow, or maybe to keep.

Jack Sim

Looks good ,if it grows to the point that your going to cover drain pipes,I would do slick pvc back to down spouts,as they seem to wash out easy ,if you have leaf promblem. Asuming your doing Island concrete.

Nice setup you have there.

Make sure you leave enough room to display a curb sign, oil cabinet, etc.

Will the Texaco sign be lit up ?

Keep the 646's. They will look good.

Looks really good - keep the 646s, they look super!!
Since you have soo much roome I think that the space you have set up there between the pumps and pole is good - I had so little space so my pump island looks a bit too tightbr
Claes
ps you can always do an Esso island in the back where you use the Gilbarcos ds :-)

...most of the actual pump islands I've seen still have the metal form in place, filled in with concrete...

I think Sarge might just happen to have some NICE NOS Island forms and some NICE NOS pole forms that a very kind and giving fellow collector shared with him!!

Mike

Well I do just happen to have a nice NOS island form that AKA Mike Smith shared with me but I got it after I set my Texaco pole so I am going to save it for my next pole and island down the road.

Jack you have me thinking about the form. Do you think I could use the one I have and then take it up after the concrete is set. I want to use it at a later date because it has the form for a pole also and it matches. I will take a picture of the form and post a picture tonight.

Scott good idea about the length I think I will keep it a little longer since I have the room. Who knows what else I might want to set out on the island after its finished.

Thanks guys for all the help! I think I will use the 646's and the fluted pole. I just like the look of those pumps better. I guess it really just matters what the person who is going to be looking at thinks anyway.

Could you post a picture of the form? I would like to see the profile for when I build one later this year.

Thanks

I will post a picture of the form that I have tonight. It is made in two seperate peices that fit together. I also have a center section that I can put in to make it longer but it will need some fabrication (should not be to hard).

There is an Old 1950's defunct Texaco station near me,that still has their 2 pump island standing,minus pumps.If you are looking for measurements,I could drive over there and take some for you.

I install these islands all the time.They are steel or stainless steel and come in different configurations such as dog bone,oval and square end.A standard setup is 4' wide by as long as you want to go and they come in 9" or 13" depths.They are set,braced and then poured with concrete.I guess you could use them as temp forms,then remove but you would have to remove all angle and bracing from inside then make sure you braced the outside well.1 yard concrete= aprox 3000 lb. Bill

Thanks for the info Bill. Here are some pictures of the forms that another old gasser hook me up with (wish I had them before I put up the Texaco pole). The two ends bolt together to make the island. I also have a center section that could be used to make it longer with some modification.

Billyd, is there a company that still makes these forms?

There are a few companies that make these forms, we sell them with new station equipment today. Morgan Bros., Riverside Steel, Formex plus OPW has a line of them. Often bowtie or dogbone shape. I put a stainless steel one at my house which does not exactly look period correct but will never need painted either.

They may not sell direct but you can get them through your nearest petroleum equipment distributer.

If anyone around PA needs any we have some oddballs we would make a great deal on, rust included!

Here is one i built. I took some 3" x 1/8" HRF (hot roll flat steel) and wrapped it around a barrel and welded some 1" angles to keep the side straight. Welded a few angles to bolt it to my concrete drive. Cut a hole in my driveway about 10" square and dug down about a foot... went out in the yard and dug a hole and heated up a piece of 1" gray PVC and made the end a wedge. Then drove it under my driveway about 3' or 4' and cut the ends off and put an elbow on it to bring it up. made a stand for electric box and ran wiring for the light. Filled with concrete and done.

John,

Very very nice!

Seems like someone here cut the top off a stock tank [watering tank] & used that for a form.

Tokheim hit the nail on the head and he's right about the stainless thats about all we're puting in for Shells and Exxons Bill

It does look like that Dick doesn't it. LOL This didn't cost me anything as i had the steel at work. LOL I am cheap like that.

Jarvis I think it turned out great. Way to use what you had. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Sarge

Jarvis
Thanks for the ideas. Looks like another project for the summer. If we get one!

Here are two "islands" that I have. First I made a rectangular form out of 1x5 wood. I made the curved areas out of masonite that was supported in the corners. Dug a bit down, put the form on the ground, armored and put in the electrical feed from the "station". Poured the concrete in - done.

The little form I made out of 1x5 wood and the curved parts were made of by cutting the top portion off an oil barrel that I cut in two half circular parts - one for each end. Screwed the steel parts to the wood...
just took what I had at home.
br
Claes

pump island ready for pumps


Pump island with pumps


SSmall pump island for the coin operated "Selfometer".

Well it has been alot of work but the island is finally finished. I ran conduct from the column for the porch to the crawl space and then to the island and to the Texaco pole for power (had temp power to the pole). I also ran a seprate coduct from my crawl space to the end of the island where my air meter will be. I am going to put my air compressor under the crawl space. I left some space on the other end of the island for something else (any idea's). I know someone will ask why two conduct at each point and it is because they are just daisy chained to loop power through each pump, light, & meter to the pole. It is just one main conduct in for the power. I first tried to weld some metal together for my form but it really did not work well. I found this edgeing materal at Lowes (bender board) and it worked great for forming my corners. The bender board was 5 1/2 tall. The island is 10ft long and 3ft wide. We used thirty nine 40lbs of concrete mix and thanks to my friend Adam (pictured) for the concrete help. It has been more work than I thought because I had to move alot of dirt to get the grade down and the steps I built was a pain. What I did not show is the sewer pump (for my basement) that is just to the right of the steps. I had to build them around the pump and all the plumbing,electrical, and down spot drain that was in the way (what a pain). I guess it will all be worth it when the pumps are finished and in place. I hope they will be done and in place by summer. I also still need to finish a walkway and natural area above the steps. Hope all enjoy the pictures and show your islands that you guys have built.

This is one of the best topics on here.
Appreciate everyones input & pictures.
They all look nice!

Great job Kev! Can hardly wait to see the pumps on it!

Mike

Ditto-Looks great. Some one mentioned the stainless pump forms. They are building super size Mapco in town as we are slowly growing to be included on maps these days. They have six of the stainless in place fixing to pour, they are so shining they hurt your eyes when the sun hits them.
Keep us posted, my son and I are still talking and planing one,now if money and time will permit we might actual start, started out as pinic area with roof,hanging out here it now has gas station front and pumps,and growing.

i've got everything now for my island except for a light pole. i'm thinking of holding off until spring to actually do the concrete work etc. maybe i can get all the accessories finished over the winter while i wait. i have two pumps picked out, a "seloil" cabinet, small diesel pump, bulk oil container & coke machine to set in various places on the future island & against the bldg.