If you were trying to do a period correct pump, which sign would be correct for a Tokheim 39 tall?? Or would either fall into the years of the 39 tall?

Any other info on the why the two different versions of this would also be appreciated.

The Tetraethyl sign would be correct for your pump. Somebody on here may know the year that the Antiknock started, the earliest I have seen the Antiknock is on early sixties Sunoco blend pumps.
Tom

Thanks tbuckles. Hopefully someone can expand on this.

Antiknock was used by the Ethyl Corp. in the 1920s when they first came out with their product. I have many ads with that in big letters.

Jack Sim

Jack, Thank you very much for your response. So just to clarify, if the antiknock goes back as far as the 20's, is it correct to say that either sign would then span the years of the 39 tall?

No. I have only seen the anti-knock version on newer 60's pumps as said before and I would not put one on a tall 39. The anti-knock slogan may have been used in other contexts but not on the lead signs until the 60's or so.

Thanks for the clarification Keithia. I'm not sure I understand then what Jack was saying. Unless someone says otherwise, I'm going to shop for the second one.

I'm not sure about when the "Contains Lead" signage.... First was used....

But "Anti-Knock" Properties of Ethyl Gasoline touted just that... "Anti-Knock"..... back in the 20s... As Jack, said....

Here are a few of those magazine ads from the late 20s and 1930/31:






As to the "Contains Lead" signage... For me the older (IMO) "Tetraethyl" signage as below would be correct on the older Visibles and Electrics......

In Check The oil it says tetraethyl is the older of the 2 dont remember the dates though .

Back to the original question about what would be right on a '39'

Answer is!

Tetraethyl

The later signage said 'antiknock'

as said before late 60's


Larry

I only know literature, these guys know more than I do about signs.

Jack Sim

Thanks to all for your help!!

Using only the data presented in this thread, it seems to me that although "Ethyl" advertised their product as an antiknock product, the actual "contains lead" warning signage in the earlier period did not use the word "antiknock".
I'm going to do my best to search out as many vintage pics of 39 talls that I can and see if I can confirm this for myself.

I did learn something else big in this though. Being very green to the hobby, I didn't know that Ethyl was an actual gasoline brand unto itself. I thought that they were only an additive that sold to gasoline manufactures. I need to also check this out more for myself.

Again thanks to all!!!!

I agree with the other guys;tetraethyl.As you begin looking at pics of old pumps I think you will notice that on many tall 39's the signs are mounted on the doors rather than on the sides of the pump.I mention it because on my tall 39 they were mounted on the doors.When I restored it,I put them back on the doors where they had them.Good luck.

Bob Richards may correct me on this, but I do not believe that gas was sold under the brand name of Ethyl, I believe it has always been an additive available to any company.
Also, if I remember correctly, Ethyl was owned by General Motors, but used Dayton, Ohio as its address, because it was devoloped there.

Jack Sim

I agree with Old Iron and Jack on their above comments.