#376162
Sat Dec 08 2012 06:51 PM
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I've been meaning to tell this story for some time now and there is nothing stopping me today, so here goes! It was just about 2 years ago in march of 2011, that I was on my way home and stopping thru every little town along the way, when I chanced upon a very rare gas pump sitting inside an old closed up gas station! I made local inquiries and was told that it was pointless, as the owner was a cranky old fellow that never sold anything! Not to be discouraged, I dug up the contact info and made the call to inquire about the pump. I was told that it might be for sale but that I would need to make another trip and discuss the pump with the owner! This was enough information, that I jumped at the chance and made an appointment to make the trip in the near future! When I arrived at the station, the "cranky old gentleman" turned out to be very plesant and talkative and I spent the next 2 hours discussing gas & oil memorabilia and of course the "gas pump" which was a Tokheim 36B with a double showcase! When it was time to leave, I politely asked about purchasing the pump and was told that he would consider my offer and give me a call in a couple of weeks! It seemed a most unusual way to do business but it was his pump and he was calling the shots! Little did I know at the time, that this was the "interview portion" of the sale and I had just been interviewed to determine if I was the person he wanted to pass the pump on to! About 3 weeks went by and one day, I got a call from him and he accepted my offer on the pump and told me I could come and get it in a couple more weeks! He explained the "interview" process and said that I was the only one that had ever made him a fair offer over the years and after he had met me, he was convinced that I would do a good job with restoring the pump to its former glory! He also explained that it was now mine and I could do as I wished with it. The pump sat in my shop for that summer and by the winter of 2011, I had it all torn apart and headed for restoration! It took all winter that year to finish it and by the spring of 2012, I had it finished and I posted the pictures and the complete story on Old Gas! The best part of this story is the friend that I made when I purchased this pump! Since that time, I have been to his house many times and we have shared story after story about the old days and experiences gone by! During one of my stops at his home, I was treated to a view of some old collectibles that few people have ever seen, and when I inquired about purchasing some of them, his response was--"whats your hurry, once I sell it to you, the fun is over". Of course, he meant that the fun of the whole experience is in the journey and not in the final prize! Of special interest to me was an old Texaco, one piece Ethyl globe that had sat on top of my pump for a short time! It was in perfect condition and you couldn't tell the difference from an NOS globe! It was in that nice of condition! I explained to him that I really wanted it for the top of that 36B showcase and that I'd pay top dollar for it. He replied that it wasn't going anywhere and he would consider it for the future! Well, to make a long story short--he called me up this spring and told me to stop by the next time thru the area. I did stop about 2 weeks later with the idea of picking up some old Texaco oil cans from him. When I got there, it was a laid back day, so we were able to spend a lot of time BS'ing and looking at things. About the time, I was ready to leave, he told me that he had decided to sell me the globe but it would be expensive! He was a tough cookie to deal with but we agreed on a price and it was time to go! BUT--I had only brought enough cash to cover the cost of the cans, as I had no idea that anything else would be going home with me! I explained the situation and he told me to just take it and mail the funds when I got home. That about floored me because of the value of the globe but he just said that I should be careful because I owned it now and if it broke, I still owned it! LOL I brought it home with me and cleaned it up and it sits on top of the most prized gas pump that I own. I have a lot of pumps but the journey involved in aquiring this one, has made it my most prized piece of gas & oil memorabilia! The best part of the journey has been the new friendship that we have formed and all of the stories and laughs that we have shared. He actually made the journey to my house a month ago before my surgery and took the couple hours to view my collection and share a nice meal. His wife got to explore the native casino in the area too, and I think that helped! LOL We're both laid up at the moment and we're planning for a time when we're both well enough to share some time fishing together. I'm sure that when we do, the time will be filled with a lot of stories and laughter! I hope you've enjoyed this story and I call it the "never ending story" because this will go on and on for many years to come! Heres the pics of this pump and globe for you!---KEVIN
Everything Cities Service Specializing in old Gas Pumps kwfrith@gondtc.com Cell#-701-739-6133
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Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category
Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Great story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good things happen to good people. Enjoy, Dave
Dave Jones It's All Just Stuff
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Great story,and a great pump! Couldn't of went to a better guy!
Looking for gas,oil related clocks,especially neon and spinners .clock repair available. Mick
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Wow Kevin, what a story and what a nice collection!
Mike Hudson 303-916-3907
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Thanks for sharing a great story, Kevin!....
You have a nice selection of pumps there!!
Looking for Tide Water/ Tide Water-Associated/ Tidewater items
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Joined: Jun 2004
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That story, Kevin was AWESOME. Great job on bringing a sweet old pump back to life that you hold dearly from your new friendship!
DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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Joined: Mar 2012
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Nice story and an awesome pump!!!!!!!!!!
Looking for any cans! PM me what ya got!
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Great story!!! Great pump.
Thanks Mike
Always Looking for any Pure Oil and Sunoco Items.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Beats the h*ll out of buying it off of ebay! Sweet…….
Rare pumps, Chevrolet items, Goldon Tip Gasoline, Marathon (running man) Cell # 1-502-396-3435 email lowright@aol.com
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Heres some close ups of the globe!
Everything Cities Service Specializing in old Gas Pumps kwfrith@gondtc.com Cell#-701-739-6133
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Nice pump Kevin...but being more of a globe guy, WOW! What a beauty! Darin
Darin Sheffer Always looking for Mobil and Marathon items I don't already have!
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Joined: Nov 2012
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What a great story.Just goes to show you that it's more about the people you meet and the icing on top of it is what you both come out of the transaction with. Always good to meet and deal with great people.
Wanted TEXACO related items & SUNOCO related items .Signs -Globes et'c. Oil Cans - Grease cans .
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Joined: Sep 2007
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I don't know what I like better, the story or the pump- you did awesome on both..
RANDY
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Joined: Apr 2011
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TRICFICTA... Story Pump Globe Awesome Kevin !!!
Ron Gordon Cell: 815.762.2616 Email: flash03@comcast.net
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Super story, pump and what a great looking globe. I too have met and had the same experience with an 82 year old man close to me. Just goes to show, if you treat them fairly they will call back.
Thanks, Phil _________________________________________________ Looking for any old pumps, or nice 5 gallon cans.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Awesome story and great globe. I'm going to have to find one of those...it's even got my name on it.
Dave GILL, Dave's Garage & Memorabilia, Inc.
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Fantastic story & pump!! Thank you for posting it all. I think your pump is now my new favorite!
Camron
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Kevin, having talked to you one morning on the telephone, I believe you would be welcome anytime at this old man's house too. Mitch
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Without "the story", all of these items we all enjoy are only things. Thank you very much Kevin! So you've told us how you got these items, how about the earlier history of them? How did the other gentleman come to have them?
And on a more down to earth level, that globe is an incredible piece!!
Steve Coppens Always interested in Sunoco items! Really want a Sunoco National pump ad glass!!
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Great Story Makes that pump mean even more! Your Garage looks like Matts!
West Coast signs, globes and quarts
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Kevin I agree with everyone here nice pump & great guy
Wanted Owens Motor Oil & Mobiloil Gargoyle. Brad Ralston & my website is www.petrobarn.com
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Joined: Dec 2012
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Thank you for sharing your pump find story. I appreciate how the generations before this new entitled generation does business. It is about the person and not the product. Glad to hear there is still good out there, for how long seems to be the question. You should let the old man know a lot of us here appreciate him and ya'lls friendship. Happy for you both!
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Nice job, Kevin....For me, that's no a trifecta, but a quadfecta....Nice pump, nice friendship, nice globe...it's Texaco.
Alex Looking for Texaco and Power Gasoline items
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Love it! That was so worth your time to share. Obviously everyone who commented truly appreciates the history of the things brought into our hobby. Anyone else have a great story like Kevin's? That would be a great thread to start here on the website.
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