Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion opinions needed on pump restoration project

I just bought a Bennett 132 clockface pump to restore. The problem is that it is too tall for my home interior when a globe is on it. How much will it hurt the value to cut it down 5"?? I hate to do it, but it is the only way other than moving........

cut it down and ruin it... NEVER... IF YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH IT THE WAY IT IS... SELL IT...

CHEAT..... Use a 13" globe, and assemble it wihtout the base. DONT CUT IT!!!!! CHOP CARS.... NOT GAS PUMPS!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Thunder II (edited 03-19-2007).]

not like its super rare 132 s and 150s are every were chop it !man id like to see it done ..

I would CUT 3 1/2" off the bottom sheetmetal & frame, & Not more than 2" off the upper [below the face] sheetmetal & frame.
IT'S YOUR PUMP, if this is what has to be done for you to enjoy it inside the house, DO IT.
It can always be resurected at a latter time.
db

Find a new house.

Thanks for the replies. I am going to go for it. Dick, I was thinking the same way, cutting most of it on the bottom piece and only 2" on the top portion below the face. I will let you know how it turns out. thanks much.

big mistake but its your pump...

Don't dare cut the pump. Its a piece of history, regardless if its rare or common.....use a original 12.5" globe.....or cut down a plastic capco globe body to work......or just don't use a globe. I know if I was a future buyer, I would not pay much for a cut pump.

AquaElvis had 1 @ Reeds Gas Bash a couple of years ago that had been CUT DOWN many years before. It was right at 5' to the globe holder.
I also know where there is a HAYES [looks similar to the 132. DON'T TELL Jeff] that is about the same size. IF they were mine, I would leave them that size.
db

Got a Wayne 515 in my garage that just barely stood up with a 9ft. ceiling. Couldn't stand it without a globe, so in went the skylight. Neighbors know when I'm in the garage by the glow of light from the globe in the skylight. Kent.

Gasteek:

Exactly how much too tall is it?

I ask because you can cut quite a bit of overall height out of a 15" globe assembly by using a low-profile body. The body itself is about 2.5" shorter than a high-profile - and you can remove the base and reattach it 'higher' up in the body to gain another inch or so. There is also a bit of 'extra' at the bottom of the globe base that can be trimmed off.

With all the modifications to the body, you can get the overall height of the body down 4" - 5".

That just might be enough to make everything fit when the pump's assembled.

Of course, you would have to mount the body on the pump and then lift the pump up to verticle in your house as you won't have clearence to lift the globe off the pump.

Later . . .

Jim

Maybe it would be a lot easier to raise the cieling between two joists.

...gasteek...before you start hacking away at an antique , you should SERIOUSLY consider selling your original pump to someone who is able to appreciate it for what it is - then you can use the proceeds to buy a repro pump - or even a repro pump kit (then you could 'restore' it yourself, if it's important that you D.I.Y.)...look here:
http://www.bobs-garage.com/pumps/repro.htm

...scroll down, this guy's got a pump that looks JUST LIKE your Bennett...heck, you might even be able to get one shortened when you order it...the last thing I'd do is ruin an original pump because my ceilings are too low to display it with a globe...

...has no one watched Antiques Roadshow lately? Has anyone ever seen the appraisers tell someone it's a GOOD thing Great Aunt Flossie cut the legs off of her Federal china cupboard?...c'mon, folks, let's at least TRY to keep it real...

Listen to the ones who said NO!! I would never do it. It will hurt the value. If I was a buyer I would have to pass on it or it would have to be real cheap if it had been cut down that much. You're losing some of the pumps identity by cutting, please don't do it. If you do please don't show us later.

Mike