Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Petroliana Value Questions Looking for value of working gas pump.

Quite a spread on opinions whether a pump is better with its workings or not.

In restoring this pump and knowing that it was proudly made in USA. I was really impressed with the quality of the work along with the engineering that went into its design and functioning. Even the quality of the materials. The cast iron has a very high nickel content that make it almost impossible for it to be damaged. Try taking a torch, grinder or sawzall to it and you will find that it won't easily make a mark on it. To remove and discard the workings of the pump to me not only devalues the pump but is removing the most important part of the "PUMP". Future generation will never see the quality of work and the engineering that went into it. It's like taking a Ford Model T and removing the engine and transmission from it because you don't want to use it understand it or appreciate it. Just looking at the shell of it does not represent what it is as a whole. 20 years from now will there be ANY complete pumps left because those of you remove the workings because it is more convenient to you? Claiming that it was a liability is just a copout. You don't have to sell the pump as a working pump but as a COMPLETE pump. Which anyone without blinders on will agree that they are far more valuable. Especially because so many people throw away the most important and most impressive part.

As a restorer you should restore the pump as completely original and not just a shell of what it use to be. Stop restoring for profit and restore to preserve.

If I have offended anyone, Good. Hopefully next time you are restoring a pump you will think twice about removing and discarding such an important part of American History.

Quite a spread on opinions whether a pump is better with its workings or not.

In restoring this pump and knowing that it was proudly made in USA. I was really impressed with the quality of the work along with the engineering that went into its design and functioning. Even the quality of the materials. The cast iron has a very high nickel content that make it almost impossible for it to be damaged. Try taking a torch, grinder or sawzall to it and you will find that it won't easily make a mark on it. To remove and discard the workings of the pump to me not only devalues the pump but is removing the most important part of the "PUMP". Future generation will never see the quality of work and the engineering that went into it. It's like taking a Ford Model T and removing the engine and transmission from it because you don't want to use it understand it or appreciate it. Just looking at the shell of it does not represent what it is as a whole. 20 years from now will there be ANY complete pumps left because those of you remove the workings because it is more convenient to you? Claiming that it was a liability is just a copout. You don't have to sell the pump as a working pump but as a COMPLETE pump. Which anyone without blinders on will agree that they are far more valuable. Especially because so many people throw away the most important and most impressive part.

As a restorer you should restore the pump as completely original and not just a shell of what it use to be. Stop restoring for profit and restore to preserve.

If I have offended anyone, Good. Hopefully next time you are restoring a pump you will think twice about removing and discarding such an important part of American History.

Compare restoration value of a fuel system inside a pump to that of an engine for a car. With a car you can start it, drive it, listen to it, admire the rumble of the engine, the whistle of the air as you tool down the road at 20mph or 150mph. You can take it to numerous car shows where even non-car enthusiasts will do a double take watching a piece of history pass by them.

Other than visible pumps where you can watch the liquid being pumped into the visible chamber the remainder of closed pumps can be demonstrated with motors to run the calculator. Whoop whoop for the average passing individual if the fuel pump actually works. Cart it around in shipping blankets if you plan on displaying it anyplace after rolling it in and out of a trailer on a set of handtrucks risking damage with the extra weight of a pump that will never be shown working completely.

BTW, Because the job of a fuel pump is to pump fuel it is inherently a dangerous prospect to merely have a working pump to say it is working. It will retain the fuel inside the mechanism everytime you use it. Those of us who have handled pumps have had encounters with decades old gasoline on many occasions, not a very desirable experience. And if you intend that pump to work expect to regularly use it. Ask the engineers who design pumps and they will tell you the facts of life of pump mechanisms.

As I stated earlier, for every one fellow desiring a 'complete' mechanism there are thousands who don't. The risk comes without substantial reward. And by the way, tell your insurance agent you're running operating fuel pumps on your premises and watch his expression as he advises you your insurance will either be cancelled or highly inflated. Yes isn't that a dandy reward for having a working pump?

It is not difficult to 'appreciate' craftsmanship that went into many of the gas pumps collected, but it isn't the pump mech innards that inspire. That is like saying the Mona Lisa is pretty because da Vinci used the color black. It is the outward appeal of the facade, of the colors, of the detail in chrome or glass that inspires more collectors.

Wax poetic about gears inside a fuel pump and only fluid dynamics engineers might take heed. But wax poetic about a Visible Fry gurgling gas into a Duesenburg so it can stretch it's legs on a country road and you'll inspire far more people.

I look at it this way
I would buy one complete before I would buy a gutted one.
Just like a can of oil, I will only buy one that is full I don't like empty ones.

but that's just me !