Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Petroliana Value Questions Gas Pump questions ???

I ran across this gas pump and was wondering what its value might be.....i dont know much about gss pump, models and values other than Ive been wanting to purchase some.....any info you guys can share would be great. The info i was told os the outside is origional the in side rebuilt. I know the glass globe isnt origional, the lady told me the origional got broke moving the pump. She said it lite up when they bought it but she plugged it in and didnt light up and she couldnt find the keys, she said theres probably a switch on the inside but wasnt sure ???


Anyways heres the pump....

To get a good value, you need to open it up. It is missing the base, which makes me wonder if it has the original frame or a homemade frame inside. A Neptune base is not impossible to find, but may take some time. It may light up, but does it have the original conduit/electrical boxes/manifold castings, or is this pump just a shell with some loose wiring in it???

She said the inside was "rebuilt". Does that mean non-original inside (frame / conduit / electrical manifolds) or restored inside?? Makes me think nothing inside is original, including the frame. So you basically have 4 panels and a top. I'm not saying it looks bad, but there may not be much of an original pump left other than 4 skins and a top.

As of right now, I'd say it's hard to put a price on this pump without more information.

-Steve

Thanks for you input Steve.

The lady told me that it was rebuilt inside and that the outside was left origional. I told her i want an operational pump or one that i can rebuild myself, and she said its a complete pump. She said the outside was left all origional and other than the globe that broke when they moved it that everything else is.

My question being a beginner is how do i open it up to look at the guts ??? There was a key slot on the side above the crank on the oppositw side of the pump handle but other than that i didnt see any key areas to open the front , so again how would i open it up to take a look inside ????

If the pump was all there minus the base that you noticed what would its value be again with globe not being origional.....what does and original Gilmore globe run ??? And are they hard to find ???

Also what model and year this pump is ??? Can anyone share some pictures of what the inside should look like once opened up, snd what the orig frame and base look like.

MtGoat, you indicated you're interested in buying some gas pumps. If you haven't already done so, you'll want to strongly consider buying Jack Sim's new "Gas Pump Bible" advertised on Old Gas in the "For Sale with Prices" category. Jack's bible will enable you to quickly figure out what model a pump is, and its rarity. I believe he also has values included, which will give you some guidance on prices. John

Thanks John.....i did email Jim about a lubester and inquired about his book....i do plan on purchasing his book.

Im guessing by the tag this pump is a Netune 855, not sure the years it was made or how hard parts?are to come by, as Steve mentioned its missing the base plate and who knows if the framing is origional ???

Based off what can be seen, they say it does light up....but with the known repop globe and missing the base plate what would be a fair price on this pump ???? Of course i will look inside to get more info, but again by just whats seen, and the back is identical to the front....what would be a fair price ??? They have $1800 plus tax on it right now.

Larry

Good advise by all above. I'll just add that these sell unrestored and complete around$1200, more or less depending on condition. The base is a really cool stair step design and sells for $200. Hopefully that will give you an rough idea of value.
Tom.

Tbuckles...looking at the pictures i posted would you call that pump restored....i know price varys person to person....but do you see $1800 value ??? Both sides look the same....i was thinking maybe offering $1500 as is so if i had to buy another for in side parts and base i would to upside down....but heck maybe $1800 is a good deal too, just looking for advice again new to all this. I kmow education sometimes costs money, just dont want to hear my wifes silent thoughts calling me an *****....haha

Like I said earlier, we really need to see the inside. Assuming nothing inside is original, you have two panels and a couple doors painted nice with a repop globe. I personally would pass on that pump, unless it was like $600 to $800 with the globe (not knowing what's inside).

You could find a base and make a nice pump, but if there is not an original frame in it, you don't have much to attach a base to. Again, I would need to see the inside to give an accurate appraisal. There are a lot of parts in these pumps. And price above is retail, don’t plan on making money on it if you resell it. Even then, I would probably pass and find a pump that is complete. What also helps it is if the paint is done well and you’re going to leave it in that scheme.

Now, if everything is inside and original and all you need is a base, then maybe $1400-1600 wouldn't be a bad retail price. So it all depends on the inside.

If, it's not complete and they want $1800, I would stay far away. If that's the case buy a pump that is complete, restore it yourself and enjoy the ride. You will learn a lot from the restoration process.

And two more pieces of advise...
1) It sounds like you want it functional. That is a real long journey and a lot of money. If that's what you want, you would most likely need to buy a pump that was on a farm and working not long ago.
2) You inquired about a real Gilmore globe. If you want a real Gilmore globe, it would probably only cost you around $20,000 to $30,000 for the blu-green one. But if you want the "Roar with Gilmore" globe you would only need $8,000 to $10,000. Since your wife is worried about the price, Good luck on the globe. LOL

Hope this helps.

-Steve

I find it hard to except that outside is original,I know its CA. and for the most part a fair weather state. but I'm not buying it. Looks like a pump maybe restored to original branding and its got some age on restoration.
Maybe that is what she means. or she has it just backwards.

I would guess an older restoration, probably on good solid clean panels....but she did say they were left alone origional and that the inside was restored. Ive had a call to the owner of it for a few days now with no responce about opening it up so i can seeing the inside and get questions asked and answered. Hopefully the guy will ger around to giving me a call.

Yeah Lloyd is right on. There is no way that is original paint from back in the 50’s. I assumed you knew that Larry. Definitely a restoration at some point.

............ yes to above. And I doubt they broke the original globe moving it... Chris

Looks like the pump is in an antique mall setting, in a booth with lots of non-petro items. That could mean a very uninformed seller, as far as really knowing anything about this pump or its history. Sounds like lots of BS info to date. And, yes, Chris, my thoughts exactly on the broken globe "story". Larry, if you are interested in this pump, just make your $800 to $1000 offer. If the seller doesn't accept it, then move on with your life! There will always be another pump to consider. John

Of course its been repainted! Just look at the condition of the ID tag and then the condition of the pump! The condition just doesn't match and it looks like a little bit of overspray on the tag too. I think you are trying to talk yourself into buying this pump and looking for verification on the purchase? Would you buy a car without being able to see inside? Too many unanswered questions to spend that much. Buy a complete pump somewhere and experience the restoration process yourself.

If they can’t find the keys to open it, take globe off and lay pump down on a blanket & look in & check it out. Chris

Thanks for the advice Chris and everyone.....i decided today to buy the pump, i like it, so.....i will add i call Tom Buckles and he does have a base plate, so Ill ve ordering that from him probably tomorrow. All that said the owner of the pump who I talked to today told me he doesnt have the keys. Are there master keys available for different pumps like they are for National Cash Registers ?? Id kind of like to keep the lock as is without replacing it.

Hopefully the bottom of the frame rails are there so you have something to attach a base to. The master key is a .25 inch drill bit.

All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't help humpty dumpty after the fall.

Hope it works out for you and you are pleased with it.

I have a box of random keys and fou d one that worked ...lol inside frames all good light work too. Im real happy with it. There is actuallly a story behind it too. Going to try and verify it, the guy i got it from said it came from a family friend whos Grandfather fought in WW1 or WW2 and once he got out of the military work as an oil executive for 40 years. The family member who sold it or gave it to the guy i got it from said he remembers as a little kid going in his grandfather office at work and this pump was in his office. The guy i got it from said the he'll share any info he can get on it and has stock certificates and reports etc...we were both driving at the time with so so reception but he said he'll get me the full story behind it when he gets home next week.

Heres a few photos of it

So well (and nicely) put, Loyd. John

The lock is probably not original. Drill it out as mentioned above and get a new one at your local hardware store. They usually run 7 or 8 dollars.

I hope you got that 'on-the-cheap' without looking inside to see if the frame is original, along with all the other numerous parts inside a pump (electrical manifolds, gas manifolds, electrical boxes, on/off switch, is the computer restored, etc). If the frame is not original, you will have nothing to attach the base to, unless you manufacture something. You may need to buy the entire frame from Tom Buckles. If that is the case, I would just buy the entire pump from Tom and put your panels on it.

And like Ryan said, the master key to that lock is a drill bit. Just zooming in on that lock and seeing how shiny it is, on a restored pump, I would bet it is not original. Most old pumps that get restored almost never have a key, so I doubt this one did (especially since you remove them for painting anyway). I'm sure it is a store-bought tumbler. (I could be wrong but highly unlikely that is an original tumbler lock on a restored pump). Drill it out. It's a $6 lock at home depot and they have not really changed the design since the 50's anyway.... and you will have a key then.

Good luck with your venture.

Posted above the last few comments with pictures. Because im new to the site all my comments had to get approved before they were posted....anyway i posted a few photos of the inside and one with lights working


Larry