Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Eco air meters

With all the aftermarket parts out there has anyone build a working unit from scratch? Seems to me it would be cheaper. I have been following ebay and it seems they go for 400 plus. Might make a neat project.

Let me know what you all think!

Mick

If you use no guts, and make a bracket to hold the faceplate in place, and tape numbers behind the faceplate...maybe!!

What I would like to know are these actual aftermaket parts or surplus or still manufactured O.E.M. bits ???

I suspect that the skins and frames are OEM, been wondering about that..dodogas

[This message has been edited by dodogas (edited 01-17-2004).]

I thought of making one from scratch, for display. there seems to be quite a few places to get parts, then I got lucky enough to win this one on ebay for $338.59 I ve been watching them for a while and I think I got a fair deal. heres the address if anyone wants to check it out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2453254214

check out vicsplace.com under online store scroll down to air meters, he has everything to make one, his prices are the lowest I ve found so far.

dodogas,
Most all the parts you see for Eco's come from a company that bought the Eco line. They are still in business. So what you are seeing is really orginal parts that are still being made. Most people think Eco went out of business long ago but really the company or should I say the product line has just been sold to different companies over the years. You can still buy the internal mechanism brand new. It is not cheap.

Does anyone have a website for the parts? I have found several that sell the external stuff but no internal parts.

Not sure if this is just a waste of time. I'm don't care if it will be an original ECO. It will be an original Mick ECO

If they sell all the parts, they can probably sell you the complete unit, but it will have a flat plastic face and 2 number rows, And will probably cast 800.00 or more!!

So drop the guts, make a bracket for the face and the hook, and it might be reasonable! Good Luck.. search Mintex

[This message has been edited by dodogas (edited 01-18-2004).]

I have been selling ECO parts since the mid 1980s. I don't want this message sound like a sales pitch, but some explaination is necessary.
ECO has had many owners. They started out as the Western Manufacturing Co. in Oskaloosa, Iowa around 1916. They were purchased by Service Station Equipment Co. around 1928, and became a division of Bennett Pump Co. when Bennett was also purchased by SSEC. During the 1930s many units carried the SSEC name only, and some carried the John Wood name. By the end of WWII Bennett was again the parent company of ECO. In 1947 the model 90 series Tireflator was introduced. Sometime in the 1970s the company was sold off and is now gone through three owners. They were primarialy purchased for the rights to the mechanism to be used in coin operated air meters. Since all the molds and dies came with the purchases they continued to make replacement parts. Incidentally most of these parts are still be made in small machine shops all over Michigan where it originated.
One other piece of information you might enjoy. The original patent for "Balance Inflation" was issued to someone in California around 1915. The same prinicpal has been used in every ECO unit made since that time, they have just changed the shape of the parts.
One more thing that might interest all of you. The word ECO comes from the original name of the first units they made, called the ECONOMY. ECO is not pronounced Echo, but E-co.
Prices for unrestored Model 90 ECOs have been stable for about three years, but I have noticed some slight increases during the last year. Unrestored wall mount (Model 97) units have been selling for between $375 and $425 depending on condition. Unrestored pedestal mount units (Model 98) have been selling for between $500 and $550 again depending on condition. Of course at swap meets you will see all prices as sellers have the right to sell at any price they want.
I invite all of you to visit my website and look at the largest website devoted to air meters. I sell every part available for the 90 series and when a part is not available, I usually have a used part to take care of your need.
If you don't find what you need, please email me: jhsim@swbell.net
Jack Sim www.crspub.com

[This message has been edited by Jack Sim (edited 01-18-2004).]

Wow, thanks for the great info! I have only been on this site for a short time and have learned so much. Thank you all!

thats some good info!
thanks its nice to know.
but whats the deal on 2 or 3 number faces?

I have noticed lights for the tops of the air meters being offered on ebay. Were they ever on the originals? As a kid I never saw one. Quick story...When I was 8 my sister was pumping up the tire on her bike. Well I thought it would be neat to crank up the air . To make a long story short, my Dad didn't think it was funny. Tube/Tire 6 bucks.....Memory, priceless.

2-3 WHEELS:
In 1947 when the Model 90 series Tireflators were introduced, they were offered in both 2 and 3 wheel units. I have a pictures given to me by the Bennett Pump Company, dated 1947 on the back, that shows 2 wheel units being assembled. Two wheel units were primarilly for stations that serviced cars (0-99 lbs.). Three wheel units were for stations that serviced trucks (0-125 lbs.). In 1947 most stations serviced both cars and trucks so they purchased three wheel units. By the 1960 most trucks were being serviced at truck garages, so stations started buying two wheel units (they were cheaper).
LIGHTS:
Lights were offered for earlier models (19 Series, 20 Series and 30 Series) but no light that was mounted on the top of the Tireflator was offered for the Model 90 series. They are all fantasy.
Questions you didn't ask:
LIGHTS INSIDE THE MODEL 90 TIREFLATORS:
The first Model 90 units were equipped with an interior light, but most stations didn't use them. Imagin this conversation: ECO Salesman: "This unit comes with an interior light." Station Operator: "I'm not going to run electricity all the way over there for something I am giving away."
Probably sometime in the 1960s the light was eliminated as a cost saving measure, the mount did remain. Then sometime in the 1970s when they realized that the mount wasn't necessary to anchor the guts to the frame, they dropped it also. I sell the only repro light unit that is equipped to be used both inside and outside.
MODEL 98s WITH WATER:
Again I have a photo dated 1947 showing the model 98s being assembled with the water attachment. The official number for these units is "98W." With freezing weather in the north, not many of these units were sold for use there. Also reread the conversation above and substitute the word water for light and you will realize why not many were sold. They were more popular in the South.

Good info Jack.
Thanks!
Bob

I found this "Tireflator" in down town Los Angeles about three years ago. It and another similar one without the original globe, were still attached to an old station, that was now being used as an auto repair facility. I was able to find the true property owner and purchase them both. When I met him, he brought along a photo of the original "Wilshire" station that stood at that location, complete with the Polly Neon sign out front. This is the only one of these air meters with a globe, that I've seen here on the West Coast.

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Don "oltoydoc" Sherwood
Vintage Gas

Is it nice to have Jack back here on Shop Talk sharing his experience with us? We're just out here soakin' it up.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

It is great having Jack back..
I always enjoy reading Jack's posts and stories...plus I learn so much.
Thanks Jack, for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

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Frank