Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Pre-visible Pumps with a Glass Cylinder?

I have seen photos of pre-visible gas pumps that have a glass cylinder, such as: Rapidayton cut V-50 (see Anderson, Scott. CHECK THE OIL. Wallace-Homestead, 1987. page 128) or 1912 Gilbert & Barker T8 (Anderson, p. 30) or 1910 Bowser cut 241 (Anderson, p. 29). Since these types of pumps normally do not have a visible glass cylinder, where did these come from? Did some come from the factory like that or was the glass cylinder added to the pump later? Are these pumps rare today? Does anyone have any photos of such pumps? Would it be possible to recreate such a pump (from parts of other pumps?) and has anyone done anything like that?[b][/b]

Both of my Gas Pump Identification books have your answer. Until proven wrong, Guarantee Liquid Measure Pump Company (Fry) introduced the first visible pump around 1917. Of course all the other pump companies took notice, should they start making visible pumps, or should they make a visible attachment that would convert their existing pumps to visible pump? Most companies waited until the early 1920s to decide to make a visible pump, while American, Fleckenstein, Groeken and a couple of others decided to go the visible attachment. Most of these companies made visible attachments that would attach to any other companies curb pumps.

My second edition of the ID book shows about 15-20 curb pumps with visible attachments. While my books are both out of print and also out of stock, you can still purchase a copy of either of the books on Amazon Ebooks. While this is not the best because you cannot go to a certain company to look at a pump, you have to start at the beginning and click a lot of times. If you decide to purchase a copy remember the caption describing the pump is always under the pictures, not above it.

For some reason I received royalties for the printed copies, I do not receive royalties for the E books.

Hopefully the 3rd edition will be out soon.

Jack Sim

Here is one for sale.
http://appleton.craigslist.org/clt/5846569591.html

Jack,
Thanks for the very informative reply. I'll be looking for the new edition of your book to become available.

Here is one I have.