Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Beginner advice needed

New guy with a Bowser 575 , not sure which way to go with this. The pump is complete, actually was functional a few decades ago, now is weathered but solid. I will use it for a display out doors, but under a roof. My question is: will removing the pump and other internals devalue this any? I plan to just leave it close to the as found condition, with some cleaning up the trim. possibly in the future doing a restoration, but never return it to being operational. sorry about the double picture...

IMO removing the guts doesn't affect the value, but it does make it easier to handle, and reduces any residual smell (If displaying it inside) If it was mine and I was displaying it outside, I'd leave it intact, it cost nothing to leave it original, plus its harder to steal?

I agree with Lance. If your pump will be outdoors, the heavy parts will make it more stable in high winds and more challenging to steal. Either way, bolting the base down to concrete and locking the access door will help as well. Pumps do get stolen outside. Crooks watch American Pickers on TV.

Leave it as is..

Good advice, which I will follow; probably save me a few busted knuckles and hours of trying to figure it out. Just thought there might be some use for the internals....does anyone actually restore these to operating again?

Look up Gas Pump Robs video "no guts no glory". its a video all about gas pumps still having all the guts and even some working! I leave all pumps ungutted if i am keeping them outside. I gut every pump i sell just because they are easier to handle. I have a rule that any pump built 1945 and before stays intact, if it lasted through ww2 and didnt get scrapped then it deserves to stay together. Anything after is fair game in my opinion!