Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Godshalk visible pump, any info?

I am very new to old gas pumps, and my first pump is a very unique one. It is a "Godshalk Jr." of which I can find no information. To view photos of it, follow this link:
http://www.nostalgic.net/arc/GasPump/

Not bad for $20 bux eh?

If anyone can help with info I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

DS

Put some paint stripper on the ID plate, I think you'll find that it was made in Los Angeles, Calif.
Been a long time since I had one. Very few visible pumps only had 4 rods holding the top on, and no frame work.
Dick

Hi Dick, yes it says Los Angles on the plate. There is one reference to the company that I found on the net, but there was no other information other than mention of the companys existance. Do you think it ever had a globe on top? There are two mounts up there that something could have been threaded into, maybe there was a cover of some kind.

Hey Dave, welome aboard! I know nothing about this pump but I am sure one of these old guys does... Here is an idea: Why not sell it to me for $40 then tell everyone you doubled your money?
Here are some pics, come on guys what is the story with this thing? (PS- still waiting for info on gas carts... for all you that thought I was impatient... still waiting)

You might be able to adapt a Wayne bonnet on to hold a globe.

If you have alot of time, try your local libery or museum. Look in their photo archives for old gas stations, you might get lucky and find something. Also check with the highway/street or fire dept. for photos of dangerous intersections [usually there was a gas station at every intersection on major highways/roads].

Jeff,
What do you need to know about gas/oil carts?

Dick

[This message has been edited by Dick Bennett (edited 06-14-2003).]

In my gas pump identification book the only mention of Godshalk was in the history section, as I was unable to find any pictures of any pump they made. The only mention of the company was from around 1929 and it was that they made a pump called the "Arostocrat."
With your permission I would like to copy one of the pictures on your website to use in the revision of the gas pump book.
If you are near Los Angeles, go to the main library and ask for the LA City Directories. Start at 1929 and go back, (I usually go two years at a time) until there is no mention of the company. This will tell you at least the year the company started in busisness (or was large enough to make the directory). I then copy down the name of the president of the company and look him up in the directory the year before the first mention of the company. This will tell you what Godshalk (or whoever started the company) did for a living before opening the gas pump company. Most of the time they were salesman for Tokheim, Bowser or some other pump company, with a better idea.
I then go back to 1929 and work forward until the company isn't mentioned anymore, this will tell you the approximate time the company went out of business, sold out, or moved. Assuming they went out of business I then look up the current owner in the next directory to see what he did for a living after closing the pump company. One here in St. Louis opened a service station.
If you or anyone does this I would appreciate a copy so that I could expand the history I have on this company.
By the way, this works anywhere in the country. If you had a gas pump company in your area and wouldn't mind spending a couple of hours in a library I again would appreciate any information you can supply on these small companies.
If you really want to explore all the information available on the company, you can also ask the library if there is any mentions of the company in the newspapers from that time. If there are, you can then look at the microfis of the papers.
Some libraries also maintain a file of old brochures from companies in their area. There is usually not a record of these brochures, they usually are in a alphabetically file.
All the above works also at the local Historical Society, or if it is a small town, there is usually a local historican who can supply you with information.
Good luck with finding any information, and by the way, that is a great find.

How tall is the pump and do you think it is 5 or 10 gallon?/ This looks a bit like the anti freeze/oil pumps I was trying to find info on , they were about 1/2 or 2/3 size as a visible pump. Also for a fluid like oil or antifreeze that is more stable than gasoline and may have a lower expasion rate , the four tie rods may have been more than adequate.
Dave, did you dig out any interesting bicycles in yor area lately?/

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> DODOgas, still playin with bikes !!

Dodogas,
It's 10gal, standard heigth.
Dick

Thanks everyone for your help. I do not live near Los Angles or I would certainly do the suggested research. The pump has the measuring stick inside still but it is dismounted and just rattling around. I got this pump at a farm estate auction, it was not even in the auction linup. apparently they did not figure it was worth trying to sell! ouch! Dodogas, no killer bicycle finds lately, but as always staying very busy with restoration work. Jack, yes you may use as any photos you like, and if you want a different shot let me know. By the way, the pump mechanism has a badge on it that reads "Black Mermaid" with a cool figure of a mermaid.

Dave Stromberger

Hey Dave..... Are you related to the Sprague Stromberger's ??
BTW..... very nice find.

Bob, yes I am related to the Sprague, WA Strombergers... do you know them?

I'll revive this old thread....

I had come across this image showing the Aristocrat Visible Gasoline and Oil Dispensers building. I had never heard of it. Checked in the Gas Pump ID book and not listed. Googled the name and come across one ad in a paper for H. J. Godshalk. I am assuming the Godshalk pump company in question is connected to Aristocrat.

Good info. Would like to find an oil dispenser like that. Richard

Yes, there is a Godshalk 1925 ten gallon visible gas pump I restored one several years ago and sold it at Iowa Gas. Will try to find some pictures of it and post them. It was a round ten gallon with no cylinder rods just one long pipe in the center of the cylinder that held the top jar lid in place. It reminded of the Hayes visibles.

Bruce.

Picture of Godshalk 1925 visible gas pump