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I have found that in south Florida there are no events related to pumps, and no oldies waiting for restoration within easy reach. Everyone I know is familiar with my interest in pumps. The pumps I see are all show, no go. What I am promoting is the use of working pumps to deliver biofuels for personal use. Even non-working pumps need guts to be real "pumps". At the very least restorers should save the pieces for those of us who can use them. I would love to get an old belt-driven pump to use when I get a truck to move veggie oil from my friend's restaurants to the storage tank. Congratulations to those of you who restore the whole pump!

I prefer unrestored pumps OR pumps restored to exact time period specs...

I like the clock face pumps with unique or at least very strong styling. They just look cool to me.

When I look at pumps and restoration I like it when they are done over the top. I think that if guys in the 30's thought that we would be putting them in our offices and garages they would have painted them a little different. Just like Bikinis got sexier with the times I think the paint jobs to go on these pumps should get cooler. Some say they are over restored, to me it artwork. When I look at the 861 I had done in bearcat ethyl with its gold striping, black and red coloring I know that Powerine never would have done anything so elaborate. But to me I think it accentuates the brand and makes if more of a conversation piece with my guests. I have several resorted pumps but none get as many oohs and aahs as the pumps that are overdone by 'original' standards.



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Scott Wright-
http://www.frontrangegas.com/powerine.htm

tallrick: no offense, but in regard to desirability and practicality, those who want pumps restored to working order probably encompass about 2% of collectors.

I almost always use to restore pumps when I found them,but I find myself burnt out on the restored pumps latley.I perfer lookin at my original pumps more than my restored ones,I dig the patina and their story.Like Mick said they have charater,once their restored their never original again.I look for or perfer ones that have factory paint schemes (hard to find now days)If they have ten coats of the wrong color then I would restore or sell them off,sometimes their so rough or ugly that I will restore those ones.As far as favorites go I always liked all the script tops and the A-38 or National 62.I'm currently doing a 62 in Flying A.I also like the clockface pumps.
Joe

His Tallness likes the tall 30s electric pumps. I've done a number of Wayne 70s, some Gilbarco 96s and a couple of Tall Tok 39s. I love the looks and styling on all those pumps. I have a Tok 36B under restoration--Gilmore motiff. As time goes on, it is likely that I will end up with a Wayne 60 (electric or clockface) and maybe another 30s clockface. I also like to do companion bulk oil storage tanks (lubesters). I mostly like to do California oil companies. I had two G & B T-176s but had no place to display them if completed so I let some other guys enjoy them. I try to encourage new peeps who come to this site with help and let them know that its ok to be inquisitive. I don't think that I've ever not had a question answered that I asked on this site. I also tell a whopper once in a while about how I came across a pump--LOL. Dave Folck

I like/am guilty of the over-the-top restoration myself, but as I tell my wife...these pumps were, in their day, totally utilitarian pieces of machinery. No one would have ever believed that pumps would be cherished, sought out, fussed over and painstakingly restored. As a personal note, I just happen to like all the 'show car' touches, the chromed and polished hardware, pinstriped and clear-coated panels, etc. Original? Decidedly not. Visually appealing? Of course. People in many other hobby fields do the same thing...antique tractors, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, etc. To me, the important thing is that the pumps are being saved from the scrap heap, and people who never had the experience of the dinging bell in a computer pump or the spinning hands of a clockface can enjoy, and perhaps even be bitten by the same bug that has gotten all of us here on this forum.

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Robert Usrey

A number of years back, when I had even less money than I have now, I knew an antique dealer in an out-of-the-way place that had two beautiful matching tall ten pumps. As I remember, they were marked National Duplex, of which I could find nothing even in Simm's book. These pumps were just gorgeous. They had spent their lives inside a large commercial parking garage of some kind. They even had globes which I thought were original to the pumps, Cities Service. I remember one was a Koolmotor and the other had the clover-shaped body, although one of them had a broken lense. These unrestored pumps were priced at many thousands, way too much for me at the time. Finally I visited the dealer once and they were gone. I would have given just about all the other petrolian I owned to get those pumps, probably still would. Those were the most beautiful pumps I ever saw. But geez, you would have to had more than a 10' ceiling in your garage just to fit them in!

There are so many awesome pumps, wish I could afford them all plus the place to display them. Realistically I have to go with my favorite as the Tokheim 850. I haven't restored mine yet, but it has the square skirt not the round like pictured below. One day I'll get a Dynafuel M&S 80 script top, those are just too cool lit up. Next up I'm looking forward to doing my A-38 one of these years, still haven't decided what brand to do it as, the lines on the pump remind of the rocket illustrations from those pulp science fiction magazines. I had a Bennett 541 but sold it some 10 years ago, still have sellers remorse. One day I'll get another, would like to do it as a PennZip.



As just pure craziness I would like to do a pump someday in a flat paint finish. I haven't had the courage to do that yet. Has anybody else seen or done one like that?

Jack, only now I have read this topic and yes I posted those actress close to pumps because I thought it was interesting and fun. You said that during those weeks things have been pretty dry here on Old Gas. Personally I don't think it was so dry because there was an interesting topic Powerine / Bearcat pump theme and I am sorry for haven't seen your opinion on it.

I was impressed concerning the member petropumps that said he has restored hundreds of pumps and only is 29 y.o. !!! How many when he will be 99 y.o.?

Here is a shot of a Bennett pump that is still in the original Sunoco paint. The top is rusty and there is some surface rust on the side. The signs are original and the globe is as well but it did not come with this pump. I have been debating to restore it or leave it as is? What do you think

Paint it. All this patina talk don't fly guys. Rust, holes, broken glass etc don't look good especially when you are showing it to a non petro person. He is standing there wondering what in the hell is so neat about a bunch of rust on an old gas pump.They were all painted when they left the factory and repainted many times after when they faded or changed brands. You patina guys have it all wrong. I always thought patina was on wood, when did rust get into fashion as patina?

I'd leave it alone.

I agree.I wouldn't touch any of them.I have both original and over restored pumps in my collection.Some need full resto and others look so cool original it would be a shame to paint over that history or the look they have.Those pumps in the photo look great as is,besides I could care less what someone else thinks about them,especially if they don't know what there looking at.Once it's restored it's never original again.I geuess theres no right or wrong on this subject so do what you would like with them and enjoy them.
Joe

I like to restore most of my pumps. I try to restore them the way they were in their day, But some look great unrestored. I can not get myself to restore these two, but you never know.

By gmctrucker