Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Needhelp to identify glass globe

I was given a gift tonight of a clear glass globe about 18" Dia. by 6" tall with a hole 3"Dia. at the center of the top. Looks like a fishbowl.Raised letters around the perimeter say " Tank Gauge Float Bowl The Tokheim Company Cedar Rapids Iowa. My friend thought it was used in some way in large tanks in refineries,etc. I told him I've gauged all sizes and types of tanks and never saw anything like it. The hole on top has a very small flange and you could turn it over and it would look like an odd globe but the lettering would be upside down. It had to be used with the opening at the top. Can any oldgasser help me figure out what this is? I just got home with it so I dont have a picture yet.

Bud,
Check your Gas Pump ID book, pages 265 and 266.

Thanks Bob, but it dont look like any of them. Much shorter and fatter like a goldfish bowl. When I get home from work tomorrow nite I will get a picture.

IT IS A TANK GUAGE FLOAT, made by J.J.Tokheim Co., AFTER he sold the TOKHEIM PUMP CO. It was moved to Fort Wayne. JJ went back into business in Cedar Rapids, this float was made there.
Check current/past auctions on ebay, they are not that rare & don't command alot of $$
db

Dick is correct. The 'flange' you described is where the steel tape was attached that would go up to the top of the tank and then down a tube to show how many feet of product were left in the tank. I picked a number of these up in Cedar Rapids a number of years ago and had a great talk with Agnes Tokheim. She was kind enough to share the history of her father's company and loaded me up with goodies from the factory. Ron

Thanks a BIG LOTS for your help guys! I just don't understand why it had to be made of glass if it was down in the tank. Did it float on top of the product? What kind /size tanks? I know the large 55000 Bbl. floating and cone roofs dont have anything like that. Maybe in bulk plants,etc.? URL=http://www.imageshack.us][img]http://img203.echo.cx/img203/7489/various0050ip. jpg[/img][/URL] URL=http://www.imageshack.us] [/URL]

[This message has been edited by BudE (edited 05-10-2005).]

HEY BUD WISH I HAD A BUCK FOR EVERY TANK I STUCK........$20 FOR EVERY RESTICK.....
HOW ABOUT YOU....?
............
REX LIKES THE SMELL

Ya Rex, You not kiddin! Especially when it was way below freezing. After you climbed the Hellish stairs 50 feet covered in ice you got to put the water paste on the tape. they never made a glove that could do it. Had to be bare fingers, then find the top and use the product paste. All the time trying to juggle heavy clothes, thermometer, plumbob,paste and tape. No darn wonder so many guys got hurt! All the time we could have used Mr Tokheim's float and a pulley and had it made! Just read er on the side of the tank with a flashlite! Guess I worked the wrong terminals.