Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion New Member and Tokheim 39 owner

Hi,

I was given a 1953 Tokheim 39 yesterday and I must say i'm pretty excited about my new project (like i needed "another" one...).

I was helping oversea a tank removal on my boss's mother's ranch here in colorado, and when I drove up on day one and saw it, I knew I wanted it.

Anyhow, I'll be starting a resto this winter so I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions, starting with this one. It appears that the original colors were deep blue sides and roof with bright red center's. but no markings or leftover signage as to what gass company it started it's life with. I did some google searches but found not other blue and red pumps.

There was a MobileGas (i think) steel pegasus horse in the garage, but is was way to big to be part of the pump and looked like it was a neon sign at one point (it was very rough shap.)

here's the tag info

39 A 1028224 9-53

Any help with decode would be excellent, as I would like to bring it back to orig specs.

Mike


[This message has been edited by Ferg (edited 10-14-2005).]

First off welcome to OLDGAS Mike. It's always great to see a new member and especially good when they are from Colorado.
I live in Longmont so email me if you want and I will do whatever I can to help you as you advance in this addiction...I mean hobby. There are many helpful collectors in Colorado and OLDGAS has the most knowledgable people in the world when it comes to gas and oil collectibles. There is also at least one other collector I know of in Erie. You are not alone.
My first pump was a 39 shorty and it sits proudly in my living room so I know what your feeling.
I can't help you as far as what your pump was originally but you can restore it to any company you want really. Like you I wanted to restore my 39 to what it originally was which was a silver Texaco Sky Chief.
Anyway....Welcome
chris

Forget the pump, grab the Pegasus sign.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book

Hi Ferg,
Welcome to Oldgas.com and to our petroliana hobby.
I looked through the 1000 color scheme images in the book, PCMs Guide to Gas Pump Restoration and found only one brand that used a red pump with blue doors. That was one of two Chevron Supreme color schemes from 1956-1959.
It could well have been a Chevron gas pump or from a small independent or somebody may have painted it that way because they liked it.

That's great to restore to the original colors of the pump in its day. But we usually say, "It's your pump, paint it the colors of the brand you want."

------------------
Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

Thanks Jack!
I somehow missed that part!

Mike...Take some advice from one of the most knowledgable pump guys in the world and grab the sign.
chris

[This message has been edited by RARIN TO GO (edited 10-14-2005).]

I'm sure gonna ask for the sign as well, it's not super big, about 3feet by 3 feet maybe, and is not 3D, just flat metal, and pretty bent, reason I thought it was neon is it does have wires connected to center, but was hard to see, It was up high on garage wall.

Thanks for the reply's, I'll post pics when I actually get it!

Mike.

Welcome. sounds like a great first find, (get the horse) I have a 39 in my living room done as Texaco Fire Chief in red, and just finished a Wayne 515 as a Bengal green in green for my patio, and am deciding on what color/company to do another 39 for my back yard.(leaning towards a Gilmore design) These pumps are addicting!

[This message has been edited by scooter81 (edited 10-14-2005).]

Welcome good to have another CO collector. I would have to say chevron also I know where there is a orrignal Tokheim 300 and still has good readable stickers, in the same combo. Grab that horse if you can even if its beat.
Brandon

Welcome Ferg! Glad we found another colorado guy. I am with Brandon in that it sounds like Chevron. With that said restore the pump to the company you like, and that could be chevron. Take a picture of your pump and post it for all to see.

If you ever have any questions let us know!


------------------
Scott
Wanted- Powerine and Powerlube items!

Welcome to oldgas.... I'm glad to see the Colorado ranks getting stronger.

My first pump was also a Tokheim 39A (shorty) It's a simple pump to work on, and it also has a lot of reproduction parts available. I'm guessing, from the numbers, that yours is also a 39A. Which would have lift off doors, instead of hinged doors.



Here is a pic of my 96C which is painted in Chevron Supreme colors. As for the colors that you have described, I think that Chevron is correct. Although the Supreme Grade pumps were usually all blue, most pumps started their life from the factory as red. Some Chevron independants painted only the doors of their Supreme pumps, in the blue color. Which is opposite of what yours is.

Sometimes, people just painted their pump whatever colors they wanted when they went into private use. As you begin your restoration, you might want to strip the paint off slowly. Maybe with a rag, paint stripper, and a lot of elbow grease. Some times this will let the pump tell you it's own story, as the original colors and decals might show up. (See "Another Mystery Decal")
http://www.oldgas.com/shoptalk/ubb/Forum1/HTML/006446.html

Good luck. Keep us posted. And drop an "e" if I can be of any help... If you need help posting pics, send them to me, and I'll post them for you.

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 10-14-2005).]

Ferg...call me @ 888 918 7867 and I'll send you a free, color, 100 page gas pump restoration & petroliana catalog.

Seth/Vic's '66'