Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Pump signs

Since I am building my first pump, I would like to ask if I should use metal pump signs or decals? My pump has no holes drilled in the doors, so apparantly, there were no metal signs on it before.What do most people use, metal or decals?

Depends on the company you are going to wrap the pump in and the age of the pump. Sorry that I can't be more specific but without knowing those items hard to give an answer.


Plus, I know next to nothing about pumps, just need to get some posts in to try and catch up with db and Doc, lol.

Its pretty much up to you! It depends on how accurately you are trying to be in your restoration too.The dollar figure may enter into it also as there are many pump plates out there that will be worth more than the pump they are put on, if you're using originals! Also, there are some brands that aren't reproduced, so it really boils down to the brand you're doing it in, availability, price, and your own feelings!!

Well, I'd be using repop plates due to my budget.
I am making a 1948 Tokheim 39 Tall with Mobilgas wrappings.
I seem to see them on the net built either way, decals or porcelin.
I'm just thinking maybe I shouldn't drill holes in the doors since there were none there to start with. Don't want to diminish from the value of the pump any.

If you are worried about holes, place the decal or sign on magnetic sign material. Or in my case I found an old magnetic sign, peeled the top layer off and now have material. When I use this up I will either go to the "hobby" store or my local sign show and buy some more material.

that's a darn good idea

It's not mine, I stole it from db, who may have stolen it from someone else, LOL. It do work very well.

I'VE BEEN USING THE FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC ADHESIVE SIGN MATERIAL FOR A LONG TIME....LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ON THIS WEBSITE AND THAT'S 6 YEARS!

Bob DB also says you can cut the heads off of the screws & glue them on the corners to give them the assumption they are screwed on

A tall 39 p0st WWII? You might want to post a picture of your pump so we can see what you are working with offer better advice.

I haven't tried that yet, Brad. Have you? I would like to see a completed sign. I have been using the magnetic material mostly to attach my "dash plates" to my Trimline. Unbelievable how many I received racing in the SCCA for 5 yrs, lol.

The magnetic stuff works great. i, too, used to worry about drilling holes in my pumps...but I did. Then I was making a Texaco Ethyl and they had decals. Co one made the correct decal so I worked with T-Way (he has an ad on this site) and he was able to create it and they just slap on the pump and hold great. I saw one guy make some magnetic signs to look like pump plates and he put "screws" (pictures actually) on the magnetic sign and from three feet you couldn't tell the difference.

A drop of Hot Glue [just enough to squish out to look like a washer] under screw heads will make it look more like a sign.

The reproduction Mobilgas shields look mighty nice on a pump. I have two on my MS 80 and they make the pump just look right in my opinion.