A year back, I bought THREE 'Cyclops' pumps: a Wayne 70, a Gilbarco 96, and the rarer, shorter Gilbarco 996.
I on-sold the Wayne 70 and the Gilbarco 96, unrestored, and kept the Gilbarco 996 for myself, as a project....
It was missing one of its two doors, and getting one 'rolled' on an English Wheel would cost around R20K (!), so that was not an option. Being from South Africa, we have a miniscule amount of Gilbarco 96, Gilbarco 906 and Gilbarco 996, so FINDING a spare door is near-impossible, and difficult to import one from the U.S.A. (I lived in Blatimore, MD, for 3 years in the late 90’s…)
Never came across another 996, let alone a spare door, so I decided to make one from ACRYLIC, and then turn the interesting INNARDS of a 40's pump into something you could SEE...!
Here is the finished result - 1 year later - a craftsman worked at it, after I had the acrylic door custom-molded using the other door!
It will be for sale - eventually, here, in South Africa - at a price - and I think will be a REAL talking point - simply rotate the pump, to see inside!
PS: the hose-retraction mechanism REALLY adds to the appeal - only a few pumps have them, and they LOOK so good, in addition to assisting the forecourt attendants to return a long/heavy hose back to the pump!
Chris / Petroliana Projects & Parts.
https://www.facebook.com/petrolianaprojectsparts?
