Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana PUMP OF THE MONTH - February

As announced a couple of days ago the POTM for February is the Bennett 541. There are several versions of the 541 that should be included: the 371 computer pumps (let's hold off on the clockface versions of this), the 543, the 546, and the 560's. I am not going to post any pictures yet because many members have told me that they have many pictures that they were anxious for us to see. I figure as there are dips in posts I will occasionally put my pictures on here. THE AMERICAN GARAGE was right, there is a version with no ad-glass, the Bennett 541-P. Hopefully someone can share a look at one of these. The 541 has been in my "Top 5" list ever since I became an addict. I believe if there were no Wayne 60's or National A38's the 541 would be the "57 Chevy" of tall computer pumps. Thank God that there are however Wayne 60's and National A38's, my two favorites in this class! I have approx 60 pumps, 4 of them are 541's and 1 of the 371's. I am in the procuring mode and have been for the past 1 1/2 years, I have only had time to restore one pump, a Bennett 756. I can honestly say that Bennett made a quality pump, thick sheet metal, great lines and curves, good mating of parts and bolt holes and probably the most fantastic sheet metal stampings in existence.
Well, being I am a rookie with limited knowledge I think I will end this post on that note. I will however be adding 541 comments, info and pictures off and on till it's time for the March POTM.
Thanks for your participation!
gas pump freak




[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 02-21-2004).]

Here is a picture of our 541 Bennett, I agree this is in my top 5 also right after the Tokheim 850 and any cool double pump. This 541 was bought local and is one of the cleanest unrestored pumps We have had.
Don & Lynn


[This message has been edited by gaspumpman (edited 02-21-2004).]

NOT OWNING ONE (YET)...ONE CAN STILL APPRECIATE THIS LIGHTHOUSE STYLE BENNETT STILL AT ROADSIDE HERE ON LONG ISLAND IN DEER PARK.
BEEN OUTSIDE ALL IT'S LIFE (60+ YEARS) AND STILL STANDING TALL OUTSIDE VERN'S REPAIR SHOP OF TWO GENERATIONS:

GOTTA LOVE IT FOR IT'S VISUAL VALUE EVEN THOUGH VERN WON'T LET IT GO.

DOC @ THE AMERICAN BENNETTLESS GARAGE WEST/EAST

I don't own any of these pumps but they are ones I've shot pictures of while on road trips.

Here a couple more pictures. The one on the left is mine.



[This message has been edited by Tim Rohr (edited 02-21-2004).]

Great pumps guys!
I'm not a pump guy, but I think I "need" one (or five,haha) of those 541's.
Bob

HERE ARE A COUPLE FROM JEFF (ELVIS)....SAYS HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM MANY OF US HAVE....NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO STEP BACK AND SHOOT!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!

Jim sent this picture of his restored 541. Nice work Jim!


[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 02-21-2004).]

SEEMS BOB BEAT ME TO THE POST FOR JIM....HOWEVER HERE'S A BLURB ABOUT IT: (IN REF TO THE ABOVE PUMP)....
HERE IS A PICTURE OF MY BENNETT 541F, MY FIRST RESTORATION COMPLETED LAST SUMMER. THE PUMP WAS FOUND IN THE SACRAMENTO DELTA WATERWAY AREA BEHIND CARLEY'S PLACE. THE ONLY (AND OLD) MARKET/BAR ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER NEAR WALNUT GROVE IN THE GENERAL AREA OF HOGBACK AND STEAMBOAT SLOUGH.
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE...IT'S A BEAUTY DONE UP IN THAT TEXACO RED AND SIGNAGE WITH THE SIDEKICK LUBESTERS. GREAT SHOT JIM THANKS FOR SHARING IN THE POTM SHOWCASE.


[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 02-21-2004).]

[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 02-21-2004).]

Jim, I've never seen a restored pump that looked any better than that. Nice work

Here's an unrestored 541 sent in from Midwest Oil.

Wow, thanks guys for including my restored Texaco pump picture above!! And, Bob in answer to your suggestion regarding paint info...my neighbor's body shop here in Elk Grove, prepped and painted the sheet metal for me with base coat/clearcoat using current Corvette C5 generation Torch Red. When disassembling the pump I found it was originally red, then yellow, then white when I acquired it. There were no signs or ad glass to hint on what brand(s) of gasoline were running through this pump during its life time. One corner was tweaked pretty badly bending the frame. Aligning the doors was a real headache.

Jim Wilke also sent in this cool brochure.

Pictured below is a Bennett 541 that came off a farm about 25 miles north of Wilmington NC. I have not been able to determine what brand it pumped. The old fellow I purchased it from said Mobil but I can't carry that theory to the bank.


The next picture is a Bennett 371 with the four ad glass top. I wish I would've took my picture from the side to show that. This pump came from the midwest, I purchased it from a collector. As discussed elsewhere in oldgas the 371 is basically the same as the 541 except it has a pipe frame. I will post some pictures showing this at some point soon.


Thanks for looking and PLEASE keep the replies coming! Be it stories, info, pictures, BS, whatever, that's what keeps our POTM series healthy!!

gas pump freak

Here is a diamond in the rough. I call this my 60 mph pump as that's how fast I was going when I spoted it by a barn a couple years ago. Hung a U-turn and made the deal and hauled it home. Ted

As most of you know, I have sold all my pumps and retired from restorations. This Pump of the Month is not helping my withdrawal pains. I move we discontinue it. LOL Keep those great pics coming. Jim's Texaco is AWESOME!!!

Here are three 541's to contribute to Neal POTM. The first is my dad's the second is my uncle's and the third is one that I took in South Dakota.
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc00b3127cceb8a355eb05660000004610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc00b3127cceb8a355d884650000003610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc00b3127cceb8a355c7054a0000003610[/img]

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Scott in Kansas City

Great looking pumps guys.I don't have one
of these but it sure is fun looking.

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JERRY

Below is a family portrait of my 541's and 371. I titled this photo "group hug".

PLEASE KEEP THE INFO AND PICTURES COMING!! Something I forgot to mention early on was paint codes and paint brand names would be good info regarding any POTM pump pictures posted. ALSO REMEMBER THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES WE STILL WANT TO HEAR STORIES, INFO, RUMORS, LEGENDS OR LIES on our POTM. If you do have any pictures you want posted feel free to e-mail them to me and I will handle it.
Thanks!

Neal Dunn

Question... one the above picture there are little brackets on top of some of the pumps. The first, second and fifth pumps have them. (the third and forth do not) My green and black pump has one too.
It looks like it is there to hold a pole?
What is it, was it factory and what did it look like complete?
BTW- awesome pumps, keep them coming!

Jeff, funny that you just mentioned this. While you were posting your topic I was loading the picture below. I was going to ask what this "pimple" was. It's not on all of the pumps, examining it closely from the inside and out I can't figure out what it does. The pumps that don't have these do not have a puchout or any sign of anything in the sheet metal.

Any help on this is appreciated!

Neal Dunn gpf

Oops!

Yeah, I was shocked when I saw them on other pumps here in this section. I just thought mine was done at some station, some guy with too much time on his hands. The ones in these other pictures are exactly like mine though. From the inside of mine it is messy, it looks to be welded up under there, don't know why.

Neal, I'm lovin' this! Cool pumps, great job.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

hey freak: what about the 373 bennett? I am just finishing a 373 F clockface. do you want some pictures of same when I finish it?

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love them photos keep them comming. cheese

I believe the brackets were to hold price signs. I have a Bowser 575 that has something similiar in the nozzle receiver and my Tokheim 39, National 64, and my Tokheim 300 have rods that come out from under the top and had a price sign slide on to them.

GPF: My thought on the dimples on top. If they are threaded inside perhaps they were to accommodate the island light accessory shown in Bennett brochure above? Jim

41again, feel free to post your 373. I figured down the road we would have the clockface versions of the 541/371 as POTM but myself and others would love to see yours. If you need any help posting it just e-mail it to me and I'll handle it.
Regarding the "pimple" we have been discussing I will try to take one off today and post a few pictures so we can decide for sure exactly what it is.
THANKS FOR ALL THE ACTIVITY on this forum, keep those replies coming.

Neal Dunn gpf

same stub sticking out of a 76!?!?

pump freak your doing an awesome job!

keep those pics coming.
i DO NOT own a 541 & is it just me or has anyone else noticed that you end up with 2 or 12 of one thing & zero of another? - i spotted a 4 ad glass 541 some years ago on a farm but nobody was home. i made it back there a couple months later & it was LONG GONE!!!!!! it probably sat there for 20 years & i missed it by 2 months!?! I had time to burn that day so i went searching around & came home with another 60!!??!!
a 541 is on my WANT list i think the metal work & looks of these pumps are awesome!!!

WHAT did we figure out for a nickname on these pumps?
LIGHTHOUSE
GRAIN ELEVATOR
CABOOSE
???

[This message has been edited by tom 2 tone (edited 02-22-2004).]

Between working on my new barn I was able to take some pictures today of the "pimple" that we're discussing on the 541's. By the way, has anyone seen this gizmo atop a 371 or anything else Bennett?

This first picture is a close up showing what it looks like on the pump;


This 2nd picture is viewing it from inside the pump;


This picture shows the top of the pump after I removed the pimple. There are only the two bolt holes (5/16"), nothing else. This tells me that this thing's purpose is totally exterior.


The next two pictures are closeups of the piece. It is made of cast iron and serves no internal purpose.



Please help figure out what this part does on the pump. If anybody can it is you oldgassers!
Thanks!

Neal Dunn gpf

[This message has been edited by gas pump freak (edited 02-22-2004).]

The dimple on the top of the Bennetts is for a pricer sign ,The sign looked like a pipe clamp with a card attached to it the Bennetts are famous for them ,the 150's 132's, some have them some don't, I was told that the early ones have them and the later ones don't a guy that worked for Bennett and retiered from there told me about them , a long time employee of Bennett Larry Robertson told me the same thing , there was a picture a while back in Check the Oil Mag that showed two Bennett 132's with these pricer signs in place. I will try and dig them up, but the Bennetts were great for putting these on there pumps I have two with and two with out Hopes this helps

+Chris Holt, thanks for the good info. What you said makes sense and I can say I learned something today thanks to you!

We have mentioned earlier that the Bennett 371 had a pipe frame and the later 541 had an angle iron frame. Below are two pictures showing this, the first being the pipe version. I also want to mention that the door lock mechanism on the pipe frame version is much different than the angle iron version. The pipe frame door locks are much more complex, having approx 4 fingers that pull down and secure the door. The 541 version uses the single wheel concept that hung around for many years. It was much simpler but only captured the door in one spot around the middle.





Thanks for looking and PLEASE KEEP THOSE REPLIES COMING!

Neal Dunn gpf

Hi Everyone..I know most of the users have seen this one but I wanted to be included in this outstanding thread..Youre doing an excellent job Neal and everyone that is participating I give a great big Thumbs up. Anyways..heres my 541 I did to Gilmore.


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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA



[This message has been edited by djhubba (edited 02-23-2004).]

Hubba that is a great looking pump! thanks for showing it.

delete

[This message has been edited by bettin (edited 08-22-2005).]

After Reading the POTM postings, I had to go look at my unrestored 371 in the barn and it has the dipple on the top for the pricer sign.

Any help from others would be appreciated as this will be my 1st attempt to restoring a pump.

S. Carter
atog254@comcast.net



[This message has been edited by atog254 (edited 02-23-2004).]

Here are some pictures I am posting for Jeff Houston (aquaelvis). The first picture is one that Rex Benson posted awhile back of some excellent Aetna pumps that he purchased.
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc05b3127cceb96556fd6f020000003610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc05b3127cceb9654df82f920000003610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc05b3127cceb9654de82f820000003610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc05b3127cceb9654d082f620000003610[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4dc05b3127cceb9654dfa2f900000003610[/img]

Does anyone have a picture of any kind showing the price sign setup for the "dimple" base we've been discussing on the Bennett 541 & 371? At some point when I restore mine I think that would be a neat thing to include.
Also I have a friend that has a beautiful 541 that he restored to early 40's vintage AMOCO. It's the nicest restoration I have ever seen up close and personal. This talented fellow even used the original screws on this pump, glass beaded the steel ones and polished the brass ones. It's as close as it gets to "The Real McCoy"! He lives approx 30 miles from me and when I get a break from work I will go to to his son's house, take some pictures then post them.
In talking about how great this restoration was I still can't take anything away from the restorations that have been posted so far. So little time, so many talented oldgassers.
Thanks for looking and PLEASE KEEP THOSES REPLIES AND PICTURS COMING. If you want me to post anything just e-mail it to me at haninfrared@msn.com.
Happy Hunting!!!!
Sincerely,

Neal Dunn gpf

[This message has been edited by gas pump freak (edited 02-24-2004).]

Here a few from my buddy Doc, one he made into a TV


How about this mint 371- nothing a little bondo and won't fix

Last photo along the same lines anyone got doors to complete this 566



[This message has been edited by scootdog (edited 02-24-2004).]

Scoot! Talk about "in need of alignment hygiene!" I think Doc will need a cement mixer filled with postmixed bondo! LOL!!!

Cool Pumps!

DOC of THE AMERICAN GARAGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE

Guys, THANKS for the quality replies you have posted here! Good info, great pictures and fantastic comaraderie. That's what our POTM is all about.
Changing the subject, I thought it would be informative to know what brands were used on the 541 / 371's. On what I have with original paint and advertising are Sinclair and Shell. WHAT BRANDS HAVE YOU FOUND? I know there are books that cover this but I'm sure there's brands more than the books show considering the nature of how things work.
Thanks!

Neal Dunn gpf

Great pics everyone,
The Wayne 60 and 36B in the backgound of Doc's pics look nice too.

i bet Dick spotted that 36-B top so fast it would scare ya!!! LOL!!!!!!

Are you kidding me, Dick is already half way to Doc's place in Colorado by now!!! I was lucky enough to meet Doc last fall and
what a great guy, had a wonderful time looking at all of his cool stuff. Could have stayed another day and still not seen it all.

[This message has been edited by gaspumpman (edited 02-26-2004).]

I'M NEW TO THE FORUM. I'VE ADDED A PICTURE OF THE LAST RESTORATION, PUMP AND LUBSTER. HTTP://IMG30.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/ALBUMS/v89/GASALLEY/66%20PUMP%20LUB/PUMP66.JPG

I moved GAS ALLEY's picture to it's own topic in this forum.
Great looking pump!
Bob
Moderator-Showcase ans Stories

t2t & gpm,
I saw the 36B. BUT it looks tobe a REPO top. I collect the PUMPLESS [homeless]tops !!!!!!

man you must of jumped right up aginst the screen to notice that bare steel showing!!!?!?! LOL!!!

Im thinkin its a set up & was only sanded & ground some to look like raw steel!!!!!!

BUT then again youve probably looked at more 36-B tops than all of us put together!!! LMAO!!!!!!

I just saw this item on EBAY that opted much discussion in this catagory a week ago. It is a price sign bracket base that are on some of the older Bennetts. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3664050775&category=40
Thanks for looking!

Neal Dunn

Come on you oldgassers, the latest edition of your POTM has really died down and needs a little jump start! To be sure there are some more pictures, war stories, info or lies about the Benny 541 and it's related versions. Let's slso see if anyone has some pictures of this benchmark baby in the process of being restored.
As soon as I can get a few hours off from work I'm going to a friend's house and taking some pictures to post of one of the nicest pumps I've ever seen! It's a 541 restored to the 40's AMOCO scheme. This guy is quite a craftsman and this pump is darn near 100% original except for the paint and ad glass. I can't wait to show this one off!
If the above first paragraph does not "fuel the fire" these pictures certainly will!!
KEEP THE POTM BALL ROLLING.
Sincerely,

Neal Dunn gpf

Here are 2 more in as found condition with Sinclair colors.




[This message has been edited by Midwest Oil (edited 03-05-2004).]

Elden took this pic at the recent Escelon gas bash ..Thanks for sharing elden..good looking pump.


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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA

You know, the more I look at these Benny 541's the more I like them! I have always thought they were neat, as a matter of fact the first pump I purchased when I became an addict was a 541. After seeing all the neat pictures that have been posted on this POTM, whether they're original or restored, I'm considering giving this pump the same status as the Wayne 60. I never thought ANYTHING could even come close to the 60 (my favorite pump) but I have changed my stance.

In other words- Wayne 60, Bennet 541, filet mignon, lobster and Z-28 Camaro. It doesn't get any better than this!!

Neal Dunn gpf