Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Question before I mess up... lol

I have been commissioned to restore some pumps for a small auto museum in Kansas. They want them to be set up for a 1938 gas station display they are doing. They want matching Visi's only for this station. They would like Texaco and they are stressing that they be correct in all areas for this display.

1st - would this have had 2 Fry Speedboys in this date?

2nd - ok to do them in Texaco? 1 silver, 1 red with black bases and the 13 1/2 globes that the venders carry?

Thanks a TON in advance...


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

I would say any visible would fit that year to make the display right.The silver I would disagree with,more like the good old fashion red one and white one,boring to me but period correct.For visibles you need 15in globes,this would also be more correct.It all comes down to how much money they have to spend.

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From what I understand, if you're going to have 2 pumps, late 30s, you need a red Fire Chief, and a white Fire Chief Ethyl. I'd personally use clockfaces, but if they want visibles, that's fine - they were only 10yrs old or so... Perfectly feasible. Heck I use 35 year old pumps down the street to fill up.

Check out the following pics on oltoydoc's website. I know they're not visibles, but teh schemes are right for the era. You should need a Texaco green T globe, and a Texaco Ethyl globe, as shown in the pics.
http://www.vintagegas.com/cgi-bin/emAlbum.cgi?c=slide_show;a=pause;s=3;p=Stations;i=36
http://www.vintagegas.com/cgi-bin/emAlbum.cgi?c=slide_show;a=pause;s=3;p=Stations;i=107

Wes

[This message has been edited by thermactor (edited 04-13-2006).]

Any pump made piror to 1938 would be correct. Glass, metal, 1 piece glass or plastic bodies for globes would be correct.
db

Travis -

FIRE-CHIEF was introduced in 1932, with Sky Chief replacing FIRE-CHIEF Ethyl in 1938. Sky Chief pumps were painted aluminum (as had been FIRE-CHIEF Ethyl) - not white. Doing this station in 1938-circa TEXACO livery would dictate a TEXACO Red FIRE-CHIEF pump and an aluminum Sky Chief pump, both with black bases. If you want to add a third pump, you could make it INDIAN gasoline painted TEXACO Red with a black base, The Texas Company-designed "indian blanket" rectangular plates or round decals, and the "INDIAN GAS" globe with the red ball in the center.

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Jim Hinds
Columbus, Indiana

[This message has been edited by indianrefining1931 (edited 04-13-2006).]

[This message has been edited by indianrefining1931 (edited 04-13-2006).]

I apolgize for the incorrect info on the white color. Sure looked white to me, until Jim mentioned it. Now, looking at the pics, it does look like the pump color is a little tiny bit darker than the globe body color.

Not nearly as dark, though, as a lot of the almost gunmetal colored silver restored Sky Chief pumps you see, though.

When in 1938 was the switch made?

Again, sorry about the white thing.

Wes

Wes -

Sky Chief (and Sky Chief Ethyl) were introduced in October 1938.

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Jim Hinds
Columbus, Indiana

Travis:

More than likely you will want a Texaco Globe with a Black outlined T for the Fire-chief pump and Sky Chief Globe with a Black outlined T for the Shy Chief. Or a Texaco Ethyl from the early 30's. I wouldn't think you should go with anything being a white outlined T... Being 1939


Doug

Travis:


Okay reread it again, Not 1939, but 1938... I don't believe that a sky chief globe existed until 1939, so you want a Texaco Ethyl for the Shychief if that is the brand you use.

Doug

Thanks for the input; I only wish they gave me a bigger budget. But like most museums they do not have a ton of $$$.

The budget is $3,000.00 total for both of the restored pumps - so I have to deal with what I can. That is cheap and my work will be almost for free. Sometimes you have to give and take when $ is the devil.

I just found 2 Fry Speedboys today for $1,200.00 and got them home and already got the pumps working again.

Looks like Texaco -

#1
Regular Texaco 13 1/2 globe / white globe body - water base Fire Chief Decal - Red Pump and black base. Ron Scobies cloth white hose.

#2
Texaco Ethel 13 1/2 globe / white globe body - water base Fire Chief Decal with RED painted square and small Ethel Sticker centered below. Silver "Aluminum" pump with black base. Ron Scobies cloth white hose.

Does this sound correct? What would be non-correct so I can pass if by the board tommorow.


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

Travis,
From an August 1, 1935 Texaco painting standards book.
1. Fire Chief: Entire pump (Except Screen), Red Enamel, Screen of visible pump, Aluminum.
Lead warning sign
Fire Chief decal
Regulation globe

2. Ethyl: Entire pump (Screen included) Aluminum.
Lead warning sign
Texaco Ethyl decal
Ethyl Gasoline pump globe

3. Third Grade: Entire pump, Same as for Fire Chief
Third Grade pump globe
Third Grade decals

Ed

Screen of visible pump

Is this refering to the hail screen?


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

Take the $3,000.00 & get a receipt for another $2,000.00 DONATION. Write it off on your taxes this year.
db

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**PUT A LID ON IT**
1qt RE-LIDDING

Travis,

Yes, the hail or gravel screen.

Ed

Great idea Dick!

I just talked to my CPA and they said I can bill up to $100.00 per hour for the work and then bill all of the pumps, paint, sand, signs, globes etc to them for the 3 grand total. But only if they are 501C3 TAX EXEMPT state with the IRS - and they are. If the pump comes to 5 grand it is a 2 grand write off.


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

Thanks a TON Ed! Your GREAT! I was about ready to have the hail screens zinc plated, glad you said something!


Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-357-1004

I think you are really missing the point here by using visible pumps. Yes they were still being made, but who was using them?
By 1938 electricity was coming across the country fast and the only place they were using visible pumps was out where they had not taken electricity.
Clock face pumps, and by 1938, computer pumps were what you found in any major city or town.
Using visible pumps, only tells the visitors to the museum, that this town was still primitive in 1938.
Jack Sim

For what it's worth my old H. Earl Clack station was built in 1938 and I have a couple of pictures of it with 2 Wayne 615's out in front.... I never could understand why they used visibles since the Gilbarco 96's that are there now were available then.

Yet in the same small town down the street there was a garage built in 1915 that had an electric "GARAGE" sign with around 50 light bulbs spelling out the word GARAGE on each side I have a picture of that garage taken in 1915, so I know for sure the sign is that old... I also was able to get the sign from the attic of the old building as it is still there.
bob

Thanks for the input Jack! They are very strong with the visis - otherwise I would do it that way.

Already got the Visi's blasted, bodyed up, primed and "sun baken" as I type.

Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas