Gas pump question
 

In December 1941 what would be the dominant gas pump in the U.S.
The clock face on the left or the compute style on the right?

Re: Gas pump question
 

I wasn't around to know but found this online. Any pics I can find of 40's gas stations are compute style.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1607464016

Re: Gas pump question
 

I think it woul depends on area, poor country, or fancy city

Re: Gas pump question
 

Kurt's answer is correct. I know a guy who grew up at a family resort and they used a visible pump at the resort until the 60's.

Can't tell for sure from the photo of the 2 pumps but the pump on the right looks like a mid 50's Tokheim 300. Check out https://www.vics66.com/store/gas-pum...as-pump-parts/ for some ideas.

Re: Gas pump question
 

Not to mention the brand of fuel sold. Larger companies would have been more likely to be more on the leading edge of pump technology than their smaller local or regional counterparts.

Re: Gas pump question
 

If your on Face Book, there is a site there on old gas stations. Seems to be a fair amount of knowledge on gas pumps.

Re: Gas pump question
 

corvette8n.... good question.

I've fiddled with gas pumps/globes/signs/cans for about 35 years. The clock face pumps were a transition period between the tall visible gravity flow gas pumps and the Veeder Root computer gas pumps. They were built more in the 1932-1933 or so range. They had a small apparatus on the pumps so the customer could 'see' actual gasoline going thru the pump. People were leary after being cheated so much over the years by unscrupulous gasoline stations. They wanted to 'see' the gasoline being pumped.

When the computer pumps came out you will see a small glass do jobby in the reporting part of the pump often above the 'gallons' and 'price' readouts. They had little green and red spinners that whirled when you pumped the gas, and a bell would sound as you dispensed the gasoline. These were used into the early 60's.

There were many gas pump mfg.'s in the USA. One that really stands out especially for computer pumps was the Tokheim Model 39 Tall Boy. A good one can fetch some strong dollars. It was called the Model 39 because that was the year Tokheim brought it out, 1939. There is also a 'short' version but the tall one is more sought after.

A clockface pump is worth even more because they really didn't make that many of them and in 1932, with the Great Depression in full swing, there wasn't a whole lot of ANYTHING being built. Also clockface pumps and old computer pumps are very desirable because they aren't ten feet tall, and restored can be displayed in your game room or basement. Hard to do that with a visible! People have cut down visibles to fit inside their homes but they don't look right. Kind of like an Oompa Loompa from Willy Wonka.

Just make sure you gut the old pump works out or you'll never get rid of that stale gasoline smell.

Re: Gas pump question
 

Gas Pump Heaven might be a good source. I have used them for parts numerous times.

https://gaspumpheaven.com/

Re: Gas pump question
 

Thanks for the help guys, I may get one of these fiberglass fronts and add a hose and nozzle that I have hanging in the rafters. I’ve also seen a clock face pump built from an old water heater.