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Jeff/Illinois · 12-10-2020, 06:26 PM

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.

12-10-2020, 06:26 PM	#7
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	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.