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Antique Gas Pump Collecting Guide
If you delight at the retro style of classic gas stations, you can bring a part of that vintage charm home with you by collecting antique gas pumps.
In our guide to collecting old gas pumps, we are going to share popular brands and types with you. We will also tell you where you can shop for vintage pumps.
Are Old Gas Pumps Worth Money?
Yes. Retro gas pumps for sale are often worth hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. A rare or well-maintained vintage gas pump may be especially valuable. Some pumps are also worth more because they have a special historical significance. But even high quality replica old pumps can be worth thousands of dollars. So, these collectibles have value as investments.
Why Do People Like To Collect Vintage Gas Pumps?
Here are a few reasons to collect old gas pumps:
- Retro fun: An antique gas pump adds retro charm to any room, and invokes the atmosphere and nostalgia of the past. You also are bringing some liminal highway vibes into your home. An antique gas pump is also an unusual item of décor that can easily become the centrepiece for a room.
- Beautiful designs: Grabbing the attention of tired drivers was one of the things vintage gas pumps were designed to do. That is why they feature a variety of distinctive shapes, and often were made in bold colors.
- Conversation starters: If you have an antique gas pump on display, you can be sure that house guests will ask about it.
- Value: As we have already discussed, old gas pumps do have monetary value. If you keep valuable vintage pumps in good condition, you may be able to resell them later down the line.
Popular Brands of Gas Pumps
There are many different brands of antique gas pumps worth collecting. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Tokheim
- Texco
Dino Gasoline - Chevron
- Wayne
- Bower
- Gilbarco
Popular Types of Vintage Gas Pumps
Did you know that there are a number of different categories of old gas pumps? Here are some of the various types of antique gas pumps you can collect:
- Visible gas pumps: This is one of the most distinctive designs for old gas pumps. There used to be issues with gas stations selling low-quality fuel. Sometimes it was dirty. Other times, it was diluted. So, companies started making gas pumps with a clear glass section that showed the fuel. Customers could see its quality for themselves. These types of pumps also have the round thing on the top that displays the company logo.
- Art deco gas pumps: Some antique gas pumps feature design elements that are art deco, or sometimes streamline moderne. Curved corners were a common feature derived from the latter.
- Clockface (electric) gas pumps: These distinctive gas pumps included a round dial that looks similar to the face of a clock. While pumping fuel, customers could read the dial to see how much they had pumped. It is common for this type of pump to also include a glass section showing the fuel itself. So, this category sometimes overlaps with visible gas pumps.
- Computerized gas pumps: The purpose of the computerized gas pump was to do the math to calculate how much the fuel costs added up to while the customer was pumping the gas. Believe it or not, the earliest computerized gas pumps showed up clear back in 1934, which was when they were invented by the Wayne Pump Company. This category also overlaps with the others, since the computerized display was integrated into the vast majority of gas pumps by the end of that decade.
- Low-profile gas pumps: You may be wondering what 1940s and 1950s gas pumps were like. Automobiles in the Post War era were lower to the ground than those before, which meant that one had to look up at an uncomfortable angle to read meters on old gas pumps. As a result, companies started to manufacture low-profile pumps. The meter faces were lower, which made it easier for customers to read them.
- Replica antique gas pumps: While many of the gas pumps you find for sale are authentic vintage pumps, some of the pumps you see may be modern recreations of old pumps.
As you start collecting antique gas pumps, you will probably find that some types of gas pumps appeal to you more than others, or that you gravitate toward certain eras or companies. Or you might prefer to have a wide variety of pumps.
Best Practices for Vintage Gas Pump Collecting
Now that you are familiar with the different types of antique pumps, let’s go over some helpful recommendations while you are hunting for retro or replica pumps.
- To start out, learn as much as you can about the history of gas pumps, and how their engineering and design evolved over the many decades they have been in use. The deeper your understanding, the easier it will be for you to navigate the vintage gas pump market effectively. Familiarity with small details will help you to purchase authentic gas pumps, and avoid scams.
- Learn what you can about the process of restoring vintage gas pumps while preserving their original parts and materials as much as possible. Doing so will help you to ensure that if you are buying a refurbished piece, it was restored properly. It will also help you to restore your vintage pumps yourself if you want to, whether on your own or with the help of a professional.
- Familiarize yourself with the factors that impact the pricing for vintage gas pumps, as well as typical prices for specific pumps. That way, you will know whether a listing price is fair or not.
- As when shopping for any other used item, read the listing carefully to make sure you understand exactly what you are getting and what condition it will be in. Check the photos carefully as well, and if you have any questions, reach out to the seller. If in doubt, do not buy a questionable item. There will be other opportunities.
Once you have a vintage gas pump, we recommend keeping it indoors in cool, dry, controlled conditions to keep it in great shape. Clean it regularly, but do so carefully so as not to damage old surfaces.
Where to Buy Antique Gas Pumps Online
You are now probably daydreaming about owning your own antique gas pumps. But where can you get one? You have a few different options.
Online Marketplaces
The best starting point for shopping for old gas pumps is to do it online. Check online marketplaces such as Ebay. You should find hundreds or even thousands of results. Online marketplaces make it easy to refine your search by year, brand, category, etc.
Online Communities
While online marketplaces are a great source of antique gas pumps, there are other places you may find vintage pumps for sale online as well.
Niche forums are a good place to look. You also can try groups on social media sites like Reddit or Facebook.
One nice thing about online communities is that membership may be vetted. And even if it isn’t, it may be easy to gauge the seller’s reputation within their community.
It is also easier to start a conversation around a gas pump with a seller on a forum than it is to try and open such a dialogue at an online marketplace like Ebay.
Antique Shops
If there are any antique stores in your area, there is a chance that some of them may have some old gas pumps in stock. You could call around to find out.
Auctions
You can sometimes get a good deal on an antique gas pump by buying it through an auction. Both online and offline auctions may present opportunities to add to your collection.
Oil and Gas Swap Meets
Sometimes people who are enthusiastic about old gas station items get together at swap meets. They may be referred to as “oil and gas swap meets” or “petroliana swap meets.” At them, you can buy or trade for old gas pumps as well as other antiques related to gas stations and the oil industry. This is also a great chance to potentially meet some new friends.
Start Collecting Now
There truly is an extensive community dedicated to collecting antique gas pumps. So, if you want to bring some of that vintage flair into your home, start researching and shopping for old pumps. Their bright colors, retro designs, and remarkable histories will be a source of endless fascination and delight.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
