The gasoline pump has evolved over the years, beginning in 1885 with the first kerosene pump manufactured by Sylvanus Freelove (S.F.) Bowser of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The device was originally used to suck kerosene from barrels at general stores, delivering the fluid to a customer’s portable metal can. The product would then be brought home to fuel stoves, lighting fixtures, and possibly a horseless carriage (if the customer was fortunate enough to afford one).
Though his pump was not originally designed to serve automobiles, by the 1890s, Bowser noticed his invention of the kerosene pump could accommodate the horseless carriages. He added a hose to his pump, and eventually a nozzle. Clerks would count the number of cranks (pumps) they made with the handle to determine how many gallons had been delivered into a customer’s tank (one crank would equal one gallon). Generally, the clerk would also put an ear to the automobile’s tank to listen for the sound of gas filling. Some clerks looked down the hole to see the height of the gas level, determining when the customer’s tank was full. These methods proved to be both inefficient and dangerous.
By 1910, a clockface (to measure the amount of gasoline being pumped) was added to newly manufactured pumps. The retailers who resisted the investment of a new pump outfitted their crude, older pumps with accessorized clockfaces. The demand for an even more precise way to measure what was being purchased led to the design of a visible gas pump and dispensers.
By the 1915s, some visible gas pump and dispensers stood upwards of 10-feet tall. The cylinders were marked, by gallon, similar to a large science beaker. Beyond being a measurement device, these pumps demonstrated the clarity of the gasoline; at the time, customers became increasingly aware that pollutants in gasoline would harm their engine. Another function was to allow the customer to quickly see which pump was ready to fill a gas tank, based on which cylinders were full. The cylinders had a release valve attached, gravity feeding the tank of a customer’s vehicle when released.
As more vehicles were on the road, crowded streets pushed curb-side pumps further back, and forced the gasoline to be stored underground. The designers of gas pump and dispensers soon added an aesthetic appeal to attract consumers to gas stations. With the addition of the clockface and visible cylinder, the art deco movement took gas pump and dispensers by storm.
Through the 1920s, the colors and ornate designs of gasoline pumps stretched around the globe. Everywhere, bright colored pumps full of gasoline were at every station. By the 1930s, the visible pump decreased in size, giving way to a smaller version with a turbine inside. These miniature, visible pumps were usually hanging off the side of a pump, with a hose connected to the bottom, which fed into an automobile’s tank. These miniature cylinders were referred to as “sight glasses”. The main reason for the smaller, visible cylinder was an increased consumer confidence in the gas pump retailer. Consumers began to trust that the gasoline was clear and the amount they paid for was accurate. It was the introduction of electric pumps around the 1920s and 1930s that gave way to the ultimate precision of measurement, eliminating the cylinder all together. An original, clockface pump can be seen at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, CA. This pump, likely from the early 20s, features red paint, a sight glass, and ornate globe atop the square stylized pump.
Due to a lack of street lights at night, globes not only helped advertise the gasoline’s manufacturer, but also served as a beacon for travelers in desperate need of refueling. These globes were added in early versions of the 1910s styled pumps. They were the last decorative element of the gasoline pump to remain through the 1940s. As the cylinders shrank into sight glasses, and then were all together removed, the globes remained. At least five pumps with large, clear glass cylinders, ranging from the 1915s through 1930s, are located at the ADM in El Segundo, CA. The museum also includes many 1930s through 1950s electric, computerized pumps with the original globes.
While an authentic, documented pump in pristine condition may be what collectors are after, the Wayne-60 specifically, many collector’s, such as Sherwood, love collecting anything petroleum related. From miniature salesman samples of pumps to full scale, vintage pumps themselves – Sherwood owns it all. His current collection includes more than 60 vintage pumps, which he proudly opens to the public a few times a year to help raise money for local charity. His collection, along with his friend’s and also stranger’s pumps, are all photographed and organized on his online museum, VintageGas.com; a site which he established to stir the conversation and keep the hobby of collecting alive.