Miniature Pumps Kept Lighters Lit
Don Sherwood has a collection of 13 old gas pumps, and they all fit on his desk. Sherwood collects miniature gas pumps that were designed to dispense lighter fluid. That’s about all that’s known about them, says Sherwood, who collects almost anything related to early gas stations.
“I know who made them and where, but I don’t have much information on the companies,” says Sherwood. “The first time I saw one, I didn’t even know what it was.”
Some of the miniature pumps provided free lighter fluid fills. Others had coin slots for penny donations, while others were coin-operated. A penny had to be put in to dispense the fluid.
“These were from a time when gas stations really tried to give people service,” says Sherwood. “There would have been a lot of these dispensers found in a lot of different gas stations.”
Sherwood’s collection includes several generations of the devices. The earliest ones resemble gravity gas pumps with the fluid in the glass cylinders on top of the pump. With the turn of a vent screw, the liquid would flow into the lighter.
The next generation used a reservoir cast into the bottom of the pump. When a plunger was pressed, fluid would be dispensed.
Sherwood described the “Bell Boy Jr.” dispenser. “It looks remarkably like a full size Bell Boy gas pump. The plunger is located on top of the pump and designed to act as an advertising sign for the brand of gasoline being sold. Depressing the coin-shaped plunger dispenses the fluid. A small hollow tube swivels out of the way for the lighter to slip into position for a fill. The tube acts as a return tube for any drips of fluid to be routed back to the reservoir.”
His personal favorite is a very rare “Gilmore” pump. The 16-in. tall dispenser engraved with reference to the Gilmore Oil Co. has a clear glass cylinder, push button plunger and engraved advertising. On the back is a clear glass “fluid level indicator”.
The body is made of copper with top and bottom castings in brass. A large brass plate attached on the front side is engraved with “Fill Your Lighter While We Fill Your Tank With GILMORE Red Lion Gasoline” in black and red letters.
Sherwood has been collecting the devices for many years. Today, he says, it’s not uncommon to pay $1,000 for one, and that might not be a bad price.
“The economy isn’t making this a good time to sell, but it’s a good time to collect,” he says.
Sherwood is very interested in hearing from people with an interest in the dispensers or other gas station collectibles. In addition to the lighter fluid dispensers, he has more than 60 gas pumps, antique toy giveaways, neon and porcelain signs, old oil cans and more. He maintains a virtual museum of photographs of old gas stations and equipment on his website, as well as a 2,400-sq. ft. building loaded with items.
“I would especially love hearing from anyone who might be able to help me learn more about the individual companies who made these dispensers,” says Sherwood.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Don Sherwood, 184 Park Dr., Shady Cove, Ore. 97539 (310 415-9562; oltoydoc@vintagegas.com; www.vintagegas.com).
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Miniature Pumps Kept Lighters Lit FARM HOME Miscellaneous Don Sherwood has a collection of 13 old gas pumps and they all fit on his desk Sherwood collects miniature gas pumps that were designed to dispense lighter fluid That’s about all that’s known about them says Sherwood who collects almost anything related to early gas stations “I know who made them and where but I don’t have much information on the companies ” says Sherwood “The first time I saw one I didn’t even know what it was ” Some of the miniature pumps provided free lighter fluid fills Others had coin slots for penny donations while others were coin-operated A penny had to be put in to dispense the fluid “These were from a time when gas stations really tried to give people service ” says Sherwood “There would have been a lot of these dispensers found in a lot of different gas stations ” Sherwood’s collection includes several generations of the devices The earliest ones resemble gravity gas pumps with the fluid in the glass cylinders on top of the pump With the turn of a vent screw the liquid would flow into the lighter The next generation used a reservoir cast into the bottom of the pump When a plunger was pressed fluid would be dispensed Sherwood described the “Bell Boy Jr ” dispenser “It looks remarkably like a full size Bell Boy gas pump The plunger is located on top of the pump and designed to act as an advertising sign for the brand of gasoline being sold Depressing the coin-shaped plunger dispenses the fluid A small hollow tube swivels out of the way for the lighter to slip into position for a fill The tube acts as a return tube for any drips of fluid to be routed back to the reservoir ” His personal favorite is a very rare “Gilmore” pump The 16-in tall dispenser engraved with reference to the Gilmore Oil Co has a clear glass cylinder push button plunger and engraved advertising On the back is a clear glass “fluid level indicator” The body is made of copper with top and bottom castings in brass A large brass plate attached on the front side is engraved with “Fill Your Lighter While We Fill Your Tank With GILMORE Red Lion Gasoline” in black and red letters Sherwood has been collecting the devices for many years Today he says it’s not uncommon to pay $1 000 for one and that might not be a bad price “The economy isn’t making this a good time to sell but it’s a good time to collect ” he says Sherwood is very interested in hearing from people with an interest in the dispensers or other gas station collectibles In addition to the lighter fluid dispensers he has more than 60 gas pumps antique toy giveaways neon and porcelain signs old oil cans and more He maintains a virtual museum of photographs of old gas stations and equipment on his website as well as a 2 400-sq ft building loaded with items “I would especially love hearing from anyone who might be able to help me learn more about the individual companies who made these dispensers ” says Sherwood Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Don Sherwood 184 Park Dr Shady Cove Ore 97539 310 415-9562; oltoydoc@vintagegas com; www vintagegas com
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