Old Gas Pumps Restored To Like-New Condition
FARM SHOW contributing editor Lorn Manthey recently decided to try his hand at restoring a couple old gas pumps that he rescued from a neighbor’s junk pile. “It didn’t occur to me when I started that restoring 2 rusty pumps would be more work than fixing up an old B Farmall, but that’s how it turned out,” Manthey says.
“I learned right away that the dead weight of that old 6 ft. tall Gilbarco was probably close to 400 lbs., and the shorter Wayne pump wasn’t much lighter,” Manthey says. “My hired man and I eventually wrestled them into the shop with the tractor loader, and that’s when the real work started.”
The red Gilbarco pump’s metal skin was rusted, its glass was broken, one panel had a huge gash and both doors were rusted shut. Manthey and his hired man spent the better part of 2 days removing the top and 4 panels, then another 2 days stripping the motor, pump, piping and meter from the frame. They needed 2 more days to remove the metal and insides from the smaller Wayne pump.
“I had the metal pieces dipped by a friend who runs a furniture restoration shop and that did a real nice job removing the rust and paint,” Manthey says. “Then I sent them to a local painter who specializes in restoring cars. He sandblasted all the pieces, repaired the gashes, polished them smooth, then sprayed on 3 coats of paint. The final was clear-coat, so they really shine.” The frame was sandblasted, then re-finished with two coats of rust-resistant black.
Manthey took the frame, metal panels and meter to a pump restorer to finish the project. “I was going to put them back together myself, but after talking to the restoration shop I realized there were missing parts, some which he had and others that could be ordered,” says Manthey. The shop restored the meters, put new glass in the doors, replaced the door hinges, added missing chrome, installed new lights, the hoses, mounting arms and pump handle brackets. The 6-ft. tall Gilbarco received Texaco emblems and a new globe while the smaller Wayne pump was painted Sinclair colors with a Dino globe.
Manthey said the cost to restore both pumps was a little over $2,000 each, not including time. “I think there’s a real benefit in doing a lot of the tear down, cleaning and painting work yourself,” Manthey says. “If a person wants to buy a completely refurbished unit without putting any time in yourself they’re anywhere from $3,200 to nearly $4,000.”
Restored gas pumps are a nostalgic addition to any shop or garage, Manthey says. Removing the pump, motor and piping reduces the weight by 50 percent or more, so one person can move them around if you have to.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lorn Manthey, Northfield, Minn. 55057 (redoakridge@mac.com).
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Old Gas Pumps Restored To Like-New Condition FARM HOME Miscellaneous FARM SHOW contributing editor Lorn Manthey recently decided to try his hand at restoring a couple old gas pumps that he rescued from a neighbor’s junk pile “It didn’t occur to me when I started that restoring 2 rusty pumps would be more work than fixing up an old B Farmall but that’s how it turned out ” Manthey says “I learned right away that the dead weight of that old 6 ft tall Gilbarco was probably close to 400 lbs and the shorter Wayne pump wasn’t much lighter ” Manthey says “My hired man and I eventually wrestled them into the shop with the tractor loader and that’s when the real work started ” The red Gilbarco pump’s metal skin was rusted its glass was broken one panel had a huge gash and both doors were rusted shut Manthey and his hired man spent the better part of 2 days removing the top and 4 panels then another 2 days stripping the motor pump piping and meter from the frame They needed 2 more days to remove the metal and insides from the smaller Wayne pump “I had the metal pieces dipped by a friend who runs a furniture restoration shop and that did a real nice job removing the rust and paint ” Manthey says “Then I sent them to a local painter who specializes in restoring cars He sandblasted all the pieces repaired the gashes polished them smooth then sprayed on 3 coats of paint The final was clear-coat so they really shine ” The frame was sandblasted then re-finished with two coats of rust-resistant black Manthey took the frame metal panels and meter to a pump restorer to finish the project “I was going to put them back together myself but after talking to the restoration shop I realized there were missing parts some which he had and others that could be ordered ” says Manthey The shop restored the meters put new glass in the doors replaced the door hinges added missing chrome installed new lights the hoses mounting arms and pump handle brackets The 6-ft tall Gilbarco received Texaco emblems and a new globe while the smaller Wayne pump was painted Sinclair colors with a Dino globe Manthey said the cost to restore both pumps was a little over $2 000 each not including time “I think there’s a real benefit in doing a lot of the tear down cleaning and painting work yourself ” Manthey says “If a person wants to buy a completely refurbished unit without putting any time in yourself they’re anywhere from $3 200 to nearly $4 000 ” Restored gas pumps are a nostalgic addition to any shop or garage Manthey says Removing the pump motor and piping reduces the weight by 50 percent or more so one person can move them around if you have to Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lorn Manthey Northfield Minn 55057 redoakridge@mac com
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