Featured Gas Pump

Hi! Hope this is a good place to post this question.

We have an ancient gas pump that's been in the yard quite a while exposed to the elements. Would anyone here have any idea as to how old this might be, and potential value?

The tank is hard to read, but it says Shotwell Tank Co, Indianapolis, In. And part of the pump reads Good Year T & R Co.

Thanks for any input!

 

Welcome to the Forum, RasberryBeret!
Looks like a good place to post. Someone who can tell you about your gas pump will come along, I’m sure.

 

All I really know is it's older than dirt and pre-WWII gas pumps area always worth money. From what little I saw, this is probably from the 1920s.

 

looks like this type of early pump was marketed to homes and businesses.....
before service stations were readily available..

 

Shotwell Pump & Tank Company

Boston, Massachusetts

Indianapolis, Indiana

Not a great deal is known about the Shotwell Pump Company. They first advertised a pump in 1917 using an Indianapolis address. By 1925 the company now listed Boston first and Indianapolis second. Shotwell advertised that their pumps were ball bearing pumps. In 1928, Shotwell and the Bennett Pump Company were purchased by Service Station Equipment Company Ltd., of Toronto, Canada, and merged, along with ECO Tireflators, into the Bennett Pump Company. This put Bennett in the gas pump business. Bennett first advertised their pumps as Shotwell-Bennett pumps, but the Shotwell name was dropped before 1930.

 

If it's not missing to many parts , and the glass is solid...I'd say give it a good clean to get any grime and dust off it.....and take some smart pics...because there's money there to collectors.....
The Goodyear hose may be original to the pump.....& collectors would like that too...!!!

 

A good place to find out value and more possibly more information: http://oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=19&page=1

 

Thanks for the welcome and man, you guys are resourceful! I just quizzed a family member and turns out my great-grandpa did have it installed in his home garage. (He was a doctor who made house calls.) So the 1920s makes sense. Thanks for giving me leaping off points everyone!

 

That's right up the Antique Pickers (on TV....) alley!!!!!! If the garage is loaded with pick-able and unique stuff....you can always check them out!! Unlest most here don't like them.....I don't think they're too bad.......

 

That's American Pickers...& I don't mind the show one bit !
I think it's good entertainment, & I enjoy going cross the USA with them....
they've even been to Montreal !

 

I was thinking the same thing. They go ga ga for these things.

 

Pertroliana..

 

That TV show came to my mind as well! However we don't have a shed full of these things - just this!

Would anyone have suggestions on what to do to it to make it look better, without devaluing it? Like, should I try and remove the rust? Pretty sure I'm not supposed to paint it...

 

I would wash it off. Some guys prefer them rust and all. If that were advertised in the right spot, you'd have gas and oil freaks jumping over each other to get to it first.

 

http://www.antiquearchaeology.com/got_stuff.php