Restoring an antique gas pump to its former glory
The antique gas pumps stand as a tribute to the old days when the fully automatic gas filling services had not yet replaced the manual service with a smile. It reminds many of a simpler time when filling up the tank did not imply spending a month’s salary and when driving across the country roads and stopping for a cup of coffee at a remote gas station was a nothing short of a national sport. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that a wide number of people share the passion of gathering antique gas pump models, whether for the pleasure of building up their collection or trading them for a profit.
However, antique gas pump can rarely be found in top shape and most of the pieces will require a makeover before they can be sold or exhibited. Some regard the restoration as a tedious job while others purchase the antique gas pumps just for the hobby of working to refurbish them. It is necessary to point out that, based on the complexity of the antique gas pump and the extent of the damage, the task can take anywhere between eighty and one hundred hours of labor.
The first part of the restoration task implies disassembling the entire array of components in the pump. However, in order to ensure that you will be able to reassemble them later on, it is advisable to keep a log noting the location of each piece and preferably labeling them as well. The motor of the pump can be discarded, because the goal is to make the pump look genuine and not make it functional again. Besides, removing the weight of the motor lightens up the contraption substantially. Once you have arranged all the parts neatly on the ground the real work begins.
The primary job constitutes in degreasing the external surface and removing stickers from it using solvent comprising of detergent and warm water. Dry the casing of the pump and start sanding off the oxidation as well as the old paint coating, until the metal is completely exposed and shining. The holes can be sealed with the aid of plastic filler and the dents can be straightened with the hammer. The next step implies buffing out the components made from porcelain on stainless steel until they are shining. It is doubtful that the glass and the rubber components can be reused in the project, so they will probably need replacement, but these parts can generally be acquisitioned from the typical hardware shop.
Two coatings of high end quality primer will need to be applied on the surface of the antique gas pump, but waiting for each of them to dry out prior to the next one being applied is mandatory. The same thing goes for the next two coatings of gloss paint and the ideal way to put them on is by using a sprayer. Before you reassemble the components of the antique gas pump, you should consider researching the prices of gasoline from the period when the device was functioning and set them accordingly, for a plus of authenticity.
Basically, restoring an antique gas pump requires skill and patience to carry through the whole tedious process. If you love antique gas pumps, you should perhaps leave this job to the experts!
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