Canadian early 40's BA gas bowser

Rob Fast · #1 15-11-07, 02:21

I am restoring a mid forties British/American Oil Company...BA... gas pump. The pump is a Bennett 541, 4 window version. The globe and 4 window ads will read PEERLESS/ETHEL type of fuel they offered at the time. This may not be the spot for this type of thread, but surely CMP's fueled up at many local gas stations in the era, and I would appreciate any input into this thread. Anyone out their with Bennett 541 parts? Cheers Rob

Jordan Baker · #2 15-11-07, 02:58

Hi Rob

Try getting in touch with one of the owners of Bradshaw Fuels. Last year my uncle borrowed their antique fuel truck for a display at Ancaster Fair. I went with him to return return it to his shop and he showed me around the garage(my carrier and his truck have same hind of flathead). It was basically a museum of rebuilt vintage gas pumps and other fuel industry stuff.

I don't know if they coudl help you out out it is worth a shot.

Here is a link to their website.

http://www.bradshawfuels.com/index.htm

Rob Fast · #3 24-11-07, 01:31

I will touch base with him for sure! I found 3 of these vintage early logo BA signs today in rough shape, 3ft. by 5 ft.. Nice addition to the BA gas pump. I believe this early "bowtie" logo was changed in 1950 to the round oil drop BA logo. Cheers Rob

Barry Churcher · #4 24-11-07, 03:23

Hi Rob
Great to see your gas pump. That is a real nice example. I have a Bennett 2 window version which is not quite as desirable. It is a pump I used at my garage for years. When I started working in a gas station as an apprentice it was BA. Gulf Oil bought out BA and changed the colour of the BA logo to orange and blue, the Gulf colours. Then they gradually changed all the logos to Gulf. I took the business over from my boss and promptly threw out all the old uniforms and anything else with BA on it.

I have been collecting BA stuff ever since. My uncle Buck was in the Hasty P's and after the war he went to work as a mechanic in a BA station. He picked BA because he said their petroleum products stood up so well in the heat of Italy. Some of the products used in the military must have been BA labeled.

Cheers,
Barry

Tony Smith · #5 24-11-07, 05:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob Fast
I am restoring a mid forties British/American Oil Company gas pump. This may not be the spot for this type of thread, but surely CMP's fueled up at many local gas stations in the era,......

If you're going to be pumping Gas at 99c a Gallon, I'm sure many more CMP's will be filling up at your place, too!

Seriously, before you get your signwriting done, isn't the lead additive spelt ETHYL, not ETHEL, or is this a Canadian/US spelling of the word?

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #6 24-11-07, 13:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Seriously, before you get your signwriting done, isn't the lead additive spelt ETHYL, not ETHEL, or is this a Canadian/US spelling of the word?

Hard to say... even in the murricun dickshunarries it's spelt 'ethyl' (from the German, 1838), but given it's also related to the term 'ether' I could also see the vernacular evolving to 'ethel' in its inimitable fashion...

chris vickery · #7 25-11-07, 04:33

Rob, you may want to do a search for a fellow by the name of Paul Garness in Mono Mills Ontario.

He is a specialsit collector, restorer and dealer of all things related to gas pumps and service station memorabilia. He is also an enthusiast of military vehicles as well.

Paul makes his living by sourcing and selling all types of parts and accessories as well as reproduction pieces. He caters to all brands of pumps etc and if he doesn't have what you are looking for I am sure he knows someone who has it.

Rob Fast · #8 13-01-08, 17:40

any of you seen this big battery charger before? 110/8 volt.. 40's vintage???