[Phys-L] Re: Antique Gas Pump Question

[gkarshner at STMARYTX.EDU (Gary Karshner)]

Tony,
         The secret is the large cylinder which is calibrated on the side
in gallons. The grey lever is the handle of a pump. You would coming into
the station and ask for say five gallons. The operator would hand pump five
gallons into the cylinder (a large graduated cylinder), and then put the
hose in your car's gas tank and drain the cylinder into it. It was almost
impossible to "top off" your tank!
Gary

At 03:30 PM 10/13/2005 -0400, you wrote:
> I'm looking a picture of a gas pump from the 1920's. It has a globe at the
> top of it and a set of numbers inside of the globe. Does anyone know how
> these "antique" gas pumps worked?
> -Tony
>
> The pump's picture is located at
> http://www.pennswoods.net/~rnorton/P1000023.JPG