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Posted By: Signs&Neons Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 02:31 AM
Just wondered if many of you feel/see that visible gas pumps are being "forgotten" in favor of newer electic models by most collectors today? It is similar to what happened to the Model T collectors - unfortunately many of them have passed. Do you see visible pump prices dropping while electrics are climbing, or what are visible prices doing in your area? I realize there are pump collectors who will hopefully always buy and preserve visibles and all other types of pumps - but as a general rule are visibles now sought after by new collectors also?
Posted By: Notchcad Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:01 AM
In the dumps. No one wants em and are almost to scrap value.
Posted By: minuteman Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:26 AM
I didn't see any priced at Iowa Gas for scrap value or i would have rented a trailer....
Posted By: FRY 117 Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:43 AM
I find the visible pumps much more interesting than the electric models (but that is just me). I just got into gas pumps about a year ago but can without a doubt say that it was the visible models that got my attention. I can't really say of the prices are dropping on them in my area because I almost never see one for sale. I do plan to add more to my collection (maybe a Rush next).
Posted By: Notchcad Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:46 AM
I didn't see many good ones at Iowa period and I had a trailer......
Posted By: Craig Osbeck Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:47 AM
Just different buyers. Collectors versus garage art guys.
Posted By: philmccauley Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:50 AM
I have about a dozen visibles, I love them all.
Posted By: 1937 GMC Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 03:53 AM
Originally Posted By: Notchcad
In the dumps. No one wants em and are almost to scrap value.


That applies to that American that I am getting from ya....right! wink
Posted By: Mike M. Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 04:44 AM
They go for more lately than I want to spend when at auctions up by me. I have 4 visibles and 2 pre visibles and love them all.
Posted By: gaspumpgary Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 10:52 AM
I like a visible or two, but for me it's the height that's the problem, so i've stuck with mainly electric pumps in the garage.
over here in England visible pumps are rare to survive, nor did we have many in service compared to curb pumps and the later electrics.
Posted By: Signs&Neons Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:00 PM
Thanks for input everyone, I'm not surprised that there is support from the group of collectors on here - but how about in the general market place? Farm sales, non petro auctions, etc. I remember when you couldn't touch a visible for under $1k regardless of what the cylinder was or wasn't, seems like that is not the case anymore? I understand everything has dipped a little, but it sure seems like Wayne 60, Tokheim 36, Bennett 541 are back strong... What are everyday visibles bringing in your neighborhood (with/without good cylinder)? thanks
Posted By: Notchcad Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:07 PM
In my neighborhood they have dropped considerably. Common visibles especially. No cylinder 4-600 where they were 1000-1200 any day. Even with cylinder they are hard to sell for 1000-1200. There is lots for sale locally and they haven't sold after months. Now is the time to buy em!
Posted By: K W FRITH Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:38 PM
They seem as strong as ever up here! I rarely go to a farm sale where one is located because they go so high, I just can't trade on them! People still seem fascinated with that big old glass cylinder sitting up there in the air!
Posted By: philmccauley Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:45 PM
They are as strong as they have ever been here also.
Posted By: coheley5 Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:45 PM
I like my visible but as time has passed a lot of people collecting think Dino is the best thing ever but that is what they remember . It does not seem that long ago but I remember when my uncle changed from Sinclair to Bp and I think that was maybe 45 years ago. So time moves on and collections change
Posted By: KS 82 GT Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:46 PM
I think that in general, the visibles have more visual appeal, especially when lit up at night, but I also think that their height works to their disadvantage. You have to have very high ceilings to display a visible indoors while you don't with the more modern pumps. The people who are willing or able to display them outdoors is limited.
Posted By: powerlube Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 12:49 PM
I don't buy them because they won't fit in the garage with a globe.
Posted By: Mike M. Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 02:05 PM
Even on e-bay they still seem to pull good money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-antique-...=item337599c531

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1914-Milwaukee-T...=item2a201e8f07

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Visible-Gas-Pump-/270996583315?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f18a7b393
Posted By: Old Iron Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 02:53 PM
Around here,while visibles do sell occasionally,the market is much more active in the electric pumps.Unrestored common visibles usually go in the $1,000 range while common electrics go for about half that.Please note that I said common,the better stuff like Wayne 60's and such go up dramatically.

I'm not sure why.Judging from what I see going on I would guess a couple of things come into play,in addition to the height problem as noted.

First,I think some really striking multi-color paint jobs and porcelain pump plates and correct decals and such play a part.

Second,and I see a lot of this,the pump is used as a centerpiece for a larger collection of brand coordinated pieces such as lubesters,cans,other globes and other signs and such.I think there is just a lot more to work with when you come on up into the 40's,50's and 60's.

Personally I like them all,but I will say I display mostly electrics,
Posted By: Bob Richards Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 05:23 PM
I have noticed that values for visible seem to be cyclic... For a while they are up and then like the waves they resend... When I started in this crazy Hobby, one could not give away a visible or early electric... Station owners would pay us to take them away,so stations could be "modernized".... LOL

We had so many of them, that we used them as "land fill"... We would line up 40-50 of them, dad would jump on the Allis-Chalmers crawler and push them over the hillside. Then he would push dirt over them to stabilize the hillside below the tree farm....
Posted By: bwfergus Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 05:34 PM
The auctions I have been to, they still seem strong. I've seen one bring under one grand, but it had no cylinder.
Posted By: Dave's Garage Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 05:54 PM
Visibles still demand a higher dollar in my area but take longer to sell because there are fewer people looking for them.

For the majority electrics are the first pump of choice simply because they are easier to find and most of us have childhood memories of them...something they can relate to.

The 10-11 foot ceiling requirement makes them difficult for most to display indoors. But if asked even those owners wouldn't mind a visible if they could fit it into their shop. A 1920's pump is slightly out place when displayed amongst 1960-1970's muscle cars (largest group or segment of automotive enthusiasts). Visible pumps demand a higher initial investment to purchase. Because they are older they usually require more work then a electric pump.

I recently assembled a single Clear Vision visible for a customer. He painted it himself and brought the pieces to me. He then put it in a local auction, I advised him he was going to lose money on it with a 20% sellers premium, I told him he would be lucky if he got $3000.00. The pump sold; winning bid of $4200.00 with taxes and buyers premium it cost the new owner $5418.00.
Posted By: gasmansgp Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 07:29 PM
I've seen common Gilbert & Barker visibles around here for $3000, at farm sales. The certain crowd is needed but they are still strong in this region. Paul www.severngaspumps.com
Posted By: Notchcad Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 07:44 PM
Man! I need to take a truckload up north! At the moment I'm building a fence with em! Had a couple of dove make nests and have babies in them as well! They are beautiful and look really neat to me! I love em and won't stop just cause the market has changed here. Just buy em up while it's low!
Posted By: Mike M. Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 08:00 PM
Maybe it's like with old cars, clean one's are harder to find up north so we have to go south to find the good ones.
Also remember gas stations were few and far between like good roads back when visibles were around and by the time the highway system was made good for travel, electrics were everywhere.
Posted By: keithia Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 08:45 PM
Prices are strong around here. I can't buy them on auctions as they bring too much. No cylinder and 1,000 plus. We didn't take any to Iowa Gas as we were about sold out of them.
Posted By: GasCan Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Fri Aug 10 2012 11:34 PM
I'm 47 now and barely remember any of the real old pumps as most pumps stations were running 1960's style as I grew up. I have many friends with pump collections and after looking at them for the better part of 10 years, I've always gravitated towards the 40's to 50's electrics for their style and the ways they can be finished.

While I do like some of the visible's, I'm not sure I'll ever add more than one or two, and again I'd have to display them at my shop due to low ceilings in my house and in my garage. It's all about the electrics for me, from the mid 40's to mid 50's is my pump of choice. It's weird, but I have no interest in restoring an old visible. Early 30's clock face twins, sure if I could find one, but most glass cylinder pumps cannot float the boat for me.

My friends that are 5-10 years older than me...they love them?
Posted By: bagged1961 Re: Have visible pumps been "replaced"? - Sat Aug 11 2012 11:43 AM
I haven't witnessed a price drop in them. Seems like this stuff keeps getting harder to find and the price remains the same or keeps going up. I just did a road trip to Kentucky to pick up a Mae West Visible for a buddy. Honestly, at most swap meets in this area, computer pumps turn up the most, rarely do clockfaces or visibles ever really show up.
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