Now here is something you don't see everyday - A twin rusted out visible pump with a "Black Mermaid/Black Mer" name tag both on the outside and in. Anybody every seen anything like this before? I searched Jack's book on my ipad and could find no references to it, and only time a or two has a Black Mermaid pump been referneced on this chat board was back on a 2003 posting about Black Mer rotary pumps making the internal pumps, and another topic in 2005 that Jack also repoonded to saying he thought that Black Mer just made the internals, but not complete pumps, but was looking into it further.
It appears they may have made a few complete pumps, as this one seems to be branded on the exterior as a Black Mermaid complete pump, and a twin one at that.
The fellow is asking $12.5K for it, which seems just a tad bit pricy, especially since it's condition looked rusted to peices, but I thought it interesting engough to post here for you all take a peek at.
http://swmi.craigslist.org/clt/2514275623.htmlFrom the 2005 posting: http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=19873&Searchpage=1&Main=3726&Words=%22Black+Mermaid%22&Search=true#Post19873
"According to the information I have, the Blackmer Rotary Pump Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan (I also have addresses of Petoskey, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan) manufactured something called the Black MerMaid. It could have been a complete pump, but I believe it is only the pumping mechanism and was sold to a company or companies for use in their pump. The Blackmer information I have ranges from 1917 through 1927.
If you could post a picture of the pump here, I may be able to identify it.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book"