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The only thing I know is that they list Kirchener in Canada as their home and they made at least one visible pump.

Here is the story: I have written three different articles for "Check the Oil." on "Who made the first visible pump?" Basically the stories ended the same way, "The Guarantee Liquid Measure Co." the makers of the Fry.
Well I got a call about four months ago from someone in Michigan. The caller claimed they were related to Phillip Gies and that he invented the Fry Visible Pump. They stated they had a brochure from Gies that proved that. I asked them to sell me a copy of the brochure so that I could help clear up the mystery. For what ever reason they did not want to do that. (I hate it when people want to keep history a mystery.)
One thing I can contribute, beginning in around 1924 this statement began showing up on color ads for the Fry:

PHILLIP GIES PUMP CO., Ltd.
Canadian Manufacturers and Distributors
KITCHENER, ONTARIO

Does anyone know anything about this company?

Jack Sim


Author, 1st & 2nd editions of Gas Pump ID book, 3rd edition is now available at www.gaspumpbible.com
Air Meter ID book also available
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I lived in Kitchen Ontario from 1990-1997 and still have family there. I am sure your research can be done over the internet, telephone and email but if you need anyone local to visit a local library or do other on the ground research maybe I can help.

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My shop is 20 mins from where there plant used to be . If you call or e mail Kitchener library they have the years of operation etc. Let me know if I can help at all .


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My research over the years has never turned up much info. All searches seem to lead towards the Philip Gies Foundry. I would presume that the Pump Co. must have been a division of this. Sure would be nice if your connection in Michigan would help you out. I always seem to find their pump that resembles the Fry. Here is a pump that I have that apparently they did produce. Unfortunately mine has no id tag and I have never seen another to find out the model.

002.JPG

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Email sent with copies of advertisements from 1922 and 1923. Cheers, Don.

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I have no knowledge of the pump company but I do know there was a Gies Foundry in Kitchener. The attached picture is of a grinder (circa 1952) that was labelled; "Philip Gies Foundry". It was in use where my father was a mechanic for Midwest Diamond Drilling in Flin Flon MB. BTW, my name is Philip Gies (Winnipeg MB)
(can't figure out how to attach a photo??)

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If Mr. Giles did design the so called "Fry Mae West" pump, he did not patent it (even a design patent) here in the U.S. Early patents by Mackensie easily show that he designed this pump. He either sold or licensed the patent to the Guarantee Liquid Measure Pump Company. GLM advertised this pump as early as 1917, no mention of Giles. Somewhere between 1917 and 1924 when the Giles name started appearing in the Fry ads something happened, this is the grey area I am trying to figure out.

Mackensie was an inventor, he held many patents including many that had nothing to do with gas pumps. Also Rochester was the home of the Correct Measure Pump Company, Mackensie also designed and held the patents for their so called pipe organ gas pump. He also designed pumps for the Springfield (Ill.) pump company.

Can't make any assumptions, just have to analyze the info I have.

Jack Sim

Last edited by Jack Sim; Thu Jul 28 2016 10:49 PM.

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Air Meter ID book also available
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Hey Jack,

My exwife and I got to see a collection of gas pumps in Canda and in that collection was a Phillip Gies twin visible pump. I also was unable to take pics at the time (before cell phones had camaras). I did get to see a tag on the pump and was shocked to see the name Phillip Gies on the tag. I had never heard of the company up until that point in time. I tried to buy it but wasnt for sale at the time. Then couple of years after that I tried to find the place again and could never find it again and that was on multiple trips to the area. I found some of the land marks that I had made in my notes of the area but never found the place again. Sorry thats all the help I can give you.

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I am looking to find any info or literature that anyone may have on the Philip Gies Pump company. I have 3 different pumps made by them and would like to learn more on them and try and find out how many different pumps they made. Thanks in advance

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Originally Posted by OilCanErnie
I am looking to find any info or literature that anyone may have on the Philip Gies Pump company. I have 3 different pumps made by them and would like to learn more on them and try and find out how many different pumps they made. Thanks in advance

Please post pictures of your pumps.


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