I've been in this hobby as a "micro" collector for at least 30 years. Lack of $$ & space have always been the monkey on my back.

In the last 5 years I have been able to finally purchase a couple of pumps & cheap signs. (over 60 crowd now) The last 2 years I think everyone wants to retire off of their collections. I've been trying to get a reasonable restorable ECO air meter without any

luck.

This hobby has become a $$ business. I'm hooked, so I decided to do my own thing. Since the "pandemonium", I've been making my own annual projects.

For my birthday last June, my kids got me a reproduction oval Gargoyle globe. (I asked for it) I took 4 months to find a place to display my new globe.

I found a 4' cast iron newel post for sale for $50. Got it for $40. Globe would go great on top. It's got the look!! Started thinking air tower. One thing led to another. The post is about 65lbs.

As a shop rat for the last 45 years, I got to work on a bridgeport mill.

This guy now weighs about 85 lbs.It rolls on heavy duty rollers, passes air, and lights up.

Project price is around $500, but since the globe & cast air sign were birthday & Christmas gifts, I have more like $300 into it.

Thanks to Ron Scobie for lots of great parts support!

Rick S.

It has a good look to it! Nice job.

Very nice,I like it.
Necessity is the Mother of invention indeed.

That looks awsome

Nice!

Very cool, nice clean work.

That looks great! You did a really nice job with that.

👍👍

EXCELLENT! Very well done. There are many ways to enjoy this hobby. Thank you for posting.

Thanks for your comments guys! I know that this won't appeal to the purists. The way I see it; just like rebranding, repainting, It's all up to you.

I had tons of fun designing & machining this project. Totally functional & if I scratch the paint: get out the Rustoleum!

Next project will be converting a Gulf chrome dome gas pump to a Sunoco blend-o-matic. Need to design a different selector concept. I don't want to have mechanical grade changes on the face plate. I want to make the selector change color

of the lighting as you change grades. (multi color led bulb) Example: Maybe yellow 190, orange 200, green 220, red 240, blue 260. Any ideas on how to do this while turning selector dial is appreciated!

Thanks, Rick S.

Great job Rick, and really we all shouldn't care if anybody likes it but ourselves, right? I'm a semi-purist, but love it just as much! Love your creativity, and thanks for the photos. As long as it passes air and not gas, get it?? That's why I'm not a comedian!

Mike, you are an instigator! I'm the practical joker at work & never pondered that thought pattern. Hmmmm!