Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana POTM "Pump of the Month" January 2019

Happy New Year!!

The pump of the month for January 2019 is the Bennett 300 and 500 series pumps. 300 series pumps have a pipe frame, and 500 series have an angled iron frame. These pumps are fairly common in the 371 and 541's. They have a fantastic style to them. Some models are hard to find and rare too. What a great looking pump. Participate if you can with history, pictures of your pumps, or old station photos with them if you have them.

Here is the models included in this months thread:

-Bennett 371: 1934-1941. Came in 2 or 4 ad glass models. Original cost was $220.
-Bennett 373: 1934-1941. Clockface model. Came with no ad glass, 2 ad glass, 4 ad glass. Either electric or even hand operated visi gauge model.
-Bennett 372-F: 1934-1941. Twin computing model with each pump having 4 ad glass panels.
-Bennett 383-B: 1934-1941. Computer version. 2 ad glass.
-Bennett 541: 1939-1941. Came in no ad glass, 2 or 4 ad glass models.
-Bennett 542-F: 1940-1941. Twin pump with 4 ad glass pumps. 2 individual bases bolted together.
-Bennett 543-B: 2 ad glass model.
-Bennett 543-F: 1939-1941. 4 ad glass model.
-Bennett 546-B, 555-B, 566-B, 567-B: 1940-1941. High sight glass above the face. Came with the option of an ad glass panel within the face opening. Could've came in clockface non electric model with a visi gauge and hand operated.

Thank you everyone and I hope 2019 goes great for all of us out here in OldGas!!

Here is my Bennett 371-F 4 ad glass model! She is a rough one!! LOL.

Rough but awesome! These are one of my favorite pumps. I will post several but will start with my very first pump I got in 1995. It is a 541 and still have it today.

I will also post old photos. This one of my favorites.

My two pumps , love this style!!

My original Sinclair 373...

Happy New Year to all!!!
Braden thanks once again for your efforts on bringing this pump thread to us every month! I and others here have a special love for these pumps! This pump happens to be one of my favorite pumps. In fact since I started collecting in 1994 I have managed to keep every one I ever bought except for two. I let go of a parts pump that Matt Alvarez ended up with and a traded off one that I bought that had been restored. I simply collect and have no reason to sell these. I am somewhat attached to every one in my collection.
I will post pictures of them .

Enjoy,
Rob

More pictures

[video:youtube]https://youtu.be/XcLKbD0IkrY[/video]

A short video overview of the pumps.

Yup, you win Rob. What a collection!

Here is the rest of mine. Unlike Rob I was not able to keep all the 300, 500 Bennett`s that came into my possession. I let go of 10 but still have 15. Later in the month I will post the ones I sold.

Here are my Shell 300, 500 series Bennett`s and a Signal in the last picture

The last of them

Amazing start to the thread everyone!!

Here is another old photo. These are Canadian, notice the round emblems instead of the winged Bennett emblems. Also the "You Can Be Sure of Shell" ad glass are Canadian.

Matt,
You are an amazing collector!!! Thanks for sharing your collection of these cool pumps! Some of your pictures just floor me‼️‼️Those pictures are amazing!!!


Rob

Couple of mine.

Awesome please keep the pictures coming!!! What a great thread ‼️

These pumps are simple but somehow amazing! Please post whatever pictures you have one or ten ! I love them all!
Rob

Hey I have 1 of these pumps I can participate...
here is mine as it was found in the wild and as it sits now in front of my garage...

541

They look great Joe.

Thanks Craig!

One of my Bennett pumps.

Wow 😮 Love them!!!!

Had the side yard porch light on that is connected to two station lighter pumps this evening. Thought I would take a picture for the thread. There is a 200 watt light bulb in it.

I love all these pump pictures! I love patina pumps but some of the restoration ones posted are absolutely gorgeous! Wow that Poly pump is awesome! Thanks guys for sharing!

Here are some Gilmore Bennett`s

Here are my two Canadian 541s. I hope to set them together in the garage in the near future. Unfortunately the green and white pump has been leaking old gas. It was laid on its side for transport when I bought it in November. Since righted it has been slowly leaking, so the pump and motors will probably be taken out. Cheers, Don.

This is amazing so far guys!! Keep it up!!!!

I do not know if these count. I also collect gas pump doors and Bennett doors are my favorite. Here are the 300/500 doors in my collection.

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Very nice Matt!

Here is a picture of my 543-F. I haven't seen a lot of these vintage Bennett's in upstate New York.

My 371. Dino globe is just a placeholder until I land an HC.

Hear are a couple of my Bennett’s 541 & 373



Bruce.

Here is a two ad glass 541 prepared for the Tidewater Co., it has a shoebox globe mount and vertical trim moldings on the door to allow for the two tone paint scheme. The other pump is a Bennett 155 also prepared for the Tidewater Co.

Don’t have a pic anyone looking for there first or another 541 Bennett — I have 2 for sale at the Turlock ca swapmeet Jan 26-27

When I started collecting, this was my first pump. I was lucky enough to get this original RD 119 decal.

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Canadian 208

Hancock station with a one wheel motor cycle.

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Early in the thread I mentioned that I would share the 300/500 series that I sold. The first three of the eleven I sold are 542`s. The 542 is a twin pump. The 542 twin is two single pumps bolted together at the base. The base has a flat spot where they bolt together. The other difference from a 541 is the reset crank is on the hose side.

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Awesome pumps Matt!!

Here are some Citie`s 546s

Here is a Richfield station and a page out of a Richfield sign and painting manual.

Oh my gosh I do not want this to end!!!!Thank you to all that have contributed to this awesome thread!!!

Rob

My 371. Original globe.

Nice globe ,excellent pump and a great location!

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West coast Richfield Bennett. I love these pumps!

Rob

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I have been asked four times what the difference is between a 543 and a 541 sense this POTM started. A 543 has a non-computing Veeder-Root. There were three versions of a non-computing Veeder-Root. The one that the 543 used is pictured below along with a 543 face. This non-computing V-R does not have the price wheels at the bottom. The lower large wheels are the price wheels on this V-R. Notice the price wheels do not have blinders. Also there is no variator below the head unit because that is the part that calculates the dollar amount. The drive connector is directly under the head unit. Also notice the knob next to it that is used to change the price on the price wheels. The last picture shows the gear above the knob. Almost all the 543s I have seen have been converted to computing V-Rs, that makes them a 541.

This is another version of a non-computing Veeder-Root. This one has the price wheels at the bottom and the total amount wheels are missing. Notice the knobs below the price wheels to change the price. This one is from a Wayne 70.

Thanks for the great information Matt!

You are welcome.

The 300 series also had a non-computing V-R. It is a model 383. The faces are flat and go in a face pan like the 371. Here is a 383 face. Notice there are no visible screw heads. That is because it is in a face pan.

Great pumps everyone and thanks for all the info Matt, great read. This is my Canadian SSE Model 208

Thanks for all the great information Matt!

Well, better late, than never. Here are a few of mine....

The Mobilgas was in a barn. The black ‘gunk’ on the bottom of the door was from the raccoons going in and out of the hole in the wall next to the pump for the last 50 years or so !!! It’s a nice survivor.

-Steve

I guess it is still January. I to like this model Bennett, it has just a cool look and curves. Here are a few of ours.

Ok here is one more of mine that I used to have. Although this series of pump (Bennett 300's and 500's) is fairly common, the 391 is not very common. It’s not even on Braden’s list at the top of this thread, that is why I included it here.

We need to convince Braden to extend this an extra week! I am blown away with all the great participation! Gas Pump Ronnie contacted me and asked if I would post for him. He is a living legend out here in Southern California. He is known for creative pump restorations , and creative gas station related film making. This is what he wrote about this 541.

This is the Frintier 541 I restored in 1997. It took three hides to cover it and two rattle snake skins for the hose. When the nozzle trigger is pulled the computer and visi gauge spinner spins and it sings Gene Autry’s greatest hits! Contains lead signs says it all.

Wow Ronnie that is totally off the wall cool!
Thanks for sharing!
Rob

Yes, Ronnie did some great looking creative pumps. Rob, you need to post more of Ronnie's pumps and gas station attendants.

I agree, Ronnie's pump is awesome and I'd love to see more.

Here is a SKELLY Bennett . I can't claim it as mine thou, darn it.

For those that did not notice the pump.

Thought this would be fun to add. It is a custom made fantasy piece. Not sure where it is today, in the photo it appears to be at a show or auction.

That was at Iowa Gas a few years ago.

What a wonderful month everyone! Wow!!