Tucked off the side of the track near the overflow parking at USAir Motorsports Raceway in Wisconsin is a bright red Gilbarco gas pump. In my 8+ years of going to events at this track, I've noticed it, but always have been too busy to check it out. This visit, I made the point to wander over and take some photos.
One of the coolest things about the Calco-Meter pump is the small glass window with the text, "Glass Must Be Full - Before & After Delivery". This glass window is something that you find on vintage pumps, because it allowed the motorist to see how clean the fuel was. Bad fuel could ruin an engine, so this was a pretty common feature. Very similar to the glass globes on top of vintage pumps, which allowed motorists to see the clarity and amount of fuel they were putting in their vehicle. The Calco-Meter had price and amount displays, and I'm guessing it would have been illuminated on the display or by overhead station lights.
I looked around for history on the pump, and there isn't a ton, but here's what I found:
Gilbarco was founded in 1870 under the name Gilbert & Barker by gentlemen named Charles Gilbert and John Barker. It was renamed Gilbarco in 1929 and affiliated with Exxon Mobile until that corporation was acquired by the British engineering company GEC in 1987. Currently, Gilbarco is doing business as Gilbarco Veeder-Root, a supplier of fuel dispensers, POS systems, and payment/merchandise/support services. They are headquartered in Greensboro, NC.
Images & Blog by Melissa Strait
Links:
Gilbarco Veeder-Root - www.gilbarco.com
Comments