Petrol Pumps Identification

Petrol (Gas) Pumps

This article describes the types and styles of Petrol (Gas) Pump that may be sold as or confused for Dinky Toys.

Introduction

This article discusses the Petrol Pumps that may be found on sales at Internet Auction Sites, Swap Meets etc. The list is not necessarily exhaustive. In the post War period particularly many small firms started to make diecast items. Many petrol pumps still have yet to be identified as to the manufacturer.

This article covers those Petrol/Gas Pumps manufactured by the UK Meccano Ltd. Company, Dinky Toys and other manufacturer’s production.

Note that many of these pumps came in many versions, manufacturers producing the pumps in the different liveries and styles of the pumps of the day. In pre-war times there were many companies that amalgamated later or went out of business, e.g. Pratts, Ethyl, ROP (Russian Oil products), Power, etc. We have only shown an example of each style.

Image

The following image shows a selection of Petrol Pumps from various manufacturers.

As in all the accessory identification articles the Dinky Toys items are on the top left. These are the four pumps from the 49 series (later renumbered to 780) Petrol Pumps produced pre-War and early post war.

This is a post war 49, with a plain oil bin (a Pratts logo was applied to these pre-war)

The following three images are of the later sets of pumps, 781 (Esso), 782 (Shell) and 783 (BP).

There are two casting variations of the 781, the length of the spigot for the sign was increased shortly after production and this required that the base hole/receptacle was drilled out.

Identification

Early Dinky Toys Petrol Pumps (49 series) are clearly marked under, “Dinky Toys, Made in England by Meccano Limited”. These were numbered 49, pre war and early post war or 780 later post war. The individual pumps on the sets 781, 782 and 783 are not marked, the Meccano Dinky Toys Branding being on the plastic bases. Therefore, if these are found separately they are unmarked items.

Top row

Make	Notes
Dinky Toys	Four pre-war 49 series pumps. Note the grey efflorescence on the 49b turquoise Wayne pump, this is a reaction with a metal agent in the paint with the Mazac casting. These all seem to be prone to this effect to a greater or lesser extent. The 49 Series Pumps were renumbered to 780. All marked under “Meccano Dinky Toys”
Barrett and Sons Shell Premium	Marked on back B&S. This was post war production after Taylor and Barrett split into separate companies.
Britains, green BP, #749	This is the early style of pump without a globe. Note this one has an applied Tri-ang sticker on the front. Author assumes Britains sold these to Tri-ang for use with Tri-ang garages. This may be why Britains Pumps are only marked on the back Made in England. Post war.
Britains Cream Shell, #1V	Later version with globe. Just marked “Made in England” on back. Post war.
Cherilea Pool Pump	Missing arm and cord hose, marked “Cherilea”, a rare pump. Post war
Crescent	His pump as issued with a rare Crescent Series Garage set. Pre-war
Crescent Esso Pump	Marked “Crescent Toys Ltd”. Post war

Second Row

Make	Notes
Kew (Pixyland) Pratts	Authors attribute this pump to Kew, as with others comes in various colours. Seems to be marked GB on the front. Note the Crescent pumps have G&B on the label, “Gallons & ?). Pre-war 1920s
Johillco BP	Hard to find. Pre-war
Kay power pump	This pump with the wire overhead hose was sold in the Lay Safety First set. Possibly made by with Taylors and Sons or Barrett and Sons. Some are marked “Kay, Made in England”. Some omit the Kay. Only comes in Power or Shell styles. Post war
Kay (Taylors or Barretts?)	Similar to above but the use of a drop down hose. The hose is missing on most. Very common yet not documented by the authors of these toys. Possibly Taylors or Barretts) Post war
Taylor and Barrett ROP	T&B were prolific producers of petrol pumps, many liveries. Pre-war
Taylor and Barrett Ethyl	Later larger style pump. The Ethyl version is scarce. Again produced in many liveries. Pre-war
Taylor and Barrett Shell Pump. Smaller scale.	Pre-war
Timpo Toys BP?	Pre 1950
Roydon Power	Marked Roydon England. A very minor manufacturer with a very limited production.

Bottom Row

Make	Notes
MT Ethyl	Pre-war, nothing is documented in the books about this manufacturer. The author as two pumps and an oil bin marked MT.
MT Wayne	Pre-war, nothing is documented in the books about this manufacturer. The author as two pumps and an oil bin marked MT.
Unidentified Green Power?
Unidentified, blue
Unidentified, Shell	Possibly Crescent
Unidentified, Esso
Unidentified, Shell
Unidentified, green	This small scale pump is Solid Cast
Wardie Master Models Fina	Post war missing hose.