2-2001

Monthly Feature February 2001

Colour

If there is one frequent question that visitors to my site ask , it has to do will pump colours.
I wish I could give you a simple answer to this question , but I can't .If someone out there is still alive and knows the answer ,
I have not found him .

PLEASE help solve the mystery!

If you can share any additional knowledge , photos or information with other
White Rose / En-Ar-Co collectors , I will gladly post it to this page and credit you !

Pre-visible Pumps
Photos from this era are usually very poor quality and black and white
Can you help?

Visible Pumps

(circa late 1930's) thanks to Richard Tutt

I talked to a white rose district rep. years ago regarding colours. He told me that when the (visible era) pumps left the factory they were all one colour, with the exception of the pump handle , which was always painted black to hide the greasy handprints. Down the road , as maintenance was required , the garage operator would repaint the pump , with company supplied paint , to company colour specs. of the era ----------------I wish I knew those specs.

Electric Pumps 1932 - 1938
I have virtually no information or colour photos from this era
Can You help ?

Electric Pumps 1938 - 1953 In 1938 Canadian Oil Companies Ltd. separated from their American parent company and became truly Canadian again.
As far as I can tell, gas pumps from this generation of were all yellow with a red base. To distiquish between different grades of gasoline , the Grade No. 1 pump had a round logo White Rose Ethyl decal . Grade No.2 had a round White Rose decal.
Most models of pumps had a corresponding ad-glass and usually , but not always , had a corresponding globe.

1953 -------- ? I have a booklet , issued to dealers by the company called "Colour Design and Painting Specifications" issued in 1956.

Quote:

Pump No. 1
This is the pump dispensing White Rose Ultra Grade No.1 Gasoline. Apply to pump two coats white enamel ---as supplied by Canadian Oil . For brush application allow first coat to set over night before brushing on the second coat . For spray application , second coat may be applied as soon as the first coat has set sufficently , generally within one half hour .
After the second coat , apply to base of pump , one coat Green Enamel as supplied by Canadian Oil.
Replace Lead warning plates , carefully .

Pump No. 2
This is the pump dispensing White Rose Grade Two Gasoline . Apply to pump one coat Canadian Oil Yellow enamel as supplied by Canadian Oil. To base of pump apply one coat Red enamel , as supplied by Canadian Oil.

Double Visible Pumps (Remember that these are 1956 paint specifications )
"Clear Vision" double pumps shall be painted one coat Canadian Oil Yellow , with the base one coat Red enamel. The bonnet
above the bowl of the side dispensing White Rose Ultra shall receive one coat White Enamel ; the bonnet above the bowl of
the side dispensing White Rose Gasoline shall receive one coat Canadian Oil Yellow Enamel."

Also included , but useless thus far to me , are these codes
Approved Paints --Pumps
C.O. yellow...C..I.L. Tux 1351 or Pittsburgh C.P.I.3833
C.O. white.... C.I.L. Tux 1002 or Pittsburgh C.P.I. 3834
C. O. green....C.I.L. Tux 1352 or Pittsburgh C.P.I. 3836
C.O. red........C.O.206

Keep in mind that these codes were issued in accordance with a book on 1956 colour standards.
I believe these standards were introduced in 1953
I am pretty sure these were not the correct colour from decades before , but would be correct for electric pumps of this era. I must warn you that I haven't had much luck cross referencing these codes at my local paint dealer.
Pumps after 1953 used the new wedge shaped water transfer decal and globes were dicontinued. However the pumps had a ad-glass with Ultra (No. 1 grade) or a red glass with the image of 3 White Roses
Ultra pumps also had a wedge decal with "Ethyl" below and a green ad glass with yellow block letters "ETHYL"

I usually recomend to people that the purchase their decal first , and have the paint mixed to match the colours in the decal.
while it may not be perfect , it does look good. I also suggest considering the colours in a sign or tin from that era..5 gallon pails are usually date stamped on the bottom , which is handy for colour matching to a era of a pump

It is my conclusion that there are very few that can correctly answer this question , And the ones that know will not likely ever
visit you to critize them . They are probably all in nursing homes and colour blind by now.
Pick a shade that pleases YOU...it is your pump. If someone criticizes it, show them the door.

For additional information on this subject , Gasoline and Globes page , may be helpful .

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