Why were there balls spinning?

[nonnie]

Ok, this may sound retarded but...why were there those two lillte balls spinning in gas pumps years ago You know the ones that spun when gas flowed? I just need to know ...thanks:eeks1:

[rocklandxjer]

probably so you could see that gas was coming out and when it was empty

[Michaelarchangelo]

I think you are talking about the ones Chevron (Im pretty sure) had. It was to show you that their gas was clear and free of additives or other nasties that would clog up your fuel system. Just a marketing gimack.

[RichP]

Back in the 50's they all had them, Sinclar had the round ones on the top face of the pump, sunoco had a spinning one on the face. Some of the real old ones had glass cannisters. Here is a flying A
http://www.gaspumphobbyist.com/sitebuilder/images/Flying_A_Old_Gas_Pumps-246x478.jpg

Heres a texaco
http://www.boomerstv.com/blog/oldgaspumps.jpg

My neighbor in HS had a gas station I worked at, he had these pumps when I first started there
http://www.bright.net/~impala1/Cosignment_pumps/supershell%202.JPG

[mdl]

wtf balls are you talkin about? I don't even understand even with the pictures...

[RichP]

wtf balls are you talkin about? I don't even understand even with the pictures...

On the shell one if you look above the money digits there is circular thing, it has red hourglass shaped thing inside that spins as the gas move thru it, a portion of the gas anyway, I think it was more for customer trust that gas was actually moving thru the pump more than anything else.
On the amoco premium pump it just spun because the gas was what was called 'white gas' and was completly clear like water. It was the 'good stuff' back in the day...

[shortxjdoug]

i just read read "balls spinning" and thought somebody didn't make it all the way to the den :dunno:

[POSXJGuy]

in most czech rep and slovakia i saw lots of pumps with the spinning gadgets on them and they showed different grades and colors. since each octane is colored differently. something to watch as you fill up.

[djblade311]

the two balls are supposed to represent your nuttz getting in a bind when gas prices go up.

[RichP]

in most czech rep and slovakia i saw lots of pumps with the spinning gadgets on them and they showed different grades and colors. since each octane is colored differently. something to watch as you fill up.

Yea, and with the price of gas now a days I'm suprised nobody has put an LCD on the new pumps to take your mind off the screwing your getting....

[lilredwagn]

Yea, and with the price of gas now a days I'm suprised nobody has put an LCD on the new pumps to take your mind off the screwing your getting....
We've got those at an exxon station here. I don't use that station (or exxon for that matter) normally, but I was low and pulled in. It's either when your card gets processed or when you start pumping, but the LCD comes on and plays CNN with audio 10x louder than it needs to be. I was looking over the jeep and out at the road with my back to the pump and I damn near shat my pants when it came on.

[Glenn B]

I think it was more for customer trust that gas was actually moving thru the pump more than anything else.
On the amoco premium pump it just spun because the gas was what was called 'white gas' and was completly clear like water. It was the 'good stuff' back in the day...
Yup, to show that fuel was actually being pumped, color/grade, and that it was solid fuel, not full of airbubbles and crap.

[rocklandxjer]

i said that in the first reply lol

[Glenn B]

i said that in the first reply lol

You mentioned part of it. Oh yeah, ... lol

[Matthew Currie]

As I recall, it wasn't always balls. Sometimes it was spinning vanes.

[IcedXJ]

You mentioned part of it. Oh yeah, ... lol
Owned....



:D

[Lawn Cher']

We've got those at an exxon station here. I don't use that station (or exxon for that matter) normally, but I was low and pulled in. It's either when your card gets processed or when you start pumping, but the LCD comes on and plays CNN with audio 10x louder than it needs to be. I was looking over the jeep and out at the road with my back to the pump and I damn near shat my pants when it came on.

That'd be handy for filling up the 42 gallon tank in my Suburban.

[HaleYes]

That'd be handy for filling up the 42 gallon tank in my Suburban.

They should broadcast something different than CNN though. Maybe the more you spend the more channel options you get? Might as well put NASA channel on there, who watches CNN anyway.....

I say ESPN News.

[XJMK]

The BP in town has a window in the handle of the ultimate pump with little balls in it. You're supposed to be astonished at how clear and good for the environment the ultimate grade is. I almost bought it just to see the balls move around.

[Lawn Cher']

I almost bought it just to see the balls move around.

You can move your own balls around for free.