Today and for the next few weeks I shall be celebrating the humble petrol pump, through the art work of my friend Ann Love.
A few weeks ago I wrote about those pre-war petrol cans which were essential, given the scarcity of petrol stations which forced motorists to carry a supply for emergencies.
They cans came in different shapes and colours and usually bore the name or logo of the petrol company.
And fired by that story Ann told me of an art project she undertook back in 1964 which
described the early history of the petrol pump and was illustrated by her own series of pictures.
I have to confess that I had not really given the petrol pump much thought, but like so many things it is a bit of our history which is easily taken for granted.
The idea had originated in the USA and was brought back to Britain by a member of the AA and in 1919 the AA opened ten filling stations which were staffed by their men in uniform who only sold to AA members.
Needless to say the concept caught on, and Ann went on to document the story through the inter war years and on into the 1960s.
It is a fascinating story but what really draws me to the project are Ann’s pictures which are now themselves a bit of our past.
A few depict petrol pumps and garages which were still standing relatively recently, including a pump at the bottom of Claude Road in Chorlton in south Manchester.
And I bet these pictures will set off a string of memories on the part of readers, who in turn might offer up their images and stories.
There my even be someone who remembers pumping the fuel from the pump by hand, and then checking the quantity in a measuring can, which as Ann observes was justified given that some garage owners fiddled the gauge.
But that is it for now.
Location; everywhere
Pictures; petrol pumps and filling stations 1963-64 from the collection of Ann Love
A few weeks ago I wrote about those pre-war petrol cans which were essential, given the scarcity of petrol stations which forced motorists to carry a supply for emergencies.
They cans came in different shapes and colours and usually bore the name or logo of the petrol company.
described the early history of the petrol pump and was illustrated by her own series of pictures.
I have to confess that I had not really given the petrol pump much thought, but like so many things it is a bit of our history which is easily taken for granted.
The idea had originated in the USA and was brought back to Britain by a member of the AA and in 1919 the AA opened ten filling stations which were staffed by their men in uniform who only sold to AA members.
Needless to say the concept caught on, and Ann went on to document the story through the inter war years and on into the 1960s.
It is a fascinating story but what really draws me to the project are Ann’s pictures which are now themselves a bit of our past.
A few depict petrol pumps and garages which were still standing relatively recently, including a pump at the bottom of Claude Road in Chorlton in south Manchester.
And I bet these pictures will set off a string of memories on the part of readers, who in turn might offer up their images and stories.
There my even be someone who remembers pumping the fuel from the pump by hand, and then checking the quantity in a measuring can, which as Ann observes was justified given that some garage owners fiddled the gauge.
But that is it for now.
Location; everywhere
Pictures; petrol pumps and filling stations 1963-64 from the collection of Ann Love
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