The birth history of gas stations and gas stations

Not necessarily you are not strange with "gas station" or gas pump station at filling stations, they are big, have electronic screens, squeeze "trigger" is the number of jumps. But this gas station and pump station have been there ever since, how did it work before, probably not many people pay attention. If you are curious, please see the article below.

Picture 1 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Petrol pump head over time.

The first pump for fuel distribution appeared in the late 80s of the 19th century in the state of Indiana, USA. It was invented by American inventor Sylvanus Freelove Bowser . On September 5, 1885, he sold the pump cylinder to the owner of a grocery store called Jake Gumper in Fort Wayne, Indiana to sell kerosene. Basically, Bowser's pump cylinders also have the functions of today's modern petrol pump including counting and refueling. Less than two decades later, the first specialized refueling service station was opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and designed Bowser's original pump head to be converted into gasoline pump cylinders instead of kerosene.

Picture 2 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Design drawing of gas pump cylinder.

The pump cylinder function described by Bowser is to help "safely distribute kerosene as well as liquid fuels and combustible petroleum products". It can hold 42 gallons of fuel, or 159 liters. The success proved by the popularity of petroleum pumps at the grocery store chain Jake Gumper made Bowser decide to set up SF Bowser & Company and register his invention at the end of October. 1887 as "Storage and measuring containers for volatile liquids". And with the development of the car industry within a decade, Bowser's company achieved great success.

The first tattoo cylinder and the first petroleum service station:

Picture 3 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Design of self-propelled pump cylinder and gasoline storage of SF Bowser.

By 1905, the design of the self-propelled pump cylinder and the gas storage of SF Bowser was known to users more simply as "gas station" and this name is still used today. The original pump design is quite simple with a square metal barrel, a wooden chamber with a wooden piston pump system and lever handles.

Picture 4 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Head Bowser's Chief Sentry pump at a Ford dealership in 1915.

Since 1905, Bowser has added a nozzle to fuel directly into a car petrol tank. The design of the pump head continues to be improved, such as the Model 102 Chief Sentry version with an additional cover, when needed, pulls down to cover the anti-theft pump.

Of course Bowser's company is not the only one, the market began to show competitors such as Wayne Pump and Tokheim Oil Tank & Pump and Fort Wayne, Indiana became "capital" specialized in manufacturing Gas pump cylinder of the world.

The first gas station allows drivers to drive vehicles in and someone refuel directly like the current model:

The first title for this type of gas station is still controversial, who first told Seattle, Washington state in 1907, who spoke at St. Louis in 1905 but most agreed that when the Gulf Refining company opened Good Gulf Gasonline gas station in Pittsburgh, they were considered the first true drive-in gas station.

Picture 5 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
The first Good Gulf Gasonline gas station is located at the corner of Baum Avenue and St.Clair.

The first Good Gulf Gasonline gas station is located at the corner of Baum Avenue and St. Clair, downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opened on December 1, 1913. Unlike previous simple refueling stations, an architect designed this gas station in a temple style. Pumping posts placed around, with access roads to vehicles and in addition to refueling also provide services such as tire change, gut, water pouring, crankcase maintenance. The record of the development of Gulf Refining Corporation also states that Gulf's drive-in gas station is completely different from the gas stations in Los Angeles, Dallas, and St. Louis. Louis . Indeed, in 1905, a subsidiary of Shell Corporation opened a gas station in St. Louis. Louisiana, Missouri, but the sale is very different from Gulf's gas station that employees have to fill gasoline into each 5 gallon tank (~ 19 liters) and then give it to the driver so they can pour it into a gas tank.

Picture 6 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Gulf's gas station initially had 4 outside service personnel and a manager.

Gulf's gas station initially had 4 outside service personnel and a manager. Not only does providing petrol and auxiliary services for cars, Gulf's gas station is also an ideal shelter for drivers when the weather is bad.

"The first day, the gas station sold 30 gallons of gas at a price of 27 cents a gallon (US $ 1 gallon = 3.78 liters) on the first day," said the historic committee and the Pennsylvania Museum . The first 7 since opening, this gas station has pumped a total of 350 gallons of gas, before Gulf's gas station was first built in Pittsburgh as well as countless other gas stations opened later throughout the United States. most car riders often go to convenience stores or even forging shops. "

Picture 7 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
Baum Boulevard is famous as a "car" road because there are many car shops located along this road.

The first drive-in gas station was located at the corner of Baum Avenue and St. St. Clair purposely. In 1913 when it was opened, Baum Boulevard was famous as a "car" road because there were many car shops along this road. So, "Gulf executives realized there was no better way to attract the public by making them use such drive-in gas stations, allowing them to drive their cars straight to the station and refuel their cars. the car they just bought immediately after taking the car from the store ", according to historical records of Gulf Refining.

Picture 8 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
The first route map in the US with landmarks is Gulf's gas station where it is sold.

Besides selling gasoline, Gulf's gas station also provides watering services, free tire pumping and selling the first route maps in the United States with the milestone of Gulf's gas station where it is sold. Gulf Refining was also the first oil company to release this type of map and until 1925, it was the only company to issue maps for the annual driver wing.

Picture 9 of The birth history of gas stations and gas stations
A gas station today.

Gulf Refining or Gulf Oil was founded in 1901 by members of the Mellon family. This is one of the "7 sister companies" in the world petrochemical industry. In 1979, Gulf Oil was the 9th largest oil producer in the US and in 1985 the group merged with Standard Oil of California and both changed its name to Chevron. Now Chevron is one of the world's largest oil producers and currently ranks 13th on the Fortune 500 list.