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Petrol pumps & filling stations of the past
- Thread starter The Baron
- Start date
The arrival of petrol pumps on the street ....
..... and the response
Source: British Newspaper Archive
..... and the response
Source: British Newspaper Archive
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Above them you may well have seen one of these - taken somewhere (do not know where) in Aston in the late 70's - bet it is not there now!
Radiorails
master brummie
There used to be an old petrol pump, like this one, at Wollaston Mill, Shirley. Was unused, I expect. due to WW2 rationing.
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Thanks Pete. Would love to visit the Golden Valley filling station ! Viv.
Am I remembering correctly, I am sure there was a couple odd filling stations that sold more than one brand of petrol?
Eric Gibson
master brummie
The old pump in Alan's post is the same as the one we had at Watsons in Villa Street, it was just inside the fence and had an arm that swung out over the footpath, It worked on a wind up rack, bottom to top for each gallon, a nice arm ache when the trucks wanted twenty gallons.
The first place I worked at was on the Chester Road at Streetly (by the Parson and Clerk) they had four pumps all with different company globes on, I can remember there was Power and National Benzole and I think Shell Mex an BP but the petrol was all the same 'Pool' petrol the wartime stuff.
The first place I worked at was on the Chester Road at Streetly (by the Parson and Clerk) they had four pumps all with different company globes on, I can remember there was Power and National Benzole and I think Shell Mex an BP but the petrol was all the same 'Pool' petrol the wartime stuff.
pjmburns
master brummie
Linked to the theme of petrol pumps:
Not quite Birmingham but there is a pub in Shirley, on Stratford Road called "The Pump House".
Ths is its pub sign
Why is it called this? I gather there are photos and a history inside but it is on the site of one of the first garages opened in Shirley. Referred to by my Mom as "Wood's Garage".
Not quite Birmingham but there is a pub in Shirley, on Stratford Road called "The Pump House".
Ths is its pub sign
Why is it called this? I gather there are photos and a history inside but it is on the site of one of the first garages opened in Shirley. Referred to by my Mom as "Wood's Garage".
eric living in villa st at the time you was working at watsons i must have walked past that pump many times but being a youngster would not have taken much notice of it
lyn
This is 578 Pershore Road, posted by Stitcher on the Street Furniture thread. A lot of pumps squeezed onto a small space. Viv.
Today, all signs of its use have gone and the shop has reverted to residential use. But a little further along Pershore Road, next to the Selly Oak Tavern, is a modern Esso station. Viv.
Today, all signs of its use have gone and the shop has reverted to residential use. But a little further along Pershore Road, next to the Selly Oak Tavern, is a modern Esso station. Viv.
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Mark Tooze
master brummie
Here are some photos taken for a school project of 3 different garages for which I do not have a location (hint!!!! - they will be somewhere in Lozells / Hockley / Aston area). Interesting old petrol pumps on these - not sure on the dates (late 70's I think) but 4* and 5* fuel was a whopping £1.38 a gallon! Struggle to get a litre for that today.........
Great photos all. Surely there must have been a point where petrol pumps couldn’t be located within a certain distance of domestic premises? Some of the old pumps look dangerously close to houses. Viv.
This signage would have gone by 1976 as Shell Mex & BP split from each other end of 1975. Their employees and sales were split 60% Shell and 40% BP, initially at the end of June 1975 I was branded BP but Changed to Shell by year end.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
The scientists say a 'minimum' distance of 50 metres should therefore be maintained between petrol stations and housing, and 100 metres for 'especially vulnerable' facilities such as hospitals, health centres, schools and old people's homes.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
I remember stopping at a house in Derby with a pump in the garden for fuel with my dad in the 50s. you rang the bell and a man come out to serve you.,he put the hose in the tank and started turning a handle on the pump while looking at the gauge it was like the contraption below 
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
From another thread ...
Aston Road North / Powell Road
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
The Aston Brook Garage pumps looking battered just visible in this WW2 pic
from
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/then-now.44065/post-641414
from
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/then-now.44065/post-641414
The Dallaway's garage was , I think, at 489 Bordesley Green, though , on the map it does look wider than it looks on the photo.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
it was indeed mike
www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Pub Historian
When I was at school I had a part-time job filling up cars at a petrol station. Shortly afterwards people got duped to pay more and fill it themselves!
www.midlandspubs.co.uk
Pub Historian
Recently when out cycling I felt the need for a sugar hit so nipped into a garage for a flapjack. I walked up to the counter in the shop fully clad in cycling gear, still wearing helmet etc. The woman said: "any fuel?" as if I looked like a motorist! I replied "yes, this flapjack is my fuel."
p.s. I have two engines - a left leg and a right leg!
p.s. I have two engines - a left leg and a right leg!
pjmburns
master brummie
pjmburns
master brummie
This is 489 Bordesley Green today - Dallaways were in the phone book as a taxi firm. Note the ghost sign (PETROL) above the tyre service sign
but in 2008
Trouble is it does not look much like a trading estate, certainly nothing like that estate as seen on streetview, and anyway they are in Kellys at that address from at least 1962. That address must have been the mainn office running a number of petrol stations. There was also a Terrys Auto services in Smethwick, but they were definitely on a corner.
