Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid across the driveway, by the gas pumps. When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed that bell to alert him that there was a customer. What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a few gas stations. What I dont know, is how it worked. I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a question.... How did they work? I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by electric, unless it ran off compressed air. I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort of sensitive diaphram. Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based on the amount of gas you bought.
(OT) How did those old gas station bells work?
Started by ●September 21, 2017
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:45:31 -0400, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:>Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >across the driveway, by the gas pumps. > >When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >that bell to alert him that there was a customer. > >What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >few gas stations. > >What I dont know, is how it worked. > >I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >question.... How did they work? > >I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >electric, unless it ran off compressed air. > >I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >of sensitive diaphram.The air pressure spike probably rang the bell directly, no electricity required. It was no doubt mechanically clever. Traffic monitors are similar, but they are electronic. -- John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing precision measurement jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev olds...@tubes.com:> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had > a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid > across the driveway, by the gas pumps. > > When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would > ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would > come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto > repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed > that bell to alert him that there was a customer. > > What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it > laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a > few gas stations. > > What I dont know, is how it worked. > > I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which > appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old > rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a > question.... How did they work? > > I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I > decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by > electric, unless it ran off compressed air. > > I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the > air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort > of sensitive diaphram. > > Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they > were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing > no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas > station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your > oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based > on the amount of gas you bought.Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher will tell you https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44g
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote on 9/21/2017 2:17 PM:> Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev olds...@tubes.com: >> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. >> >> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. >> >> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >> few gas stations. >> >> What I dont know, is how it worked. >> >> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >> question.... How did they work? >> >> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. >> >> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >> of sensitive diaphram. >> >> Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they >> were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing >> no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas >> station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your >> oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based >> on the amount of gas you bought. > > Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher will tell you > > https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44gIt has to have electrical power because the pressure change of a tire compressing a few inches of a hose that many feet long would be pretty small. The work produced would be far too small to ring the bell hard enough to hear it. -- Rick C Viewed the eclipse at Wintercrest Farms, on the centerline of totality since 1998
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On 21/09/17 22:25, rickman wrote:> Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote on 9/21/2017 2:17 PM: >> Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev >> olds...@tubes.com: >>> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >>> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >>> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. >>> >>> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >>> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >>> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >>> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >>> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. >>> >>> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >>> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >>> few gas stations. >>> >>> What I dont know, is how it worked. >>> >>> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >>> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >>> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >>> question.... How did they work? >>> >>> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >>> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >>> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. >>> >>> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >>> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >>> of sensitive diaphram. >>> >>> Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they >>> were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing >>> no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas >>> station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your >>> oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based >>> on the amount of gas you bought. >> >> Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher >> will tell you >> >> https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44g > > It has to have electrical power because the pressure change of a tire > compressing a few inches of a hose that many feet long would be pretty > small. The work produced would be far too small to ring the bell hard > enough to hear it. >Oh that's funny! No one seems able to conceive that something might work without electricity. A car passing over the hose displaces plenty of air to launch a little piston against the bell. No switches required. Jeroen Belleman (really!)
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:17:18 -0700 (PDT), Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> wrote:>Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev olds...@tubes.com: >> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. >> >> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. >> >> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >> few gas stations. >> >> What I dont know, is how it worked. >> >> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >> question.... How did they work? >> >> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. >> >> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >> of sensitive diaphram. >> >> Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they >> were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing >> no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas >> station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your >> oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based >> on the amount of gas you bought. > >Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher will tell you > >https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44gHis videos are interesting, I'm not a machinist but he explains thing very well. Cheers
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 23.59.13 UTC+2 skrev Jeroen Belleman:> On 21/09/17 22:25, rickman wrote: > > Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote on 9/21/2017 2:17 PM: > >> Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev > >> olds...@tubes.com: > >>> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had > >>> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid > >>> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. > >>> > >>> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would > >>> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would > >>> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto > >>> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed > >>> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. > >>> > >>> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it > >>> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a > >>> few gas stations. > >>> > >>> What I dont know, is how it worked. > >>> > >>> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which > >>> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old > >>> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a > >>> question.... How did they work? > >>> > >>> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I > >>> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by > >>> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. > >>> > >>> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the > >>> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort > >>> of sensitive diaphram. > >>> > >>> Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they > >>> were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing > >>> no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas > >>> station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your > >>> oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based > >>> on the amount of gas you bought. > >> > >> Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher > >> will tell you > >> > >> https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44g > > > > It has to have electrical power because the pressure change of a tire > > compressing a few inches of a hose that many feet long would be pretty > > small. The work produced would be far too small to ring the bell hard > > enough to hear it. > > > > > Oh that's funny! No one seems able to conceive that something might > work without electricity. A car passing over the hose displaces plenty > of air to launch a little piston against the bell. No switches required.they obviously did it with electricity because doing it with air would just work too good ;)
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
Den fredag den 22. september 2017 kl. 00.22.59 UTC+2 skrev Martin Riddle:> On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:17:18 -0700 (PDT), Lasse Langwadt Christensen > <langwadt@fonz.dk> wrote: > > >Den torsdag den 21. september 2017 kl. 19.46.50 UTC+2 skrev olds...@tubes.com: > >> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had > >> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid > >> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. > >> > >> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would > >> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would > >> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto > >> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed > >> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. > >> > >> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it > >> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a > >> few gas stations. > >> > >> What I dont know, is how it worked. > >> > >> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which > >> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old > >> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a > >> question.... How did they work? > >> > >> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I > >> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by > >> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. > >> > >> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the > >> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort > >> of sensitive diaphram. > >> > >> Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they > >> were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing > >> no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas > >> station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your > >> oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based > >> on the amount of gas you bought. > > > >Mrpete222 aka tubalcain youtubes favorite granddad and shop teacher will tell you > > > >https://youtu.be/mjVz-72r44g > > His videos are interesting, I'm not a machinist but he explains thing > very well.he has a life time of experience as a shop teacher ;)
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On 9/21/2017 2:10 PM, John Larkin wrote:> On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:45:31 -0400, oldschool@tubes.com wrote: > >> Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >> a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >> across the driveway, by the gas pumps. >> >> When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >> ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >> come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >> repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >> that bell to alert him that there was a customer. >> >> What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >> laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >> few gas stations. >> >> What I dont know, is how it worked. >> >> I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >> appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >> rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >> question.... How did they work? >> >> I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >> decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >> electric, unless it ran off compressed air. >> >> I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >> air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >> of sensitive diaphram. > > The air pressure spike probably rang the bell directly, no electricity > required. It was no doubt mechanically clever. > > Traffic monitors are similar, but they are electronic. > >I examined them when I was a kid and the ones I saw had no electricity, just a plunger that struck the bell when a vehicle squashed the hose. That's not to say that some did not use electricity but the ones I saw did not. What got me looking at it was when the power was off in the whole town and the bell still rang.
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:45:31 -0400, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:>Back in the 60s, when I was a kid, I remember that most gas stations had >a rubber hose (about the same size as an air compressor hose), that laid >across the driveway, by the gas pumps. > >When a car pulled up to the pump, and drove over that hose, a bell would >ring inside the station. This was back when the station attendant would >come outside and fill your tank. Also when many stations were also auto >repair shops. Thus, if the attendant was working on a car, he needed >that bell to alert him that there was a customer. > >What I remember, is that those hoses were plugged on the end, (where it >laid on the driveway). I also recall seeing that bell inside at least a >few gas stations. > >What I dont know, is how it worked.A simple air pressure switch. stem on the hose, or drive over it, and the volume of the hose is reduced, so the pressure increases, closing the switch that powered the "clapper" on the bell. Dirt simple.> >I recently was in a small rural town, and saw an old gas station, which >appeared to have been closed for years. In that lot, laid that old >rubber hose. That brought back memories as well as leaving me with a >question.... How did they work? > >I considered googling them, but I dont know what they were called, so I >decided to post this question here. I'm assuming the bell was powered by >electric, unless it ran off compressed air. > >I can only guess that driving over the hose in the lot would cause the >air inside the hose to trigger some sort of switch, maybe by a some sort >of sensitive diaphram. > >Does anyone have more information about these? As a kid, I thought they >were fascinating, and now I'd like to know how they worked. It's a thing >no longer used, but the memory lives on.... As well as the memory of gas >station attendants who not only filled your tank, but would check your >oil, wash your windows, and even handed you some S&H Greenstamps based >on the amount of gas you bought. >You got it right
