On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:10:54 -0700, John Larkin <jjlarkin@highland_snip_technology.com> 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.Every service bell I've run into, at every shop I've worked at, was an electric bell switched by the "air pulse" from the squeazed hose. Most were "miltons" -a few "tru-flates",. Every one of them had to be plugged in to the electrical supply - we unplugged them at night to prevent them from triggering the alarm system if someone drove over them after hours.
(OT) How did those old gas station bells work?
Started by ●September 21, 2017
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
Reply by ●September 21, 20172017-09-21
On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 21:21:20 -0400, Tom Biasi <tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote:>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.Had to have a fat hose.
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
On 9/21/2017 9:55 PM, clare@snyder.on.ca wrote:> On Thu, 21 Sep 2017 21:21:20 -0400, Tom Biasi <tombiasi@optonline.net> > wrote: > >> 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. > Had to have a fat hose. >Not really.
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
Tom Biasi wrote on 9/21/2017 9:21 PM:> 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.Might have run off the air compressor which remains pressurized for some time after a power failure. It's hard to imagine such a small change in volume producing enough work to ring a bell. -- Rick C Viewed the eclipse at Wintercrest Farms, on the centerline of totality since 1998
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
On 9/22/2017 2:16 AM, rickman wrote:> Might have run off the air compressor which remains pressurized for > some time after a power failure. It's hard to imagine such a small > change in volume producing enough work to ring a bell.In the 4 stations I worked at as a gopher in the late '60s, NONE of them had electric bells. And NO, the hose wasn't full of air. It was full of oil. The striker would hit the bell going up when someone rolled over the hose, and again on the way down when they rolled off the hose. Hence the da-ding every time. -- Jeff-1.0 wa6fwi http://www.foxsmercantile.com
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
On Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 1:46:50 PM UTC-4, olds...@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. > > 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.https://www.miltonsbells.com/#completebellkits
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
On Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 5:59:13 PM UTC-4, Jeroen Belleman wrote:> 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!)Actually some of the earliest patents going back to 1892 Electrical Hose Signaling Apparatus used a battery for power. Were there even gas stations in 1892? I'm pretty sure there weren't many, it must have been used for something else at the time.
Reply by ●September 22, 20172017-09-22
On Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 2:17:27 PM UTC-4, Lasse Langwadt Christensen 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-72r44gMaybe ask the NASA tranny...that old fool takes 10 minutes to explain 5 seconds of material.
Reply by ●September 24, 20172017-09-24
Here is a you tube explanation for the old bells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjVz-72r44g <oldschool@tubes.com> wrote in message news:j4r7sc95jk4be9pni572pl5dt2mjti9r1i@4ax.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. > >
Reply by ●September 24, 20172017-09-24
On Fri, 22 Sep 2017 07:13:29 -0500, Foxs Mercantile <jdangus@att.net> wrote:>On 9/22/2017 2:16 AM, rickman wrote: >> Might have run off the air compressor which remains pressurized for >> some time after a power failure.� It's hard to imagine such a small >> change in volume producing enough work to ring a bell. > >In the 4 stations I worked at as a gopher in the late '60s, NONE of >them had electric bells. > >And NO, the hose wasn't full of air. It was full of oil. > >The striker would hit the bell going up when someone rolled over the >hose, and again on the way down when they rolled off the hose. > >Hence the da-ding every time.Hydraulic bells may have been common somewhere, and I can see how they would work - but they were unheared of here. As often as we replaced the air hoses, the oilw ould have been all over the apron.
