Curb

Gas pumps first appeared in 1905 and were found along curbs in front of local business, such as grocery stores and hardware stores. These early pumps were roughly four feet tall and were supplied with a hand crank and a spout for dispensing gasoline. Between 1905 and 1910, these simple curbside pumps were improved, with hoses for directly pumping gasoline into the automobile and meters for measuring the amount of fuel. The first curb pumps were not decked out with company logos or stylish cabinets (the casing that houses the mechanics of the pump). Cabinets were eventually introduced around 1912.

The images below illustrate the utilitarian design of the early gas pumps. The pump on the far left is a very early design, likely used in private garages or on farms. The pump in the center has a small meter for measuring the gas, a hand crank, and a simple spout for dispensing the fuel. The pump on the far right has been improved with a hose for dispensing fuel directly to the automobile.

Curb Pumps: Image courtesy of Jack Sim, An Illustrated Guide to Gas Pumps, 2002.