Page 84 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"

This particular day, I was working in the showroom
cleaning the floor or polishing a car and intermittently serving
fuel if “Mot” our regular, trusty, retired steam engine driver,
forecourt attendant, had a busy spell.
The Reliant Robin was not a regular client and
unsuspecting of what the future held in store, just pulled in to
top up his tank.
“Mot” was quite busy at the pumps with a queue. After
several months practice, I had completed the simple task of
putting a fuel nozzle into the car tank and dispensing the fuel
hundreds of times without any problem.
So I stepped out confidently to the aid of this unsuspecting
client.
This time fate took a hand. How many things would you
imagine could go wrong with this simple task?

THE PUMPS
Perhaps I should explain that petrol pumps at the Main
Ridge Garage were rather more basic in the 1960’s than pumps
are today.
They were a square box with simple clock dial on either
side to register the fuel flow in gallons. One complete
revolution of the “clock” was one gallon.
Located half way down one side was a simple access hole to
locate your winding handle in case of electricity supply failure!
An illuminated globe sat on top to advertise the make of
fuel on sale and provide the only light on the site when open.

The dispensing nozzle with its hose was located on the side
and held the pump actuating lever in place.

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