A.O.Smith

1963 A.O. Smith fuel dispenser





dial face of the A.O. Smith pump

Side view of pump which features 6' hose and banana nozzle with auto shutoff system.

Front view of pump featuring RED CROWN GASOLINE and dial face.



Dial face of  an A.O.Smith fuel dispenser.

Smith Meter Systems (1937 - 1976)

R.Stanley Smith founded the Smith Meter Systems. His company manufactured petroleum meters, Valves, and related oilfields equipment as well as gasoline dispensing pumps. The original Smith Meter Company was founded in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1937. Smith meter acquired Neptune Meter in (1948). Neptune meter was a manufacture of service station pumps. In (1955) Smith acquired Erie Meter Systems Inc. (1958) Consolidated operations into the meter and service station divisions. Later changing the name to A.O. Smith - Erie Division.

Erie Meter (1922 - 1958)

Erie start selling gasoline pumps under the name of "Erie Service Station Equipment Company." Erie meter produced their first pump in 1922. In 1927 Erie shorten their name to "Erie Meter Systems Inc." Their early pumps were encased in masonry housings, then in cabinets that looked like masonry housings. Erie produced a great number of clock meter pumps, in 1930 Erie manufactured only one visible gasoline pump design. 100 were made and are very collectible today. Erie also made Art Deco pumps in the mid - 30's and they too have become very collectible today. Erie also manufactured oil dispenser, air compressors, air towers, and greasing equipment. In 1958 Erie merged with A.O. Smith Company.

A.O. Smith Company (early 1900's)

Smith started business in the early 1900's as a supplier of petroleum Equipment, like oil drilling equipment, transportation platforms and pumps. A.O. Smith bought out his nephew R. Stanley Smith, then added Neptune Pumps, (1948), then Erie Pumps, (1955). Today A.O. Smith is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A.O. Smith Corporation still manufactures water pumps, Aqua pumps, and Commercial Water Heaters.

In 1976 A.O. Smith sold their Meter and Service Station Equipment Division to GeoSources Inc. of Houston, Texas.

The pump shown above features RED CROWN GASOLINE a product of STANDARD OIL COMPANY.

"Like most companies, Standard Oil started small. Unlike most companies, however, it had the backing of a big name in American industry, John D. Rockefeller.

Standard Oil of Indiana, as the company was officially known for many years, took shape in 1899. Initially it consisted of a single facility outside Whiting, Indiana, which refined oil intro products that people and business needed: axle grease for industrial machinery, paraffin wax for candles, kerosene for home lighting.

The company grew. By the early 1900s it was the leading provider of kerosene and gasoline in the Midwest. Kerosene sales would eventually falter. But with car ownership booming across the United States, demand for gasoline would only go up and up." <<< taken from the bp website that features the history of the standard oil company along with the Amoco history. I am also posting the web address here. >>>> www.bp.com/