The globe on top of a reproduction gas pump is often the first detail people notice. A custom logo or design can make a pump feel personal, match a business or collection, or create a one-of-a-kind display.
Although they look right at home in a man cave, custom gas pumps are often used as display pieces in corporate offices, eye-catching features at trade shows, or novelty touches at weddings and other events. A custom globe can make the pump feel like it belongs at your venue—and, on a gas pump beer tap, give the serving piece a design that fits the occasion.
What is a gas pump globe made of?
Standard reproduction gas pump lenses use a curved piece of glass about 13.5 inches across. On factory-made designs, the logo is painted onto the glass, cured in a furnace, and melted into the surface as the glass is formed. An outer plastic rim holds the lens in place; the rim is about 7 inches deep.
The light bulb is not included. For an illuminated globe, the recommended bulbs are a 40-watt incandescent bulb or a 6-watt LED bulb.
Adding a custom design to one or a few pumps
For a custom design on a single pump or a small number of pumps, the usual approach is a vinyl cutout applied to a blank lens. The design is prepared to account for the curve of the glass, so it follows the rounded surface of the globe.
Send us the logo or artwork you would like to use, provided you own the rights to it. The additional cost is roughly $250, depending on the design.
This approach is suited to smaller quantities, where setting up a glass-painting process for a custom design would not be practical.
Custom glass for larger production runs
If you are having hundreds of pumps made, the design can instead be painted onto the glass and baked into it. That process requires a production setup, which typically starts at around $5,000.
The right method depends on how many pumps you need and the design you have in mind: vinyl is generally the practical choice for one or a handful of pumps, while painted glass may make sense for a large production run.
Make the globe your own
A custom globe can turn a reproduction gas pump into a personalized display for a garage, showroom, trade show, corporate office, wedding, or other event. If you have a design in mind, contact us with the artwork and the number of pumps you are considering so we can discuss the best approach and the added cost.
