Subj : Tiers
To   : Stewart Honsberger
From : Jack Yates
Date : Thu Aug 02 2001 01:15 pm

 AS>> Unbelievable.  Haven't seen that here.

 SH> Quite believable. Many gas stations in Canada are taking similar
 SH> measures. Compressors, especially the often large ones in use at gas
 SH> stations, are not cheap. Wear and tear on them can run up a pretty
 SH> penny, and I'm sure it bothers owners when people use them and leave,
 SH> without otherwise purchasing anything.

In most instances the big compressor in a gas station isn't there becasue
there's no need for it in a C-store that sells gas.  Originally, and I'm
takling in terms of the 30's and 40's, the compressor was part of the package
that came with the lift in the lube bay, which raises and lowers automobiles
using compressed forcing oil into a huge hydraulic cylinder, and powered the
grease gun.  Few other duties were demanded ogf the compressor other than its
use on tire repair and at that time this consisted of filling the tire only as
they were broken down and mounted using hand tools.

In later times, the mid-sixties, compressed air was utilized to operate inpact
wrenches, first to remove and replace lug nuts, then as a general mechanic's
tool, followed by the air-operated tire machine, the muffler chisel or air
hammer and now a goodly selection of other tools.  As the C-store-filling
station has no mechanic they have no need of the air compressor with its high
capacity and 175 lb pressuer air line, so they buy or lease, or rent space for
the little 45 lb. machine on a pole, 4 minutes for fifty cents.

Whiel the old, big compressors are costly to purchase, maintenance on them is
minimal, a check on the oil level, oil change once or twice a year, drain the
tank of condensation and a set of belts once in a while.  The compressor in my
shop was new in about 1957 and has had one set of piston rings installed in the
time from then til now.  It's always on, folks come here to punp up their tires
and I take that as an advantage to let them know that I'm here, in business and
ready to serve them.  This was one of the reasons for the "Free Air" of years
gone by, the filling station operator used it as an opportunity to meet new
people, make new customers.


--- McGuffey's Reader                                 GoldED UNREG
 * Origin:    (1:3613/1275.1)

.