Fueled by Canadian ambition
Rare Canada Vulcanizer gas pump comes to auction
This rare Canadian Vulcanizer Double Visible Red Indian Gasoline Pump will be sold at Miller & Miller’s June 14th auction of The Fairbairn Collection.
Amid the treasure trove of sleek collector cars, low mileage motorbikes, and glowing nostalgia packed into Mike and Wendy Fairbairns’ legendary ‘Car Barn’ in Chatham, Ontario, an imposing figure looms over the space. Standing at a towering ten feet, the Canada Vulcanizer “Double-Visible” Gas Pump is a showstopper in both size and story. The pump, along with the full contents of the ‘Car Barn,’ will be auctioned at Miller & Miller’s June 14th sale of The Fairbairn Collection.
The Canada Vulcanizer “Double-Visible” Gas Pump (Lot 144) inside Mike & Wendy Fairbairn’s ‘Car Barn’.
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and in 1885, American inventor S.F. Bowser answered that call. He created the first kerosene pump to replace the dangerous and messy practice of manually scooping fuel into vehicle tanks. This breakthrough made refueling safer, faster, and more reliable — setting the stage for the rise of the automobile. And it wasn’t long before Bowser’s invention became essential to daily life.
In the early 1900s, before electricity was commonplace, hand-cranked pumps began to dot the urban landscape on street curbs near auto shops. While this placement offered convenience for motorists, it turned busy streets into hazardous fire traps and caused traffic bottlenecks. To improve safety and efficiency, American cities gradually required pumps to be moved off of the streets and into dedicated service stations. Canada followed suit, opening its first drive-in gasoline station in Vancouver in 1907.
This 1916 photograph shows a fuel pump positioned on the street curb in front of W. H. Flessel's Auto Station Garage in Huntington, Long Island, New York. Cars would line up along the street to fill up. Source.
Despite these advances, early station pumps remained crude and unreliable, often leaving customers unsure if they were getting the correct quantity and quality of fuel for their money. The invention of the “visible” pump in 1918 helped curb this problem by allowing the customer to see the amount purchased through a clear glass cylinder. Drivers could see exactly what they were getting as they filled their Fords and Chevrolets.
This Fry "Mae West" Visible Gas Pump sold for CA$7,800 at Miller & Miller in June 2020.
This Fry "Mae West" Texaco 10-Gallon Visible Gasoline Pump sold for CA$7,080 at Miller & Miller in March 2025.
As car-use continued to surge, so did business opportunities for those who kept their eyes on the road. In 1920, John Gordon Thompson, a young entrepreneur from London, Ontario, founded the Canada Vulcanizer & Equipment Company Limited. At the time, Canada’s roads were still rather rough and tire blowouts were common. Thompson’s company specialized in tools and machinery used to vulcanize tires. Vulcanization, a process invented by Charles Goodyear decades earlier, strengthened rubber by applying heat and sulfur, extending the life of the tire.
An early American ad promoting “the ideal vulcanizer” for repair shops, service stations or garages. Using an “electric tube plate”, this plate could vulcanize four tire tubes at one time. Source.
Just three years later, in 1923, Thompson and business partner James D. Good made a bold move. They acquired the assets of a failed oil company for $10,000, which included a dilapidated service station, a modest storage plant, and two fuel delivery trucks. From that humble start, Supertest Petroleum was born. Their goal: to build a homegrown Canadian fuel brand capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with American giants like Imperial, Esso, and Texaco. Supertest quickly earned a loyal following and proudly marketed itself as “Canada’s All-Canadian Company.”
This Supertest 5' Porcelain Service Station Sign sold for CA$21,240 at Miller & Miller in 2021. It features the “Canada’s All-Canadian Company” slogan.
This Supertest 4' Porcelain Service Station Sign sold for CA$20,060 at Miller & Miller in 2021. It also features the “Canada’s All-Canadian Company” slogan.
Canada Vulcanizer and Supertest grew side by side. One provided the infrastructure — pumps, tanks, and service equipment — while the other supplied the fuel. Together, they helped shape the foundation of Canada’s growing network of service stations.
As Canada’s fuel industry expanded, so too did the technology that powered it. Few innovations captured the spirit of that progress quite like the “double visible” gas pump. With twin glass cylinders, these pumps not only allowed customers to see the fuel inside, but also provided the choice between two different fuel grades or types at the same pump. These impressive pumps balanced form and function, standing tall and often adorned with brass fixtures, ornate details, and colourful enamel signage.
This Service Station Equipment Clearvision Double Gasoline Pump sold for CA$22,420 at Miller & Miller in 2022.
While gas pumps produced by Canada Vulcanizer are rare (especially to find them in the United States), “double-visible” models are exceedingly scarce. The Fairbairn example offered in the June 14 sale dates to the early 1920s and maintains its original acid-etched glass cylinders. It has been meticulously restored to show-quality standards by Bob Krist, and is outfitted with correct white rubber hoses, polished brass nozzles and two reproduction gas globes. It is painted in the bold red, white, and black colours of Red Indian Gasoline, the flagship brand of McColl-Frontenac Oil, another iconic Canadian oil company. More than just decoration, Red Indian’s branding represented quality, strength, and national pride during a time when many Canadian companies were being absorbed by American conglomerates. Today, Red Indian imagery is highly sought after by collectors.
The castings on the pump are embossed with "The Canada Vulcanizer & Eqpt Co Ltd London Ont" and the service access cover reads "Property Of Supertest Petroleum Corporation London Ont." While these markings may seem like ordinary manufacturing signatures, they also tell the important story of two young Canadian entrepreneurs who dared to take on the giants — and succeeded.
The pump’s markings tell a story tell the important story of two young Canadian entrepreneurs who dared to take on the giants.
Supertest experienced its fastest growth between the mid-1920s and mid-1930s as it established bulk plants across Ontario and Quebec. By 1936, the company owned and operated over 300 service stations, supported more than 800 dealers, and employed over 500 people. They continued to operate until 1971 when they were acquired by BP Canada.
For collectors, the Fairbairn’s Canada Vulcanizer twin visible gas pump is more than a showpiece. It’s a bold reminder that Canadian ingenuity has always been a force to be reckoned with. At a time when most looked south for leadership, two Canadians proved we could also build — and fuel — our own success.
Story by Tess Malloy
Tess is a freelance writer and history enthusiast who enjoys unearthing interesting stories about remarkable people and objects. Tess has written for The Miller Times for seven years.
Auction Details:
AUTOMOBILES, MOTORBIKES & ADVERTISING
The Mike & Wendy Fairbairn Collection
Live & Online Event
June 14, 2025 | 9am EST
29 Forsyth Street, Chatham, Ontario
Did you enjoy this story? Feel free to share it using the links below: