The age of mercury gas tank?

[billy-j]

I just picked up a vintage Mercury 6 gallon fuel tank. It has the rectangular shape of the later 6 gallon tanks but has no fuel gauge.Also has a drain plug in the middle of the bottom, a vintage Keikeffer logo and a sausage shaped primer bulb. It is missing the fuel connector that goes to engine but has a small pipe coupler at end of fuel hose i do not know if it is stock from Mercury. Here is a eBay auction number of what it looks like. # 351252231823. I would like to know what years of outboards this tank was used ? Also if the fuel connector looked like the later ones. Thanks let me know. Bill,

[20mercman]

I have a tank like this that came with a 1958 Mk-10. I think that it is probably the first design after the pressure tanks that were modified for fuel pump use. These tanks came in 55, so that is the era I would think it came from. I don’t know when they came with the fuel gauge in the tank, sorry.

Steve

[jasonh]

If it has that same logo in auction, 1955-56 mark 25, 30, and 55

[billy-j]

So this tank’s production must have overlapped the production of the pressure tank that was converted to single line fuel pump use. So I could assume that both tanks would be period correct for a 1955 Mark 25? Also which of these two tank’s would be more rare? Thanks Bill,

[20mercman]

I am sorry, but I can only speculate as to what tank was produced in greater numbers. I do know that the Mk-25 that my father had when I was young had the converted pressure tank. I think that by 1956 that those had been used up, so just a guess, but I would think that the converted pressure tank would be less common.

Steve

[jeff-register]

I believe Steve is correct. The two line pressure tank was converted to the single line tank when the pressure system was over. I believe left over two line tanks were used up being the pump type now until old stock is used up rather than pitch the stock. We all know Carl squezzed each dollar until it came to Dodge stock car racing entered the mix, then go for broke!!

[billy-j]

Thanks for the replies guys.I have a 1955 mark 25 and a 1958 mark 58 and I like to keep my boat and motors period correct. So from what I am hearing from you all either tank would be correct for the 55 and the 58 Merc ? I recently bought a 1957 Evinrude 7.5 HP. and 4 gallon tank from a guy on Craigslist for $75.00 in very good condition that his father bought new and after talking with him for a bit he said he had something else I might be interested in and brought out the Merc tank to show me. He did not know why he even had it or where it came from but it was in excellent condition. I ended up giving him $40.00 for it. I am more of a Johnson / Evinrude guy but old Mercury’s intrigue me and living in outboard rich Ohio I know if something vintage Merc comes up to just buy it as you just do not come across it often. Again let me know if the two tanks I have would be period correct to use with either a 1955 and 1958 Mercury. Thanks Bill,

[Author]

Posts