Fuelled by Nostalgia

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This article was published 04/05/2018 (2924 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What started off as a creative means of covering up an unsightly Manitoba Hydro meter hanging off Lorne Penner’s garage turned into an expansive recreation of two generations of service stations.

Including recreations of two 1960s era gas pumps and one retrofitted 1920s era pump, the Brandon backyard space could easily be used as a movie set.

The project started last year, when Penner was looking over his backyard from his deck, pondering both the Hydro meter and a vintage-looking motorcycle he created, which was built around a 1971 Triumph engine.

Pondering a better means of showcasing the hand-built motorcycle, his inspiration came from a service station his family would use while growing up at Lowe Farm.

The service station was one of those sights that stuck with him, in large part because of the automotive culture that boys in his community followed closely.

“When you turned 16 you were going to be driving, and you knew all the vehicles that were out there,” he said.

Parked out front of his house is a 1966 Pontiac Tempest, which also ties into this passion.

Rather than purchase antique gas pumps, he recreated visual representations of them using a combination of wood and metal, putting his metal fabrication skills to the test.

Brand names and various markings were later added by staff at Off The Wall Signs.

As the months progressed and he came across components that complemented the display, he continued adding to it.

One of the larger pieces was the 1920s era gas pump, which he found rusting at an area farm.

Partially restored and partially rebuilt, the pump now appears as though it were brand new, alongside the two 1960s era pumps he built from scratch.

Unlike the 1960s era pumps, this early pump required the service station attendant to manually pump gas from the ground, into a clear upper chamber, which they would then release into the vehicle through a hose, allowing gravity to do its work.

Joining a 1982 Harley Davidson, a Second World War-era bicycle has also joined the display.

Purchased from its original owner, a 94-year-old Saskatchewan man, the “tank” style bicycle’s front light and built-in horn still work, although a scattering of rust lets the viewer know that it’s an original.

Proud of what he has been able to accomplish in his backyard, Penner said that this is probably it for the display.

It’s of a reasonable, unobtrusive space that shouldn’t raise the ire of any neighbours, he said, adding that this is probably a good place to stop.

This doesn’t mean to say that he’s done tinkering in his garage, which serves as the birthplace for the various creations he comes up with.

“I actually never know what the next project will be,” he said while walking through his garage earlier this week; a space that includes not only partially complete recreations of vintage items, but also one-of-a-kind artwork he has created using his metal fabrication skills.

As the eclectic range of pieces proves, when he gets into his garage with his tools and construction material, creativity can take many different forms, with its key driver appearing to be nostalgia.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB