The History of Benkin

Benkin & Company
Benkin Pump Company
Benkin Antique Gallery
Benkin & Company Nostalgia Store

Back in the early 1960s Ben Staub of Dayton, Ohio began to collect Model "A" Fords.  In the mid-1970s Ben thought that it would be fun to have an old gas pump to put next to his '29 Woody Wagon.  He purchased an original visible gas pump.  By the early 1980s Ben had noticed that the rust was getting worse and the prices of original pumps were going very high.  He thought that there would be a market for a reproduction gas pump.

In the late summer of 1984 Ben started manufacturing gas pumps and officially opened the Benkin Pump Company in March 1985.  The name Benkin comes from Ben and his "kin," also known as his very supportive wife Evelyn and his four children: Sandy, Leslie, Ben Jr. and Steve.  Originally, the company was going to be called "Benson" but the girls of the family protested.

In 1987 Benkin began manufacturing aluminum band globes.  Also in the summer of 1987, Steve Staub began a small company selling restored drive-in theatre speakers.  In 1990 Benkin Pump Co. purchased the speaker business and became Benkin & Co.  In January 1991 the Benkin & Co. Nostalgia Store was officially opened on a side street in historic downtown Tipp City, Ohio.  In January 1992, Ben and Evelyn Staub purchased an antique mall on Main Street and opened Benkin Antique Gallery.  Around this same time Benkin started the annual "Ohio Gas" Petroleum — Advertising —Game room Expo held in Dayton each year in early May.

In 1997 Ben, Steve and Sandy Keplinger started Staub Laser Cutting.  While continuing to sell the gas pumps in Tipp City, the manufacturing of the pumps moved to Dayton, Ohio in the back of the laser business.  In 2000 the drive-in speaker division was sold to Back to the Past and the Oil Can racks and the Map Racks division was sold to Past Gas.

Since the company was founded in 1985, there have been over 3,500 "Benkin Pumps" sold all over the world.  Today you will find our gas pumps in Hard Rock Cafés, Universal Studies, Paramount Parks, and they were even sold for one season at Harrods of London in London, England.  Still, most of our sales are to the hobbyist that just wants an old pump to put next to his garage by his old car, or a guy that thinks it would be cool to have one in the corner of the game room.

The next time you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, be sure to visit the Benkin & Co. Nostalgia Store, located inside Benkin Antique Gallery.  Thank you for your interest in our fun hobby.

We are conveniently located just a few miles north of Dayton near the intersections of I- 70 and I -75 in southwestern Ohio.   From I -75 take exit #68, go east one mile to historic downtown Tipp City, Ohio. 

Benkin & Company
14 East Main St.
Tipp City, Ohio   45371

Antique Store
and
Nostalgia Store
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-5
Sunday 1-5
Closed Holidays

A store filled with treasures
too numerous and
too various to mention!

Antique Store & Nostalgia Store

Phone:  937-667-5526   Fax:  937-890-4487    E-mail:  evelyn@benkinandcompany.com  

Benkin Pump Co.       Phone: 937-890-4486         E-mail:  sales@benkinandcompany.com