I started to assemble my Cornerstone fuel and oil kit. The instructions mention that various fuels used different color coded pipes and valving to avoid mixing. Of course there is no mention of what color for what fuel. I’m modeling the late fifties/ early sixties and the storage facility will have home heating oil, road going diesel, regular and high test gasoline, kerosene, and white gas (parafin to our British friends). Any ideas what colors to paint the associated piping or where to look for period information? Thanks in advance. J.R.
You might get some help on period colors by directly contacting the American Petroleum Institute, the lobbying wing of the petroleum industry. They’ve provided the color-coding (and other) standards for years, at least when mandated by regulatory agencies.
The current color coding may help if the Walthers piping is already colored. The color codes tend to follow tradition, so you might be able to use some of the ones that apply now for your period. The API colors as of 2006:
Higher grade gasoline - Red
Middle grade gasoline - Blue
Lower grade gasoline - White
(note: leaded versions carry white crosses on red and blue, black cross on white)
Vapor recovery - Orange
Diesel - Yellow
#1 fuel oil - Purple
#2 fuel oil - Green
Kerosene - Brown
No listing for white gas (aka naphtha). For your period, vapor recovery likely wouldn’t apply, nor would the symbols designating leaded vs unleaded gasoline; also, I’m not sure that many suppliers had middle grade at that time. Another caveat: Diesel was traditionally green, at least at the dispensers in some areas.
Thanks that’s a good start. The kit has everything molded in silver/gray so no help there. I’ll try API as well. J.R.
Hi J.R.
If I was in your position I would go with the colours that “Shilshole” gave you. I have hit a similar problem in real life. We were fitting out a heavy equipment rebuild workshop with lubrication equipment, and needed to find the standard applicable for pipe colours. Needless to say there is more than one. Sadly, the applicable ones seemed to give only one, a red/brown colour, for all petroleum based fluids. Not much help in differentiating 4 types of oil.
Back in the late 50s to early 60s we were not so strung out on standards. I reckon the guy who owned the depot probably picked colours that appealed to him, then told his staff this is what they will be. Best idea, go with what is current now and say your guy had foresight.[:D]