Hi all, after browsing this thread www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1629963 on Pistonheads, I got thinking.

Modern foot pumps all suck and are nasty pieces of tat.



My question is, if a pump was available, say a modern version of a Kismet, would any of you pay the premium for it? And more importantly, do you think anyone else would pay for it? I realise it's a slightly niche product though.



I don't know how much a Kismet would have sold for back in the day in todays money, but up to £100 for a fully restored one on ebay seems fair. But lets work with £40, +/- £10. Would you buy it?



I ask because I'm a design engineer and I'm fairy certain I could design one and at least get it on to KickStarter or some other crowd funding platform.



However, I'm also thinking that nowhere makes because no-one would be one.



Discuss!



PS, if there were interest, I would seriously consider making a high quality modern Kismet (or similar) equivalent and selling them.

Edited 30 October, 20169 yr by jmattley

Probably not. That sort of money buys a little compressor that I can plug in my lighter socket that i don't need to pump myself.

I use a bicycle track pump, very easy to use, inflate very quickly and can handle pressures way above what car tyres need.

I'd buy one jmattley, possibly two.

 

Amazes me sometimes how much crapper some new stuff is compared to what used to be available.

 

I bought one from ECP earlier this year that was deeply disappointing, barely fit for recycling for the few grams of metal that it contains.

I use a bicycle track pump, very easy to use, inflate very quickly and can handle pressures way above what car tyres need.

+1for a track pump. I have 2 decent foot pumps but find the track pump easier to use as I can steady the base with my foot and it has a very long hose. When using a foot pump I tend to steady myself against the car as the pump can tip over if not pressed down vertically. The track pump also has a larger base and does not mark my block paving drive like the narrow feet of the footpumps tend to do. I have a 12v pump in the back of the car but seldom use it. I also always check the pressures with a decent gauge as the dial pressure gauges on all the pumos that I have are a guide at best.

Michelin single-barrel footpump plus square of thin ply to stand it on; pump box shows was £11.90 and that was c 7 yrs ago.  

 

Had my first one of these for just a few weeks and a weld broke, took it plus receipt back (ASK Kippax nr Leeds), the replacement which was supplied FOC is still going strong, I use it weekly on the Roomster and monthly on the work van.

I rely on its gauge, you suggest otherwise?

Richard

If the gauge on the pump gives the same readings as a BSI marked gauge (BSI pen gauges are available for ~£5 from Halfords so they're cheap enough) or even gives different but consistent readings (eg 32PSI BSI = 35PSI pump gauge repeatedly) I'd use it.

I bought a twin cylinder Michelin one about 6 years ago - and it's still going strong. Only really used for the SWMBO's moped and the wheel barrow now, anything that requires inflating from flat gets the compressor treatment instead.

I might not bother then, thanks for the feedback all! Gotta ask these things eh.