The average price for a gallon of gas has passed $4 on Long Island, but some of the island's Getty stations have pumps so old that workers aren't able to switch the dollar figure from 3 to 4. The manager of a Northport station, Vic Beeman, says the roughly 60-year-old pumps have the needed numerals, but no one knows how to work the sprockets and springs.
He and other managers are awaiting a maintenance company's help with the pumps.
Meanwhile, the unintended discount has drawn throngs of drivers to Beeman's station on Route 25A. Competitors are grousing that they can't afford to match the Getty stations' prices.
A spokesman for East Meadow-based Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc. didn't immediately return a telephone message Monday.
