WHITESBORO - Skyrocketing gas prices are putting the pinch on a piece of Americana roadway nostalgia. Old-turn-dial gas pumps were never designed for the prices of today.

On Oriskany Boulevard in Whitesboro lies a throwback to a different time, when filling up your tank was a social experience.

"They come for coffee in the morning and stay," said Norm Nimey of Norm's Auto Service. "It is kind of like a family relationship."

And old-time tanks turned a less painful number at the pump - but this hometown feel is spinning into oblivion.

"It is not a good business to be in right now," said Nimey.

These old turn dial pumps- one of only a handful in the area - are among 8,500 stations nationwide that were not built for today's times.

"He just had to come and get one to go to four dollars, but it wouldn't do it. It was created in a time when gas was paid for in pocket change," Nimey said. "Developers must have never forseen the days of four dollar gas prices. These machines stop at $3.99."

All that seperates Norm's pumps from possible exticntion? 10 cents.

Not unlike many, Norm has thought about hanging up the gas business but that comes with it's own set of problems. The state mandates tanks be removed if gas is no longer in service - an option Norm says is pricey. It is $30,000 to take them out.

He could update them, but new pumps cost between $10,000 - $15,000 - not easy for these mom and pop stations just getting by.

They can be retrofitted with new dials, but those too not a cheap fix. So, Norm is stuck with the same gassing up solution as all of us.

"You just have to bear it and go on with it," Nimey said. "Where's the limit? What is the solution? I don't know. If I knew that i would probably be a rich person."