Abstract: A brace has been invented for releasably maintaining a control lever of a gasoline pump apparatus in a selected position, the brace, in certain aspects, having a body member, at least two pairs of spaced-apart opposed separation members on the body member, including at least a first pair and a second pair, the first pair spaced-apart a first distance and the second pair spaced-apart a second distance which is different from the first distance. In another aspect the brace has a hole through the body member; and in certain aspects, an item is releasably disposed through the hole in the body member. In other aspects one or more channels between two of the separation members facilitates flexing of the body member. In another aspect, a brace has been invented which has a first part, a second part, a spring having a core portion, a first end connected to the first part, and a second end connected to the second part, and the spring urging the two parts to move together rotating about the spring's core portion.