Show your oiler cans

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's another one I picked up at a flea market recently and didn't get around to cleaning it until today. Unfortunately, I couldn't remove the severe splotches of oxidation without losing some copper finish. This has an unusual flat and oblong shape. I am not sure which side it's meant to sit on, but it will not stand up. The tapered spout is stored inside the vessel. You just flip that cap around and pull it through the hole until it pops into place, much like the spouts on some modern plastic 5 gallon gas cans.

If anyone knows anything about the maker or the application, please chime in.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Here's another one I picked up at a flea market recently and didn't get around to cleaning it until today. Unfortunately, I couldn't remove the severe splotches of oxidation without losing some copper finish. This has an unusual flat and oblong shape. I am not sure which side it's meant to sit on, but it will not stand up. The tapered spout is stored inside the vessel. You just flip that cap around and pull it through the hole until it pops into place, much like the spouts on some modern plastic 5 gallon gas cans.

If anyone knows anything about the maker or the application, please chime in.

WAG.

With the double sided screw on cap, could that be an oil reservoir? to slowly drip lube into some kind of machinery?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Maybe. That lip could slide into slots.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Maybe. That lip could slide into slots.

These two bicycle oilers would not stand up either.

That lid on yours might be multi purpose, for filling from a larger can and then reverse to use as the oiler ******.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've seen round ones before.

Good point on the cap.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I picked up another Chase-style pocket oil can at the flea market this morning. Two section cap with the needle applicator cap screwing over the other tip. This can is wrinkled-painted black over brass. No markings except MADE IN U.S.A. around the rim of the main screw on cap.

Lots of references to that oiler being for a Thompson Sub Machine Gun.

"vintage US Military Thompson Sub Machine Gun Early oiler bottles. Like the ones pictured, all are in nice used condition and are the early versions. Brass body with a black crinkle coat finish, fine applicator tip with a screw cap. Designed to store in the buttstock and be part of the standard cleaning kit."

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1219

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool. Thanks, S&A.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lugz, I have the same tip/cap assembly on a pair of oval (from a plan view) cans, maybe an inch or so wide, and a bit over 2" tall on the cans.

Cool that its for a Tommy gun!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. And welcome home/back!

 

[Rogers954]

A few months ago my grandfather passed and i drove down to his house to help my family clean up his place. My grandfather raised me from age 4 and he lived in his garage practically. I spent many years watching him repair almost anything with vintage tools, and through this process i was learning and helping (holding the light and getting yelled at lol). My grandfather had a very large collection of vintage tools, many that he used almost daily. One of those tools that i brought home with me to keep his memory alive was this old oiler. It’s identical to the one in post 102 besides the neck behind a solid tube. Thanks to the members here and learning to appreciate well built old things from my grandpa I knew I had to hold onto this to continue its life and use in my shop. Other then a little rust on the neck it’s in great condition and works very smoothly.

 

[lardy1]

I've had some of this stuff for a long time. This is the first time it has all been in the same place at the same time. Garage sale ****. I doubt I've got twenty bucks into all of it combined.

 

[lis2323]

I've had some of this stuff for a long time. This is the first time it has all been in the same place at the same time. Garage sale ****. I doubt I've got twenty bucks into all of it combined.

Nice little collection, lardy![emoji41]


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[Oilfanatic]

I have a lot too many too name. Been collecting since I was a kid.

 

[cpttuna]

my collection

 

[ukruser]

Got this little can today

Does anybody know how to remove rust and not destroy it?

I have a similar one in perfect condition and use it. But this one older and with metal spout

 

[PacificaVette]

Got this little can today


Does anybody know how to remove rust and not destroy it?

I have a similar one in perfect condition and use it. But this one older and with metal spout

Evaporust is best rust remover I have found, especially for small items like this.

 

[Arne73]

Endres thumb oiler..

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[Arne73]

Unmarked trigger can

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[Private Lugnutz]

Endres thumb oiler..

That's a sweet can, Arne. Enderes has quite the history and recently made a comeback.

 

[Arne73]

A big Eagle oiler and a cool thumb oiler from Maple City Stamping,missing its spout.

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[Arne73]

Thanks, Lugz. I've been trying to clear off the workbench and brought what I found toof. out into the light for a photo op.

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[Arne73]

Another small no-name and one from Page (metal?) Mfg in Pittsburgh.

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[Private Lugnutz]

That's a Gem. It reads GEM MFG CO PITTSBURGH PA. Gem, Eagle, and Noera were the biggest suppliers for WWII spring bottom oilers. In fact, if that has a 4" diameter at the base, it's a 1/2-pint capacity, and if that spout is 4" tall, it's a jeep-spec oiler. It was part of the kit, but unlike the rest of the tools, stowed in the stowage bins over the rear fenders, it was placed in a holder in the engine compartment.

 

[Arne73]

It sure does Lugz, thanks [emoji1787]

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[Arne73]

Finally, here are some small ones.
The one on the right is a pump oiler; has "Cushman & Denison N.Y." and a 4-89 patent date stamped underneath the finger grip.
The two on the left have typical bottom "oil can" action and the benefit of the pin in the cap for precise oiling.

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[AceofSpad3s]

I meant to show this months ago. I was on a lubrication kick,I'd buy any oiler I saw at a garage sale that wasn't leaking (ended up with two silver eagles of different sizes) and bought a mini thumb grease gun that I bought on amazon.
A month or two ago I went to some barn sale, and instead of like what I'd usually do years ago of vacuuming up everything in the place, then finding out they want silly prices, then leave after wasting a few hours, I probed for prices on some things and looked for anything of significant interest.
Well I found two 66's on some bottom shelf, a folding draw knife and a cabinet scraping plane. I would've had a heart attack years ago at paying $5 per oiler, but I think I got everything for $18 and I needed some of it, so not bad.
The one on the left was rough so I was going to keep it, I'm polishing it, need to buy a bigger wheel instead of using a dremel, the right one is NOS and has never had oil in it from what I can see, no dents, even has a threaded cap for the spout. I'll probably sell it on ebay at some point, maybe if it was a fixed one I'd keep it, I don't know if flex is more desirable or not but I don't think I'd care for it.

 

[ed4banger]

Got a few little ones....

 

[antiquerose]

MYSTERY HERE .... I have an old Abbey oiler - says MADE IN ENGLAND. I can not find out much info on it for example (A) Age, or (B) Years made, (C) Type of oiler (D) Was this for auto, or trains or what ? (E) Rare or not?

It is about 14 inches tall -- can anyone help me? HEARD OF THIS MAKER BEFORE? Or anything at all. Thanks

 

[subroc]

Years ago I bought a Craftsman lathe. Included with it was a variety of old stuff including these oil cans. Not a collector but I expect these might be of interest to some in this thread.

 

[racecougar]

No idea what year this one would've been made, but this old Brookins Model 1002 came home with me the other day. The swing spout and trigger valve features are pretty cool.

I stumbled across this thread while searching for info on it. I'll have to post up photos of my other more conventional oilers later. In the meantime, if anyone knows anything about this one, I'm all ears!

 

[crguy]

Service stations used those to transfer oil from bulk containers into car engines.

 

[racecougar]

Yep. I'm guessing that one is '40's era, but I haven't seen any real info to support that.

 

[FMC1959]

Vey different and interesting. What does the thumb switch/lever do...open a valve at the bottom to allow oil to flow? The goose neck looks like it articulates; one photo it is up close and tight to the can, another photo it is almost 90 degrees outward from the can. Do you have a pic that shows the actual joint that articulates? I am curious to see how it is made so that it does not leak.

 

[racecougar]

Yes, the thumb trigger opens the valve at the bottom to allow flow. The swing spout pivots at the base of the can. You can see the pivot point in the last photo showing the bottom of the can.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In the meantime, if anyone knows anything about this one, I'm all ears!

In today's catalogs (e.g., McMaster-Carr, etc) it would be called a pitcher. Technically, that can was called a "measure" in period parlance. They typically came in 1 quart, 2 quarts, and 1 gallon capacities. The reason I offer that is because you may find it more helpful in your research to use that term. That is how they are listed in period catalogs, etc, including federal standard stock catalogs (they were issued to WWII 2nd Echelon tool-sets, for filling crankcases, that some of us collect). Other major, common brands are Huffman and Swingspout. Posts #68 and #78 on page 4 of this thread have a few examples and some period context. The patent and reissue patent number date to 1924 and 1929 respectively. The Cincinnati Ball Crank Distributing Company bought out Brookins Mfg, Inc. on April 1, 1932 and continued to use the name as a brand. Yours is probably from the 30's.

 

[racecougar]

Here are a few shots of the oilers that I actually use.

 

[mark#3]

Ya, I got the kind/number, well til a while ago as someone stole some

 

[zer01]

Handed down through my in-laws.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this at the flea market this morning. I was a little worried about its condition, but it cleaned up well. Brass stopper and fixtures, leather gaskets. Pumps like the day it was made. Guessing it holds a half-pint or so. No markings, but I'm really liking it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Interesting! I was thinking that was a small gear oil pump.