Show your oiler cans

[Private Lugnutz]

Very well could be. I didn't take a photo, but the tip has a cruciform opening. High quality construction.

 

[FMC1959]

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.

Really cool and very nice condition

 

[freudianfloyd]

Just ran across this thread. I have a small collection of oilers. I dont know much about them, they just remind me of my grandpa, so I pick them up when I run across them at yardsales.



I know a few are Goldenrods which I guess are more desirable. And a few are Eagle, which I understand are some of the good ones.

Any info you guys could provide on any of these would be appreciated, especially if any are rare.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I didn't check all 7 pages but someone must have thought of this guy before now: Oil Can Boyd.

I have one of the Golden Rods the OP posted. I never knew anyone else beside myself cared much about oil cans. I almost never use them but I still have a few because I guess they appeal to the little boy in me.

 

[RTM]

Here are my few oilers. I remember dad had a red handle Golden Rod oiler back in the 70s, I’d use it to oil bike chains, and to shoot at my brother. Goodness knows where it ended up, but I saw one at a GS a few years back, and grabbed it. Recently found a second one without the red spout, and grabbed it too. While cleaning out a garage cabinet last weekend, I found the silver one, which had been set aside for cleaning, and forgotten about. So I spent some time on it, found out it’s very similar to the K-P Manufacturing shown in post #210, with the patent and the Made in USA, but not the mfgr name. It had kind of a sticky dirty finish, but a big clean rectangle like there used to be a label there, showing a fairly nice sheen. So I gave it a cleaning in Simple Green, WD40, rubbing compound, 3m wheel, and some Blue Magic polish, as well as cleaning and wiping out the interior using a blue shop towel in a pair of hemostats. The red handle can still needs a bit of external cleaning, but all three are ready to use.


For a while I kept the first GR oiler sitting on my Reed vise with a super magnet holding it to the tail end of the slide as a subtle reminder not to use that for anything. The magnet kept it from falling off. When I was done, I moved it to the top of a cabinet, a foot from where I found the silver one, still with the magnet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to find this 'Master Oiler' branded spring-steel bottom oiler at the flea market this morning. The etched script branding is fabulous. It has a 4" spout and a brass screwtop and thumbnut. Capacity is 1/2-pint. I haven't done any research, but I suspect Eagle or GEM.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that is quite a piece of work there. great find!

 

[Outlawmws]

that script oil can is cool!

 

[bonneyman]

+3 Very cool

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, guys. I still haven't figured out who made it.

Meanwhile, I picked up this precision pocket oiler this morning at the flea. Love the deep amber color. The cap is hard plastic, but the body, which holds the oil, is soft, malleable plastic. The ferrule and needle as well as the pocket clip are steel.



It still has some oil in it. You squeeze to release oil. And apparently, the idea is if there's excess you want to remove, you squeeze, hold, put the tip into it, and then release to **** it up.



Branded "LUBRISTYL" (which I am guessing is supposed to be a portmanteau of Lubrication and Stylus), and "MADE IN SWITZERLAND."



Coolest ad I could find was from a 1968 Popular Mechanics, but it was TM'ed in 1955, first use in 1955, and I found ads throughout the late 50's and 60's. The importer was right here in NJ.

 

[FMC1959]

Another cool find Mr Lugnutz

 

[bonneyman]

+2

Leave it to the Swiss to make an ultra-cool pocket oiler. They even do cheese right!

P.S. Just found them new, at the watch repair tool website. Don't know how much you paid Lugz, but - if was less than $34 - you did well.

Lubristyl Swiss Precision Watch Oiler

Discover the difference when you use this Lubristyl precision watch oiler which comes complete with packets of oil and a reservoir to hold your oil.

www.esslinger.com

 

[Raineman]

I make the small ones into Christmas ornaments

 

[Outlawmws]

Haha! I like it!

Not sure I can get away with that, but....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Leave it to the Swiss to make an ultra-cool pocket oiler.

My thoughts exactly. I think they had watches in mind, but I'm thinking firearms.

P.S. Just found them new, at the watch repair tool website.

Wow. I didn't even think to see if they were still being made. They got a little fancier in style, but pretty much the same.

Don't know how much you paid Lugz, but - if was less than $34 - you did well.

It was on the 'Everything is $1' table.

I make the small ones into Christmas ornaments

Ingenious! Looks just like a jingle bell!

 

[ChefRex]

Some of mine, don't know much about them but I do pick them up when I see them, there's more around,lol

 

[Monte]

Goldenrod 636

 

[racecougar]

Picked up a couple new additions the other day:

 

[WagonHo!]

Can’t for the life of me remember when or where I got this. Says 1911 WW1 Oiler on the sticker but no other markings. Any body verify, seems like I’ve seen it on someone’s post.

 

[JjKk40]

Picked these 2 up rescently. I think the "Brother" is for an older typewriter???

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I have 2 run of the mill Eagle Oilers with the "flared base" so that they don't fall over as easily. I also have a Craftsman oiler without the flare so I 3d printed a flare and used double face tape to hold it in place. The oil will eventually destroy the double face tape and possibly even the PLA used to print the flare. The next mod will be split with a bolt assembly to tighten it to the can - but that's beyond my modeling skills at the moment.

Cheers

Jim

 

[brockmub]

JjKk40 - I was told by a few old ladies that the Brother oilers were for sewing machines. I've got one like it.​

I'm an IT instructor now but grew up a farm kid, so I have many memories with little oilers on the farm. We used them changing mower sickles, lubricating chains, and all sorts of general maintenance. I've been collecting them for a couple years when I go picking with my brother. Here are the oilers (and a few oil cans) my family lets me display.

 

[Joe Huld]

Here are 3 from my collection: those on the left and right are cast iron and the center one is steel with a welded seam and machined spout.

 

[georgiadave]

Can’t for the life of me remember when or where I got this. Says 1911 WW1 Oiler on the sticker but no other markings. Any body verify, seems like I’ve seen it on someone’s post.

That is an oil can for a Browning machine gun. WWI and WWII and Korea.

 

[jonshonda]

Anyone aware of an oiler can that would be good for boiled linseed oil? Needs to be air tight when not in use.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

those on the left and right are cast iron

Very cool, Joe. I'm most curious about the bottoms. I have delved a little into oil can construction via WWII specs for jeep oilers. As you might expect in that era, the vessels were seamless heavy gauge high-grade cold rolled steel. But the "push-bottoms" (as you know, most oil cans are stubborn to drip due to the viscosity and the tiny opening in the spout without a little help) were very thin (.012") carbon or tempered spring steel electrically welded to the vessel. Is the bottom on the one on the left cast with the body?! What is the composition of the bottom on the one that is soldered to the body on the right? If you've had oil in them, how well do they work?

Anyone aware of an oiler can that would be good for boiled linseed oil? Needs to be air tight when not in use.

Vintage hand pump oilers (Plews, etc) seal fairly well, jon. That is, they won't dispense unless you pump them. And they won't generally leak, even if left inadvertently upside down. I imagine your concern is evaporation (drying up rapidly) and perhaps flammability. I will emphasize that I have not done it. I'm just thinking about my pump oilers with regular oil.

 

[four.cycle]

Very cool on the cast-iron oil cans.

Linseed oil left exposed to the atmosphere will, over time, turn into a hopeless semi-hardened goo that is almost impossible to remove.
Old-school practice with fine sign-lettering brushes was to leave them soaking in a shallow baking dish of linseed oil - it kept the oil-base sign lettering enamel from drying in the ferrules of the ($40 in 1970) sash brushes (aka "fitch") or ($30 in 1970) lettering brushes (aka "quills").
After an unplanned "career change" and several moves, I finally found that baking pan full of brushes buried in a box under some other stuff. I managed to salvage ONE of my "Artsign" 5/8" Russian sable lettering brushes. The rest went into the garbage.

Not quite the same as the yellowish glaze found on old Craftsman sockets and drive tools. Nasty stuff.

Find an old Plews pump oiler - we never had any problems with Plews when we were selling it.

YMMV

 

[jonshonda]

Vintage hand pump oilers (Plews, etc) seal fairly well, jon. That is, they won't dispense unless you pump them. And they won't generally leak, even if left inadvertently upside down. I imagine your concern is evaporation (drying up rapidly) and perhaps flammability. I will emphasize that I have not done it. I'm just thinking about my pump oilers with regular oil.

Yeah more concerned about contact with air and drying out then anything else. Where is a good place to find a nice plew or similar? Have any to sell?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Jon. I might could be persuaded to part with the Plews that is second from right in this pic. I like the Plews next to it more because of the flexible spout and especially the wide no-tip base.





But, as much as I don't mind making some coffee cash, I think you should check eBay or CL etc. Vintage pump oilers of this type are not uncommon, or expensive, and I bet the modern jobbies are just as functional and perhaps even cheaper. And you may want a larger one. Anything that pumps is sealed, I think. Until you actuate the pump. If you look around a little and can't find anything reasonable, PM me.

 

[WagonHo!]

That is an oil can for a Browning machine gun. WWI and WWII and Korea.

Thanks,
now tell me when and where I got it?

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah.. they're all over ebay - new/used/whatever.

 

[Joe Huld]

Very cool, Joe. I'm most curious about the bottoms. I have delved a little into oil can construction via WWII specs for jeep oilers. As you might expect in that era, the vessels were seamless heavy gauge high-grade cold rolled steel. But the "push-bottoms" (as you know, most oil cans are stubborn to drip due to the viscosity and the tiny opening in the spout without a little help) were very thin (.012") carbon or tempered spring steel electrically welded to the vessel. Is the bottom on the one on the left cast with the body?! What is the composition of the bottom on the one that is soldered to the body on the right? If you've had oil in them, how well do they work?

Vintage hand pump oilers (Plews, etc) seal fairly well, jon. That is, they won't dispense unless you pump them. And they won't generally leak, even if left inadvertently upside down. I imagine your concern is evaporation (drying up rapidly) and perhaps flammability. I will emphasize that I have not done it. I'm just thinking about my pump oilers with regular oil.

The bottoms on both cast iron cans are sheet brass so I am pretty sure that they have to be soldered, the larger can has so much excess I have to assume that it is a repair. BTW your comment on the WWII Jeep under hood oil cans reminded me it is time to oil the generator on my 53 Willys truck. Why do you suppose they eliminated the oil can when civilian production resumed?

 

[Outlawmws]

Why do you suppose they eliminated the oil can when civilian production resumed?

I'd guess that a civilian owner was expected to have a home garage to keep an oil can in. where as an Army Jeep in the field might never see an actual maintenance depot.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Additionally, after 1931, anything that could be done to get the vehicle back into the dealership for service was done. If that meant removing a feature from the vehicle that would have made it easier for the vehicle owner to effect repairs or maintenance, it was done.
Remember than Henry Ford put a complete tool kit in every Model T sold so the vehicle owner could keep the thing running. That all changed after 1931.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The bottoms on both cast iron cans are sheet brass

Thanks. That's interesting.

It's a funny thing about oilers. These wonderful, well-made, seamless vessels with threaded, gasketed necks and spouts - and then they weld the flexible push-bottom on. In my experience, the first thing to rust is the bottom, usually right around the weld. It's what the can sits on, of course.

Why do you suppose they eliminated the oil can when civilian production resumed?

Outlaw and 4.c are on it, Joe. The under-the-hood spring-loaded oil can bracket, affixed to the firewall, was a US Army QMC spec. Engineering Spec 422C, for all wheeled vehicles except motorcycles and trailers, March 26, 1941. Same document specified jacks, a fire extinguisher, grease gun, and a small, standardized on-board tool kit. It wasn't a Willys thing. Most trucks had the oil can in the bracket. Most of them were made by a company named Bassick. Gem, Eagle, and Noera cans.

It would be neat, though!

 

[Joe Huld]

I'd guess that a civilian owner was expected to have a home garage to keep an oil can in. where as an Army Jeep in the field might never see an actual maintenance depot.

You are probably right but in practice most civilian owners simply neglect service until something breaks. In the military timely maintenance is usually encouraged by inspirational messages from the sergeant.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Dead on.
Run a google search and you'll find a very comprehensive and well-made YouTube documentary video detailing the disastrous effects of the 1929 stock market crash on the automotive industry and its consequent effect on automobile dealerships in the U.S.
The auto manufacturers saw the writing on the wall: without their dealership distribution network, they wouldn't be able to sell their wares nationwide in any practical manner.

 

[2oolhound]

Angry Beaver, sorry to hear you're leakin oil...

Hey Greasenippel those cast oilers are unique. JoeHuld just posted some similar closer to home here (Thanks for posting yours here too Joe).

cpttuna nice bunch you have there!

Rogers954 nice to have a special attachment to a tool you'll keep around!

lardy I'll see your $20 and raise you $20! Nice collection!

Welcome aboard oilfanatic! You've come to the right place, you fit right in!

Arne73, Wow, those are some beauts! I like those small ones too, great collection.

Ace I gotta get one of those pumpers

Ed, nice collection

antiquerose sorry I can't help answer your questions on your Abby oiler. I have my hands full just following up on this thread. I'm starting to get a little free time now so I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you. It's a nice one!

subroc Ya gotta love freebies. We're not all collectors here as oilers are useful but I'd venture to say eventually some of the folks here have turned into collectors.

racecouger Ahhhgg a swing spout! I've only ever seen one of those in the wild around my neck of the woods 1 time and I wouldn't part with $20 to take it home at the time. I'd love to have one of those in my collection uh er I mean my arsenal of oiler tools I keep on hand for lubricating things.

The rest of yours look "handy" too, I have a couple of the Italian jobs myself.

zer01 nice start there, I like the small one top left the best.

Lugs man, you don't stop. You must be crowding Don Long for having the most oilers. Keep em coming and thanks for all the very thorough details!!! The pump is serious business.

fruedian those are some good looking performers there. I don't know what to make of the green one.

Dan, Thanks for the pic of "oil can" ! I never saw that when I scoured the web award photos for this thread. Do you mind if I use it here for a special tribute to someone's unique oiler?
Thanks for the story and photos of your oilers too.

Lugs, the script oiler is boss! It looks hand done. what a find.
I have a few needle oilers like yours but the smooth taper on the metal end is unique. It's a beaut too. I'll have to check mine to see iff they are made by the same place.

raineman, that is too cool buddy! Priceless idea and it looks great! Thanks for posting!

ChefRex more oilers with the labels still on, I rarely find them with labels. Nice.

Hi Monte, why do I get the feeling you wear these things out. Thanks for posting.

racecougar another swing spout! good score!

WagonHo Those are nice, I always thought they were for motorcycle kits.

JjKk40 Oh Brother Oiler - where for art thou? (like where's mine? I want one). Nice!

Jim, Nice work on the 3D base! You could sell those here. Great innovation there!

brockmub Welcome aboard! I love your display! Thanks for posting!

Joe Huld Thanks again for posting those here. They are truly unique treasures in my opinion.


It's been a while since I've posted on this thread and there are so many ultra cool oilers and affiliated paraphernalia it's mind boggling however,

Tin Man​

wants to tip his funnel to Private Lugnuts for his incredible finds and relentless commitment not only to this thread but to the GJ forum in general. I don't know about the rest of you but in the past 2 years with the Covid slow down GJ participation seems to have dropped down significantly and you Lugs have continued keeping this thread and the forum in general extremely interesting for all of us with a lot of new content and detail.

TIN MAN speaks for all of us with a big TIP OF HIS FUNNEL to Private Lugnuts!


HOORAY!!!

 

[2oolhound]

I came across a nice oiler a while back. It wasn’t for sale but I snapped some photos of the kit.





This oiler is part of a water current meter kit. Basically you drop the meter into the ocean from a fixed position and it measures revolutions of the propeller per second to determine the current speed. This oiler holds roughly twice the capacity of the pocket type oilers in earlier posts.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

t's been a while since I've posted on this thread

I personally love it when you have to play catch up and make individual remarks on months of posts because it is a succinct reminder of what I found and what everyone else found, which is often too easily forgotten!

TIN MAN wants to tip his funnel to Private Lugnuts

I appreciate the lubricating effects of his appreciation!

This oiler is part of a water current meter kit.

Wow. Just wow. So dang cool. Its own little compartment. And the kit even has the equation on the label. Speaking of which, I wonder if that "K&E" is Keuffel & Esser!