oiler ?

[RedVise]

Picked up this small oiler, possibly for a sewing machine ?

Bottom shows 2 PAT'D dates: April 23 95 & April 6 97

The needle in the lid puzzles me. Any ideas ?

Brian L.

[rusty]

For oiling clocks?

[Donny B.]

What a pretty little thing!


Perhaps the needle is there to allow you to place a very small drop of oil just where you want it to be.

[Hm Wrench]

For fishing reels, sewing machines, motorcycles and a lot of other things.  I have seen them marked Shakespeare for the fishing reel company.  They also came in multiple early motorcycle tool kits up into the 1920's.  I have seen them sold on EBay as gun oilers, vintage bicycle oilers etc.
There is another version that has a hex instead of an oval and there are three patents dates I have seen.  I would love to know who made them, but have never found any info or the patent.  I think Donny is on target on the needle.




Thanks,
Kirk

[RedVise]

Thanks all !

It is possible the patent dates are actually 05 and 07, the 0 or 9 stamp is not clear. It seems like an old piece.

Brian L.

[rusty]

 April 6 97

Probably  Design patent 26871, April 6, 1897,

"Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. CHASE,
of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven
and State of ,Connecticut, have invented a new
 Design for a Pocket Oil-Can ; "

[RedVise]

Rusty, excellent!!  I thought it was too new to have 1997 patent, but didnt think of it going back to 1897 !

Brian L.

[scottg]

  This is the first "cute" pocket oiler anybody ever gets. 
It was certainly my first. I've had several just like it.
 
   I gave one to my buddy Roy,
   and now that poor bastard has to look for pocket oilers wherever he goes,
Just Like Me! heehehehe

   There are many more designs out there to find.

 If you ever get started on pocket oilers, there is no going back. 

   Yes this model always has the needle in the cap, to keep the spout clear.
  If they aren't broken, that is.
    yours Scott

[rusty]

There is more history here, tho hard to find. by  1920's Chase is the principal of the Chase companies, five plants including, The Chase Rolling mill , and the Chase Metal works, dealing in copper and brass and employing 16,000 people in CT

The second of these companies was built for WWI to supply tubing for the shipbuilding industry. That relationship got Chase into Mare Island, and another spinoff in CA...

From a humble pocket oil can....

[Hm Wrench]

Here is a new one for your collection. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/OILER-BODINE-ELECTRIC-CO-CHICAGO-NO-2-MOTOR-OIL-/300564317420?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fb0784ec

[Hm Wrench]

Thisi s  fascinating , Thank you Rusty for the wonderful information. 

[Wrenchmensch]

Pocket Oiler?  I have never oiled my pockets.