Railway Preservation News
http://www.rypn.org/forums/

Source for Oil Cans?
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43025		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  AndrewDean [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Source for Oil Cans?
Hello all,

Is anyone aware of a source for new, long spout railroad "engineer" style oil cans? We have a small stock of originals that we use on a daily basis, but which are very much showing their age with increasing leaks and stopper valve issues. We have used modern "squirt" type oilers with longer spouts - but lets face it, they do not look the part, nor are they truly as versatile as the real thing for getting those hard to reach spots.

Thank You,

Andrew Dean
CMO Frisco Silver Dollar Line
Silver Dollar City, LLC.
Branson, MO
Author:  Steve DeGaetano [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
I'm not sure anyone makes a modern version. I picked a vintage one off ebay for the railroad that wasn't too expensive. It had a perfect spout. That might be your best bet.
Author:  Paul Boschan [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
McMaster-Carr has a nice selection of long oilers and car oilers, though they call them "hand held oil dispensers" and "pitchers". Try searching "Oil Cans" on the website.
Author:  PMC [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Paul Boschan wrote:
McMaster-Carr has a nice selection of long oilers and car oilers, though they call them "hand held oil dispensers" and "pitchers". Try searching "Oil Cans" on the website.

https://www.mcmaster.com/hand-pump-oilers
https://www.mcmaster.com/oilers
Author:  Frisco1522 [ Thu Feb 07, 2019 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Well crap. I donated the old MP oil can with the long spout to the Iron Spike Museum in Washington, MO a couple months ago.
Author:  sleepermonster [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
It would mean importing from the UK, but you might like to do a search for "Hetherington Lamp Company", of Welshpool, wales.
Author:  PMC [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
sleepermonster wrote:
It would mean importing from the UK, but you might like to do a search for "Hetherington Lamp Company", of Welshpool, wales.

http://www.hetheringtonlamp.co.uk/

Very nice, but I would bet not cheap.
Author:  marshall5 [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Again in the U.K. traditional oil bottles and feeders, no website but e-mail is norfolktinman@btinternet.com. Their ad. is on p.100 of the Feb. issue of Steam Railway.
Another supplier is https://footplateequipment.co.uk/herita ... urers.html
Ray.
Author:  Steve DeGaetano [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Those British cans are nice tallow pots, but nothing like the typical long-spout oiler the OP is looking for. This one's not too bad, but if you're patient, you can probably find something with a better spout:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Railroad-Long-Spout-28-Tall-Oil-Can-Oiler/173765498650?hash=item28753b171a:g:z5UAAOSw-FRb9OWo:rk:6:pf:0
Author:  JohnHillier [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Any theories as to why every long oiler that comes to mind has that very same dent on the upper portion? I've used plenty of them, and thinking to when this stuff was an everyday tool, I'm sure just about every single one was thrown out of the cab or dropped in between the frame at some point, not to mention they always leak at the bottom seam or develop a crack on the neck.
Author:  Dave [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
That's called Patina, John..... or Wabi in Japan.
Author:  mrwalsh85 [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
JohnHillier wrote:
Any theories as to why every long oiler that comes to mind has that very same dent on the upper portion? I've used plenty of them, and thinking to when this stuff was an everyday tool, I'm sure just about every single one was thrown out of the cab or dropped in between the frame at some point, not to mention they always leak at the bottom seam or develop a crack on the neck.


I understand that the bottom seam would leak because it'd get overheated sitting on the little shelf over the fire door, melting the solder...

As far as the crack on the neck, probably from being too eager to move to the next lubrication point instead of taking the time to properly remove the spout in the same manner it was inserted.
Author:  Kelly Anderson [ Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
mrwalsh85 wrote:
As far as the crack on the neck, probably from being too eager to move to the next lubrication point instead of taking the time to properly remove the spout in the same manner it was inserted.
Sounds painful...
Author:  Steve DeGaetano [ Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
JohnHillier wrote:
Any theories as to why every long oiler that comes to mind has that very same dent on the upper portion? I've used plenty of them, and thinking to when this stuff was an everyday tool, I'm sure just about every single one was thrown out of the cab or dropped in between the frame at some point, not to mention they always leak at the bottom seam or develop a crack on the neck.
I've got two oilers, neither of which has the dent. However, I have the same question about the dents you see in the jars of red pepper flakes in pizza joints. Are these jars dropped that frequently?
Author:  Kelly Anderson [ Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Source for Oil Cans?
Also, the air compressor jackets in quite a few Baldwin builder's photos in the early years of the last century aften had the same horizontal dent as though some fixture BLW used to hang them always bore against the same spot. They were always all the more conspicuous to me due to everything else on the engine looking showroom fresh.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/