Source for Oil Cans?

AndrewDean · **Joined:** Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:17 pm **Posts:** 15

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

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

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.

Paul Boschan · **Joined:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:45 pm **Posts:** 89

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.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

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

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 07, 2019 3:59 pm

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.

sleepermonster · **Joined:** Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:57 pm **Posts:** 100

It would mean importing from the UK, but you might like to do a search for "Hetherington Lamp Company", of Welshpool, wales.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

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.

marshall5 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:30 am **Posts:** 56

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.

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

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

JohnHillier · **Posted:** Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:57 pm

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.

Dave · **Posted:** Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:10 pm

That's called Patina, John..... or Wabi in Japan.

mrwalsh85 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:55 pm **Posts:** 100

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.

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

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?