Tank oiler?

[lyman1903]

Rimmed containers,  set of 2,  

 

no dates or numbers, or broad arrows etc, 

 

going from memory,  not quite 2' tall,  rimmed on one side, 

 

basically steel cannisters that look like a shell casing, but have  sealable opening , and a small brass spout that is held in place by a spring, 

 

 

I've posted thes in a couple places over the years and the general consensus is they look like an oiler, but no one has seen one like it, 

 

 

may be WW1??   or not?

 

 

 

 

Edited 3 March by lyman1903
add

[lyman1903]

Side view

End with filler or removable cap/plug

Last one with the d-ring for the cap pulled up

[GRANVILLE]

Anyone's guess if this helps but from a copy of  Mechanical Maintenance of the MK IV Tank, under the section: Lubrication of the Transmission, is the following - Clutch - The greaser on the clutch extension shaft must be refilled and screwed right down twice daily. The two greasers on the ball-race housing must be refilled and screwed down once daily.

Unfortunately there are no illustrations with the instructions.

 

With your reference to them being considered 'oilers', I wondered if it was more likely they were grease tubes? I would say the colour and condition of the paint on them, puts them in the right period.

 

David

[lyman1903]

36 minutes ago, GRANVILLE said:

Anyone's guess if this helps but from a copy of  Mechanical Maintenance of the MK IV Tank, under the section: Lubrication of the Transmission, is the following - Clutch - The greaser on the clutch extension shaft must be refilled and screwed right down twice daily. The two greasers on the ball-race housing must be refilled and screwed down once daily.

Unfortunately there are no illustrations with the instructions.

 

With your reference to them being considered 'oilers', I wondered if it was more likely they were grease tubes? I would say the colour and condition of the paint on them, puts them in the right period.

 

David

thanks for that info, 

 

I don't think they are grease tubes simply because there would be no way to fill or get grease out, 

the opening on the rounded 'neck' is not  that large either, 

 

I'll take a pic of the the 'neck' and  post it up

[lyman1903]

Nipple, spout or neck? Attached

[GRANVILLE]

I'd be more interested to see what the handle on the other end does. Does it unscrew so that the canister can be filled?

 

David

[lyman1903]

it unscrews,  (basically a D ring) and the nipple from screws into it,

[GRANVILLE]

With it now. I can see where the oiler idea has come from but struggle to see its use practically.

 

David

[lyman1903]

that's the quandry, 

 

I am fairly certain these are not one off's, as in only a couple made,  

 

yet I cannot find any reference, or any one that would know, why the are shaped like a the brass part of a cartridge, and what they would hold

 

seems in field use the nozzle would get lost quickly,   since only that coil spring and a groove in the container hold it in place, 

 

so far they have been great conversation starters!!