Help Identifying Oiler

#1 · February 28, 2025, 2:58 pm

I found the attached Oiler in my garage that was left over from the previous owners when I moved into my new house.

Its about 3 1/2″ tall, truncated spout,

I think it says…Cambridge MFG. & Oiler Co. E. Cambridge Mass. engraved on spout knob.

Is it old?

Is it valuable?

What metal is it?

I have always wondered about this since it looks like one of the oldest things I own! So thank you in advance!

-BennyBoy

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#2 · March 1, 2025, 8:04 pm

If you look at the timeline of manufacturing companies in the resource section, a majority of the companies before 1900 were along the eastern coast of the U.S.. The engraving on the spout knob (E. Cambridge, Mass.) allows us to identify this small oiler as a “Draper” oiler made between 1888 – 1890. Your little oiler is 135 years-old. Extremely nice (even with the truncated spout) and very rare. Most of these early oilers were made of brass. If a magnet does not stick to it, it is brass. You have a very rare and important oiler. Congratulations.