miniature oil cans 5x thumb oilers Miele Singer 1940

These 5 small oiling squirt cans are completely made of metal and from around 1940. These are so called thumb oilers or miniature oil can, because of their size (ca. 5 cm or 2 inches in diameter). One is signed Miele (for the German manufacture of not only washing machines but also motorized bikes and even cars for a small period. There are also 2 slightly different ones signed Singer (for the sewing machine company) and 2 non signed versions. Signs of age with only 1 small dent in the non-signed chromium one.

These small oil cans are in good vintage condition but not tested for daily use, so sold as a collectable or display item. These were used for a wide variety of smaller mechanical machines. Back then machines did not only require often regular maintenance but had to be oiled “on the fly” when they were running dry. These were used on motor cycles, bikes, typewriters, sewing machines, kitchen appliances and so on. Do read a little more about these interesting items in the blog post: great collection: miniature oil cans.

Check out the video about oil can restoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJNg53VtZVU&t=18s