This was given to me by a family member. I presume the D&HRR insignia means this was used on the Delaware & Hudson RR. It is a canister of some sort with a spout. Does anyone know what it is called and what it was used for back in the day?
My guess would be a kerosene or coal oil can for filling lanterns, marker kights etc.
How does the cap seat into the top of the can?
If used for coal oil, the top might press or screw into internal threads or rim, rather than a raised collar, the idea of the domed top being to condense and return any volatiles vaporized by transient heat. If the lid fit like that on a milk can, the droplets running down the dome would try to wick through the press joint instead of falling to the liquid...
Are there any provisions visible to cork or plug the spout? Seems to me that a kerosene can would have some way to block evaporation from it.
And is there a wire-gauze 'strainer' in the spout anywhere (probably right at its junction with the can)? That would serve as a flame arrester.
It occurs to me that day coaches and the like might have had water coolers rather than piping from pressurized reservoirs and all that jazz -- and that the typical inverted-glass-bottle sort might not have done well in railroad service. How would potable water be brought aboard such cars? (It seems highly unlikely to me that it would be done in galvanized cans, rather than enameled ones, but many watering cans of the day were of that construction.)
It looks similar to a valve oil can I saw a fireman using on one of those "How To Run A Steam Locomotive" videos I've got. The fireman used it to feed the reservoir of a valve oil lubricating system.
Overmod How does the cap seat into the top of the can? If used for coal oil, the top might press or screw into internal threads or rim, rather than a raised collar, the idea of the domed top being to condense and return any volatiles vaporized by transient heat. If the lid fit like that on a milk can, the droplets running down the dome would try to wick through the press joint instead of falling to the liquid...
It mostly just sits there, held in with gravity. There is a slight bit of friction when inserting the cap, but no indentations or anything that cause it to snap into place. Definitely no threads or anything like that.
Overmod Are there any provisions visible to cork or plug the spout? Seems to me that a kerosene can would have some way to block evaporation from it. And is there a wire-gauze 'strainer' in the spout anywhere (probably right at its junction with the can)? That would serve as a flame arrester.
Yes. It is not clearly visible in the picture, but there is a galvanized plug that fits inside the spout, attached to the spout by a short length of chain. Just like the cap, there are no threads or any other design features that serve to retain the plug in pace. It is held in primiarily with gravity. There is no strainer of any sort in the spout.
Overmod It occurs to me that day coaches and the like might have had water coolers rather than piping from pressurized reservoirs and all that jazz -- and that the typical inverted-glass-bottle sort might not have done well in railroad service. How would potable water be brought aboard such cars? (It seems highly unlikely to me that it would be done in galvanized cans, rather than enameled ones, but many watering cans of the day were of that construction.)
I doubt you would ever heat or boil water in a galvanized can.
As you note, this is probably a restocking can; the raised bottom (aside from facilitating a mechanical tight folded seal there) keeps the bottom out of sliding or sticking contact.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.