15 Year Mystery, and a long story.......Syringe?

[dkw]

First a little history on the item(sorry for being long winded).

This was found at a mid to late 1800s home about fifteen years ago. I worked for the ranch that had the pasture that the home stood on. We had a tornado come through and it peeled the rotted tin roof off of the house and exposed the old wooden shingles. While cleaning up the mess, I noticed the tube end of this item sticking out from between the shingles. I was wedged in between the layers of shingles and appeared to have been there for a great long while. The home was located in Central Missouri. The last person to live in the house was killed on Wednesday, January 4, 1961 at 9:15pm by a train. He was said to have parked on the tracks and waited for it.

The item in question is a tube with a threaded cap and a hollow plunger with what appears to be a leather cup type seal at the bottom. I would guess it to be made of brass and it was plated at one time. There are no holes in the body of the tube. The leather seal is dried out but the item was obviously used to draw or disperse fluid. I just have no idea what.

 

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[Montana Jim]

How could it draw or disperse anything with no holes in the tube?

Interesting piece that looks familiar...

 

[mojjax]

Is that a hole I see ? it might be a pastry decorator . Hot Cross Buns !

 

[aaaaaaa]

Not liquid, but air perhaps.. Bicycle pump?

 

[mojjax]

What ever it is , those two " wings " look like finger holds . Maybe it sprayed insecticide ?

 

[dkw]

How could it draw or disperse anything with no holes in the tube?

Interesting piece that looks familiar...

The plunger is hollow. Maybe I should have called the tube "the body".

 

[Montana Jim]

How could it draw or disperse anything with no holes in the tube?

Interesting piece that looks familiar...

The plunger is hollow. Maybe I should have called the tube "the body".

I understand that it's hollow, but with no holes... right?

 

[dkw]

Is that a hole I see ?

Yes, The plunger is hollow. Picture a syringe with out the hole for the needle but with the hole through the plunger instead.

 

[Montana Jim]

Is the hole in the "end screw" threaded on the inside... as if to accept a smaller object like a needle?

 

[jgas]

Old Grease Gun Not sure...Nice find though....jgas

 

[dkw]

I understand that it's hollow, but with no holes... right?

Try this. I'm explaining it different than you're interpreting it.

 

[Tony in SC]

Looks like an early lubricator(grease gun). The grease would go up the plunger and out the hole in the fitting looking thing on the end. Tony

 

[aaaaaaa]

Have you tried to unscrew the "nipple" on the end?

I still say bicycle pump..

 

[dkw]

Is the hole in the "end screw" threaded on the inside... as if to accept a smaller object like a needle?

No, It's not threaded. It's very small. It measures roughly .06 inches in diameter on my calipers. That is the hole size in the knurled piece(end screw) that is attached to the outside end of the plunger. The hole in the plunger itself measures .16 inches in diameter.

 

[dkw]

Looks like an early lubricator(grease gun). The grease would go up the plunger and out the hole in the fitting looking thing on the end. Tony

Sounds very plausible. That is definitely the method by which it would operate.

 

[dkw]

Have you tried to unscrew the "nipple" on the end?

I haven't tried to unscrew the "nipple" for fear of breaking it. I does appear to be removable, though. I'll do a little research on old bicycle pumps. The finger "grips" and brass construction are what I question.

 

[aaaaaaa]

Similar
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1920s-lozier-brass-bicycle-pump

 

[72cheyenne]

Bicycle/air pump seems very possible. I'm thinking that the knurled piece at the end was once a needle with the tip broken off.

 

[trikikiwi]

Similar
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1920s-lozier-brass-bicycle-pump

I have to agree with you after that evidence
Mike

 

[AKiwi]

Looking at the 'Nipple', I don't think that it would of had a needle protruding.
It is so shaped that a small diameter rubber tube would be stretched over it and the tube held in place by the shape, and yes it's gotta be a bike pump.