Brass Plunger

[WilliVanilli]

Found this today detecting a creek near an early colonial homesite. At first, thought it was a vintage bike pump. Then thought it was a early syringe. Now going with grease gun. Plunger still slides and works with compression. Tip was clogged but after poking through, some greyish stuff came out. Stamped “JS” on top of the rim. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

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[Retired Sarge]

Could be a syringe either for human use or animal use, large brass syringes were common for a while. Or it could possibly be an oiler.

 

[DCMatt]

. Or it could possibly be an oiler.

Oiler or grease gun. Model T era.

 

[WilliVanilli]

Oiler or grease gun. Model T era.

Thanks. Mystery solved.

 

[WilliVanilli]

Could be a syringe either for human use or animal use, large brass syringes were common for a while. Or it could possibly be an oiler.

Thanks. Feel like this 1 is solved. Appreciate the help.

 

[Doubter in MD]

I was thinking antique pump off a beer tap, like the newer one pictured here.

 

[Reanm8er]

Not to creep anybody out but this is the type of syringe used to treat syphilis. From colonial times on up through the civil war syringes like this were used to inject Mercury up through the urethra. So I guess we know what the silver colored stuff was!

Errr, Nice Find! probably of significant value. No doubt outlived the patient.

If the group can agree on this I think it's banner!

 

[rick67]

 

[WilliVanilli]

Thanks for all the great feedback everybody. I’m heading back into the syringe direction now. A choke or oiler seems logical however, the recovery site is very remote with no roads anywhere close by. Here are some additional pics with better detail and size reference. I feel like the answer lies in the “JS” stamp on the head. Johnson Syringe?

 

[cutty]

all the old syringes i just looked at had a place for two fingers and a thumb for one handed operation. that one would require two.

 

[WilliVanilli]

all the old syringes i just looked at had a place for two fingers and a thumb for one handed operation. that one would require two.

Here are a few I found that look similar...

 

[Reanm8er]

I think Willi Vanilli hit the home run! That photo on the right is the article. The one you have is missing the tip but one would hope that the tips would be replaceable. Finding something like this in the middle of nowhere wouldn't be that odd for war artifacts. The French and Indian War was fought largely in the wilderness and so was the Revolution any time we could catch the British in there. When cavalry outfits were doing recon they traveled in forests or at night to stay out of site. One such expedition was Stewart's action north of Gettysburg in a time that his troops were badly needed in the battle.
It was also common that cavalry detachments carried medical staff with them that also acted as combatants. One such field surgeon was Dr. Russell who rode with Mosby. He spent his last years living in a hotel in my home town. He was once asked why he never participated in the reunion celebrations. He said he had ridden into battle, with Mosby, three times in the area and that every time he saw a certain soldier hiding under a powder wagon. Every time he'd gone to the celebration he'd seen the same man up on a wagon giving a hero speech!

 

[Reanm8er]

Is the knob brass also?

 

[WilliVanilli]

Is the knob brass also?

Yes.The stem or shaft of the plunger appears to be a silver colored material that has tons of wear which points me back in the “choke” or “oiler” direction. I’m stumped.

 

[WilliVanilli]

I think Willi Vanilli hit the home run! That photo on the right is the article. The one you have is missing the tip but one would hope that the tips would be replaceable. Finding something like this in the middle of nowhere wouldn't be that odd for war artifacts. The French and Indian War was fought largely in the wilderness and so was the Revolution any time we could catch the British in there. When cavalry outfits were doing recon they traveled in forests or at night to stay out of site. One such expedition was Stewart's action north of Gettysburg in a time that his troops were badly needed in the battle.
It was also common that cavalry detachments carried medical staff with them that also acted as combatants. One such field surgeon was Dr. Russell who rode with Mosby. He spent his last years living in a hotel in my home town. He was once asked why he never participated in the reunion celebrations. He said he had ridden into battle, with Mosby, three times in the area and that every time he saw a certain soldier hiding under a powder wagon. Every time he'd gone to the celebration he'd seen the same man up on a wagon giving a hero speech!

Fascinating information. I have recovered a few civil war relics from the area including confederate Calvary stirrups.

 

[against the wind]

Great detective work,
Really cool piece of history.

 

[Army]

It looks like pewter

 

[Reanm8er]

You have to figure that this item might have seen service throughout the civil war in the hands of one Dr or the other. Perhaps even used after the war for some time. It wouldn't have to have been used exclusively to treat venereal disease but to provide both suction and irrigation during surgery to remove bullets and other penetrating wounds. Since the stem contacts the back of the syringe, wear is inevitable. If it were a tool used for some kind of lubrication the wear wouldn't be so severe.

 

[A2coins]

Yep Im creeped out

 

[WilliVanilli]

You have to figure that this item might have seen service throughout the civil war in the hands of one Dr or the other. Perhaps even used after the war for some time. It wouldn't have to have been used exclusively to treat venereal disease but to provide both suction and irrigation during surgery to remove bullets and other penetrating wounds. Since the stem contacts the back of the syringe, wear is inevitable. If it were a tool used for some kind of lubrication the wear wouldn't be so severe.

My wife is a scientist in a state anti-terrorism lab and they have sophisticated equipment that can pick up microns of some pretty nasty stuff. She could easily analyze some of the residue and see if it contains mercury. Even trace amounts would show up. If you think about it from a volume standpoint, oiler or grease gun seems illogical. Dose for treatment of syphilis in humans seems more inline with the size. I do feel like the earlier post with the lamp is still a possibility. We shall see.