Civil War? Cannonballguy!

[Fullstock]

Got back to a spot where I’ve found a mix of Union and Confederate relics. Apparently it was a staging area before a battle and a lot of troops spent time here. But like most spots I also find occasional newer items. Initially I thought this brass piece was post war, but when I cleaned it, I found what looks to be black powder residue in the stem area. So my question is this, is this somehow civil war related? It’s got me stumped. Thanks for your help.

 

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[smokeythecat]

Can we see a pic of the bottom? Could be CW but there were no center fire cartridges back then. That's one way to tell.

 

[Tony in SC]

First pic is a drip oiler/oilcup for babbit bearings or shafts. Would have had felt to hold the oil and a screw on cap. That was a little later than the Civil war.

 

[smokeythecat]

I was assuming the last pic is of a cartridge?

 

[Rookster]

Looks like 1/8 mpt or 1/4 mpt. I don’t know if they used pipe thread standards back in the civil war era. Nice find though.

 

[Rookster]

Is the inside of the cup threaded? If so I’m guessing a grease fitting of sorts.

 

[Fullstock]

I was assuming the last pic is of a cartridge?

No, I took a picture of what I thought was a piece of black powder. Someone explained that it’s probably felt, and that makes sense.

 

[Fullstock]

Is the inside of the cup threaded? If so I’m guessing a grease fitting of sorts.

Yes, it’s threaded.

 

[Fullstock]

First pic is a drip oiler/oilcup for babbit bearings or shafts. Would have had felt to hold the oil and a screw on cap. That was a little later than the Civil war.

Thanks Tony, I think you’ve identified it.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It has a hex-nut shaped base. Those first appeared in the 1880's.

 

[Plug N Play]

Good ID, Tony in SC.

Grease cup, hit and miss, oiler

https://www.ebay.com/itm/362958968417

 

[Fullstock]

Good ID, Tony in SC.

Grease cup, hit and miss, oiler

https://www.ebay.com/itm/362958968417

View attachment 1867271

Excellent, thank you!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I saw the invitation, but there's now no need for me to answer. Tony already got it right. Also, Charlie gets some credit for noting that the hexagonal nut feature is almost entirely from after the civil war era. At that time, nearly all such "nuts" (for using a wrench on the object) were a simple square. An example of an extremely rare exception is the hex-head bolt which attaches the copper disc sabot onto a super-scarce version of Confederate 3"-caliber Mullane/Tennessee-Sabot artillery shell.

 

[Tony in SC]

Sometimes I get lucky!! I have a shoebox full of old oilers and greasers. I use them on my old engines and stuff.

Thanks Tony, I think you’ve identified it.