Iron and brass Oiler maybe? Help

[vhs07]

Anybody recognize this? The iron ball part is seamed in the middle and will turn with force, but doesn't come apart.
I guessed it's an oilier of some sort but can't find anything close online.

 

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[Tony in SC]

Looks like a very early steam trap. The lines have to be drained of water in old steam engines and other devices before start up. The valve/cock would be the top and the plug/drain would be the bottom.

 

[Reanm8er]

Cool!

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe from a white gas iron?

 

[namxat]

Maybe from a white gas iron?

View attachment 1724138

DCMatt, whenever I see such artifacts I wonder how the old folks managed not to die a gruesome death every day.

My granduncle drove a VW Beettle in the late 50ies an those things had no heating, at least no functional one. Solution: He drove around with a small katalytic petrol heater in the passenger legroom and some spare fuel bottles in the rear. Interior Air qauility wasnt so good, so both triangle windows were open.


Back to topic: That looks totally to me like some kind of expansion tank, but its so small that I cant think of application.

Greets namxat

 

[nagant]

Steam radiator vent, maybe.