Oil can for oiling textile machinery

Made:
1880-1940 in Rochdale
Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery. Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery. Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery. Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Oil can, used to oil the moving parts of textile machinery.

To keep them running smoothly, textile machines needed consistent oiling of their moving parts. Oil reduces friction, heat and wear, and prevents rust. Some lubricants used were carcinogenic. Mule spinners' cancer was caused by the oil used to lubricate the spindles on a spinning mule, which soaked into spinners' thin cotton overalls as they tended the machines. The disease was first reported in 1887.

Details

Category:
Textile Industry
Object Number:
YINP741.1.2
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 90 mm x 380 mm x 90 mm,
type:
oil can