Oil Cup

Isidore Dreyfus
ca. 1875

The cup automatically supplied lubricating oil to the cylinders, bearings, and axle box mountings on a locomotive. Elijah McCoy invented the automatic oil cup in 1872. Isidore Dreyfus, under the name I. Dreyfus, patented this lubricator in 1875. The next year he partnered with Max Nathan creating Nathan & Dreyfus a company that predominately manufactured lubricators and water injectors. The next year he partnered with Max Nathan to create Nathan & Dreyfus, a company that predominately manufactured lubricators and water injectors.

Brass, glass. H 6.7, Dia 3.9 cm
Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 896