Vintage Huffman Manf. Co. 1-Quart Glass Oil Bottle w/Metal Spout Dayton OH Huffy

Description

In the day, a motorists would pull up in a service station, ask for a quart of oil,and the attendant would pour it into his engine via a glass "oiler" bottle with built-in tin funnel. Then the attendant would refill the bottle and repeat the operation for the next motorist. Oilers were an honest method of dispensing motor oil, an improvement over pumping an unknown quantity from a barrel or bucket into a metal pitcher. The first oilers appeared in the early 1920s and became commonplace until disposable metal and paper cans and bottles were introduced beginning in the latter 1930s. Because the bottles could be under filled, the embossed labels along the top of this bottle were added as states passed laws to try to guarantee a full quart measure.
This bottle has the notation “H. M. Co.” near its bottom rim, which means it was manufactured by the Huffman Company in Dayton, Ohio. Huffman started as the Davis Sewing Machine Company in the 1880s and branched out into bicycle rims and service stations equipment after World War I. The sign in the last picture (which is
NOT
included) advertised their gas station wares. The company began switching to bicycles in 1934 as the Depression forced motorists to sell their cars. From 12, Huffman was making 200 bikes a day by the end of the decade. With World War II contracts in hand, they dropped the oiler business and concentrated on bikes. Huffman became Huffy in the 1970s and continued selling mass market bicycles until Walmart and Chinese competition bankrupted it in 2004.
The bottle itself may have been made by Owens-Illinois Glass Co. at its Muncie, Indiana plant, not far from Huffman’s metal making facility.The glass manufacturer’s label and state seals on the bottle time around 1933-1936 but the bottle could have been made up to World War II.
This oiler bottle measures about 9 inches (23 cm) tall without the spout, almost 14 inches (36 cm) with the spout screwed on, 4 inches (9 cm) in diameter at the bottom, and 2.5 inches (7 cm) at the top. The bottle is in prime condition with no visible cracks, chips, dings or large imperfections. The glass has oil residue on the inside, but is not cloudy. The funnel is tarnished but in otherwise very good to excellent condition. Your bottle may look better than the one in the pictures. The number "30" is painted on the outside. Our guess is that's the oil weight it contained, a single number used in the 1930s and early 1940s before the development of "Ws" and multi-grade oils. We think it adds to provenance of the bottle. While this is a must have for all petroliana collectors, recreated gas or service stations, or a Depression-era decor, our reasonable price could make this a nice surprise for any "petrohead," even those who've never seen a glass oiler before. While you're at it, check out our other petroliana and advertising collectibles at www.ebay.com/str/agitpropshoppe
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