What kind of tool is this

[simulant]

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[cudamark]

Nothing stamped into the tube? Is the big end smooth with nothing broken off it? Is the shaft solid or hollow?

 

[flinthunter]

It looks a lot like the barrel of an old grease gun.

 

[Indian Steve]

I agree with Flinthunter, it sure looks like an old grease gun.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Can you take a picture of the other end also. I am also leaning towards grease gun minus plunger and hose on end.like this one.

 

[nsdq]

Old bike tire pump ?

 

[BosnMate]

Old bike tire pump ?

That's what I was thinking.

 

[simulant]

Ok I took a couple more pictures of the ends. The large end has no hole where a pump or something would go in - it just seems to be a large chamber. The small end is hollow and it's threaded like something else would have put on the end. The middle of it looks like you would screw that off, pour whatever into the chamber, then screw it back. I dunno.

Thanks all!

 

[simulant]

Nothing stamped on it as far as I can tell but it could stand a good cleaning

 

[bradyboy]

some sort of hydraulic piston, like for a door
Brady

 

[Anduril]

Maybe a soldering or branding iron? (non-electric, of course).
The threads would be for a replaceable tip.

Total guess, by the way.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Thank you for the extra pictures,although now I take back my guess

 

[hvacker]

Reminds me of a fluid shock absorber. The large end holds air and absorbs changes in pressure like in a
plumbing system.

 

[bigfoot1]

it is possibly a drip oiler for early machining tools,steam engine or the like.tip would accept flow valve if so.

..

 

[cudamark]

If there is no hole or mounting spot on the big tube, and the threaded shaft is hollow, I'll go along with the grease gun guess. Can you move the shaft or disassemble the tube?

 

[simulant]

Thanks everyone. Old grease gun sounds accurate to me. I was able to unscrew the middle piece but nothing else budged. Thanks!!!