Didn't realize we had lineman here and I did ask on the garage forum about what is this.
You can see the tag says "lineman tool PA 40's & 50's.
Does this have anything to do with lineman work?

It is a drain bucket but I do not know of any liquid in the air only transformers and capacitors and any repair on those are done on the ground . it could be used on steel towers when painting  with a pole /brush I never painted a tower  bob w.

What is the volume capacity?

Maybe bucket for a anti-seize or grease swab when working off the ground?

Quote from: OilyRascal on August 12, 2012, 03:35:03 PM
What is the volume capacity?

Maybe bucket for a anti-seize or grease swab when working off the ground?

Probably hold a quart and a half.

...Portable spittoon?

Oil switches have oil in them also(obviously), and you can't easily put them on the ground. But it seems kinda weird to have a special bucket just for that, and an electrically conductive one at that...hmm

Looks like an ashtray for a chainsmoker

What are the odds that its mis-labeled, prolly purdy good.

The only linemans buckets that I have seen where canvas.  This kinda reminds me of a minnow bucket.

Quote from: 1930 on August 12, 2012, 07:04:38 PM
Looks like an ashtray for a chainsmoker

It does resemble the buttkits we had on the ship, but its to wide.
Aint to wide for a spitoon though, unless someone needs a minnow bucket.

It looks like a soap solution bucket used for testing lead sleeves for leaks. The brush has a large rubber grommet which keeps it centered in the middle. In the early 70's they started using plastic spray bottles. It looks bigger than I remember but it could be the camera angle.

I worked as a lineman for a few years and at some places we worked on existing distribution lines the inspector required us to treat any holes we drilled with creosote to protect the wood.  That inverted funnel top would not allow anything to spill out if tipped on a angle.  We just used a spray bottle but to each his own
Mel