a tool? a part of one? a chunk of junk?
I don't know?

Throw in a ruler or yardstick for scale -- there is at least one "four-tine" oil can holder that has the same general appearance -- it is about 3 1/2 inches diameter inside the "tines."

Hmm...  I thought more of a trivet sorta thing.  Set it "upside down" like in the last photo and the "legs" would be off-level/plumb.  Just a snap guess.  Let us know if/when someone names it for sure.

An original cup holder......

castiron horsedrawn implement oilcan holder, look 4 part number/logo.

ahhh it is covered in a oil/dirt/grease mixture, had not thought of a oil can holder.
I'm headed back out there will give it a try with a oil can, got to be a few in there......

well it measures 3 1/8" a newer style pump can fits but the Eagle style press bottom, or a Ford script can do not.

soaking in some warm purple cleaner and water.

I believe that an older farm implement oil can would fit like a glove.

this is what it looks like with a newer pumper type

OIl can holders of this kind were common on horse drawn mowers, and reaper/binders, where lubrication of moving parts was frequently necessary.... often bolted to the wooden drawbar..



in the UK they were often incorporated into a cast iron tool box..

This the type of oilcan most commonly used on farm machinery...

Quote from: Billman49 on June 19, 2014, 03:01:21 AM
This the type of oilcan most commonly used on farm machinery...

From which type of can came the term "oil-canning," which I haven't heard for years now, describing the behavior of thin door or quarter panels on low-price cars.  The term referring, of course, to the springy action of the bottom of the oil can, which can be pushed in to squirt oil, and will spring back when released.  I guess the term has fallen away because even low-priced cars have better sheet metal than once they did.

I know many/most of y'all know all that, but I have reached the age at which I get surprised regularly by what folks younger than me don't know.