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I have seen a great many gas engines at these gatherings, but I have yet to see one with the unusual rod bearing oiling system of the old mixer engine. Only the bottom half of a grease cup was set into the big end of the rod, as is quite common. But, a bracket attached to the engine held a bent metal strip in a sort of inverted U shape. Suspended between the ends of the U was a piece of what appeared to be a strip of kerosene lamp wick, which might have been a model T Ford clutch band liner. Oil dripped from a standard oiler onto the strip, set up so that as the crank came around, the edge of the topless grease cup scraped along the wicking, which picked up some oil each revolution. We replaced it with a cap on the grease cup and grease.
I'm wondering why this wick arrangement was used instead of a grease cup or oiler, and if it was factory-made or added later. Also, does anyone know anything about the history of these old machines?
Any information on the mixer engine would be appreciated.