"Cachalot"
Geno, I have an old oil bottle (pre 1900) which was sold by the Free Sewing Machine Co (bottled in New London CT) containing about 4oz of oil (now empty). The label on this bottle is still intact & it states "Cachalot Oil".
It should be noted the "Best" grade of the Sperm oil which was recommended for fine machinery was extracted from the head of the Cachalot whale & was already a liquid. Some sources say that from 300 to as much as 500 Gallons of this oil was contained in the head of a large male sperm whale. Many, many more gallons of a lesser grade of oil was obtained by stripping off the blubber & rendering it out. This grade was originally used as illuminating oils in lamps etc.
The only experience I have ever had with Sperm oil was a bottle of the stuff I bought many years ago from Dixie Gunworks, still have most of it left. This was undoubtably the oil from rendering the fat, as was the worst oil I have ever had bar none. In short order it would gum up any thing to which it was applied. My mother had given me her old Singer metal oil can as she was obtaining her machine oil pre bottled & I filled it with this oil for use on my guns. It clogged up the spout & thickened in the bottom of the can & I ended up having to soak it clean with a solvent to restore the can to use.
I purely hope the $100.00 can of Brownell's oil was the good stuff (head oil).
