The Edison Battery Oil Bottle
In the past, large stoneware or glass jar batteries were used by the railroad to power signal lights situated along rural tracks. The large metal lockers found along side many old RR track beds were where these large batteries were stored.
Edison battery oil was used to coat the top of the electrolyte liquid (battery acid) stored in these battery jars. (Battery oil floats on top of the electrolyte). This oil helped reduce the evaporation of the electrolyte. This practice was used on railroad batteries from approximately the turn of the century to the 1950's.
Small green tint glass battery oil bottles were supplied with these large railroad batteries. The top-off oil contained inside these small oil bottles was used to prepare the large batteries for use. After using the oil, the railroad workers simply discarded these bottles with a quick toss into the near-by woods, ponds, streams, or lakes at the track edge. This is the reason why most of these small bottles are typically found in places related to old railroads. At that time in history, environmental damage was not considered important.
A large number of these small bottles are embossed with the Edison signature logo. Millions of small green tint glass Edison battery oil bottles have survived because of their small size and thick, stout glass.
Although a large complete old glass railroad battery may be worth hundreds of dollars, or even thousands in rare cases, the Edison battery oil bottle is not a highly prized collectable treasure. The Edison battery oil bottle has very little value. To a few collectors, the little bottle may be worth a dollar empty and perhaps a little more for a full, unopened specimen; otherwise, they have no significant use.
Edisonian continuously receives hundreds of email inquiries about these small battery oil bottles. These email inquiries usually relate an enthusiastic, speculative sense that the discoverer has unearthed a new valuable treasure, to which we reluctantly have to break the disappointing truth. However, don't despair, there are early electric history treasures still to be found out there which may bring a tidy sum to the persistent, lucky treasure hunter.
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