Long before oil was automatically dispensed onto parts in assembly workstations, it was automatically dispensed onto the axles and bearings of a moving train. In 1872, Canadian engineer Elijah McCoy developed a lubricating cup for the Michigan Central Railroad that automatically dripped oil when and where needed on the train’s axles and bearings. Because railroad purchasing agents loved this product and wouldn’t settle for imitations, they began demanding that only “the real McCoy” dispensing cup be used on their trains.
More than 140 years later, manufacturers of trains, planes, automobiles and consumer goods regularly dispense oil onto parts during assembly to ensure they stay lubricated. Grease also is dispensed onto parts, but for other reasons. Unlike oil, which is thin and runs off a part, grease is thick and stays in place. It often acts as a sealant to prevent water penetration.