"In spite of the large percentage of mineral oils now used for machinery, there is still a wide field wherein animal and fish oils cannot be dispensed with, especially for leather, and also in the textile trades, where only saponifiable oil can be satisfactorily used."
"There are also still many firms who use them extensively, and will continue to do so if a thoroughly good oil is supplied, as there is no doubt they are vastly superior to hydrocarbon oils for lubrication (cylinders excepted), as their high flash-point, viscousness and tenacity cause them to work with greater uniformity and with considerably less friction, thereby keeping the machinery cooler."
On page 25:
"When mineral oils were first introduced, it was presaged that animal and vegetable oils would become a thing of the past for lubrication."
"This has not by any means been fulfilled, nor likely to be, as experience shows that, by their judicious blending with hydrocarbon oils, a greater uniformity of lubrication is attained, and that less quantity is required than by the use of a pure mineral oil alone."
On page 36:
"Pure hydrocarbons are most unsuitable for this purpose [dynamos and other electrical machines] unless in conjunction with some fatty oil, of which the minimum of 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. maximum have been proved to be the requisite percentages necessary to effectually stop carbonisation, which action, when mineral oils alone are used, speedily takes place."
I'm wondering if this is still true? If I want the best oil for a race car, robot, or other high-performance, high-technology machine, will it have lard oil in it?