Could this refer to soap made from olive oil?

Ann Trowbridge  (a child and grandchild of Colgate-Palmolive company
employees)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jean M. Burks [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, March 20, 1998 4:42 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Searching for an Olive
>
> Help!  Does anyone know what an "olive" is?
>
> The Shelburne Museum is restoring the steamboat Ticonderoga.
>
> We have found the original 1906 order to outfit the boat including the
> following items to supply each corner sink area - a bowl, a comfort
> (chamber pot?), spoonholder, water pitcher, a towel, towel hardware, a
> cuspidor and an olive.  The term olive doesn't appear in hardware or
> Sears catalogues of the period that I have looked at.
>
> The mysterious olive cost $.85 in 1906.
>
> Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Many thanks, in advance,
> for
> pondering this weighty question!