Abstract: A strip of sheet metal moves horizontally between upper and lower felt rollers, turning them in opposite directions so that the lower roller continuously picks up oil from an oil bath. Oil is dripped down onto the upper roller from a device which is continuously provided with oil from a reservoir. The distribution device provides for an excess of oil to be bypassed and deposited into the oil bath below, and the level of the oil in the bath is used to control the flow of oil to the distribution device. The device comprises a tension spring so supported above the upper roll that oil from the reservoir flows into one end, and depending upon the spacing between the spring convolutions, a portion flows out through these convolutions, and the remainder is bypassed through the other end into the oil bath. A uniform distribution of oil along the axial extent of the upper roller is made possible by the spring type distribution device.