Hey, guys (and gals), I've been trying off and on for months to find out when railroads started equipping locos with the Detroit "Bullseye" hydrostatic cab lubricators, without much luck. I found excellent lost-wax brass castings of these from Wieseman, originally by The Back Shop (O scale) and would like to know if a loco built in the 1890s could've been equipped with one by 1912. Can any of you steam gurus supply me with any information. Many thanks--and Happy Railroadin'!
Deano
I'm certainly no steam guru, but my copy of the 1925 Locomotive Cyclopedia has 17 pages of info and drawings of various lubricators, but with little to no reference as to dates of origin of the various types.
There are, however, some dated references to the Master Mechanics Association's discussions on lubrication in 1900, 1901, 1904, 1906, 1909, and 1911. I wonder if you could access MMA material either on-line or perhaps at your local library?
I also took a look in my 1919 printing of the Enginemen's Manual, but all that's shown are questions and answers on lubricators - no drawings or diagrams, and no reference to any specific manufacturers.
Sorry that I can't be of more assistance.
Wayne
Your timeframe, say 1895 - 1910 was sure one of rapid changes (improvements) in locomotive and railroad technology.
From what I gather the Detroit hydrostatic lubricators developed along with the increased need for "bigger, better, stronger" locomotive appliances.
This catalog page showing the #2 lubricator dates from 1905, give-or-take a year or two. Many of the catalogs I've come across have an "issue number" or some reference but finding an exact year can be troublesome.
detroit-2 by Edmund, on Flickr
As you can see in the illustration the early models used sight glasses which I gather were troublesome and prone to leaking or breakage. This prompted the "Bullseye" design with the more robust sight ports. This design seems to have first appeared in the range of 1908-1910.
Of course, the later lubricator could easily hve been applied to older locomotives as the railroads saw the benefits of the better design. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to install a Bullseye model in a locomotive operating in the 1912 time frame.
This image is from a much later data page circa late 1930s:
Lubricator by Edmund, on Flickr
Detroit Lubricator by Anthony 851, on Flickr
The Rogers K92, from the photo above, was built in 1878 and shipped to New Zealand a year later. Certainly the Detroit model 32 was a later addition.
Regards, Ed
Thanks, Ed, looking at the prototype photos, I recognized the one on the 1890s B&O Ten-wheeler Mel Thornburgh modeled, back in the 1940s--even the little bulb-shaped oil reservoir on top! Precision Scale Company makes one just like it: "#4046 Michigan Bullseye triple feed lubricator," if anyone wants to look it up on PSC's online pdf O scale steam locomotive catalog (the HO version is #3041, if you guys want to add one to your old-time steam loco). The ones I got from Wiseman's Back Shop are of a more modern, boxy, multifeed type, so I've ordered the correct triple-feed type from PSC.
Interestingly, other locos, like the Wabash Mogul, used the boxy, more modern type like the ones in my parts drawer. If you didn't know, Thornburgh built his models without power tools, turning parts with an "egg-beater" hand drill in a drill press frame. Imagine the steps that took, using files and the patience of Job! Thanks again, Ed, for coming through for me. As I've mentioned before, this O scale Mogul project comes at age 81 and though I fashioned things like the cab lubricator, from Thornburgh's January-June, 1959 Wabash series in Model Railroader) for the first loco (O scale) in the mid-'60s, life's too short and I have adequate funds for the first time in my life; I'm buyin' 'em! Happy railroadin'!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Ya, Bear, I don't need to know how it works, either--the locomotive runs on 12V DC current, anyway--just need to have one to stick in the cab of my lokey to give the lead engineer something to look at. Gotta keep those lead people happy!