Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Steam Engine Lubricator (oiler)

In Toys > Steam Engines > Show & Tell.
VintageMisc's loves157 of 195Costume Brooch with Plastic Heart Stones and Blue Center Little Queen Scott No. 37d
8
Love it
1
Like it

TreyTrey loves this.
racer4fourracer4four loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
GeodeJemGeodeJem likes this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
packrat-placepackrat-place loves this.
VintageMiscVintageMisc loves this.
pops52pops52 loves this.
See 7 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 8 years ago

    hotairfan
    (388 items)

    I found this steam engine lubricator in a box lot at an auction. I cleaned it inside and out and replaced the cracked and damaged glass sight glasses.
    It is huge. It holds 1/2 gal. of steam oil. It is made entirely of nickel plated brass, except for the wooden hand wheels to prevent the operator's hands from burning from the steam.
    I believe that I know how it works. If I am wrong, someone will correct me, and this is a good thing because if you keep an open mind..... you can learn something every day.
    Here goes: (see pic #4, the oiler on the left is like mine). Steam engines require adding steam oil into the steam before entering the engine to lubricate the internal workings of the engine. If you used regular lubricating oil, the steam would flash (burn) the oil and gum-up (not lubricate) the engine. Steam oil is made to withstand the heat and mix well with the steam to lubricate the engine.
    You add the steam oil to the lubricator and you can see the level in the longer of the two sight glasses.
    Steam is allowed to flow through the oiler where the drop in temp. condenses the steam into water.
    As the oil floats to the top of the water, the adj. valve under the smaller sight glass is opened to show the dripping of the oil which will bubble to the top of the sight glass and set to drip a number of times a minute that the operator deems ideal for the speed that the engine is running.
    This oil mixes with the condensed water and is carried to the engine as the steam works it's way back to the engine, carrying the oily condensate with it.

    logo
    Steam Engines
    See all
    1920s DOLL COMPANY LIVE STEAM ENGINE STEAM PLANT TOY NUMBER 364/3 LARGE POWERFUL
    1920s DOLL COMPANY LIVE STEAM ENGIN...
    $161
    1920s MARKLIN LIVE STEAM ENGINE TOY MODEL 4107 / 6.5 w/ MARKLIN ELECTRIC DYNAMO
    1920s MARKLIN LIVE STEAM ENGINE TOY...
    $202
    1910s BOUCHER LIVE STEAM ENGINE FOR BOAT OR SHIP - LARGE POWERFUL MARINE ENGINE
    1910s BOUCHER LIVE STEAM ENGINE FOR...
    $125
    Lionel 646 Steam Engine
    Lionel 646 Steam Engine...
    $39
    logo
    1920s DOLL COMPANY LIVE STEAM ENGINE STEAM PLANT TOY NUMBER 364/3 LARGE POWERFUL
    1920s DOLL COMPANY LIVE STEAM ENGIN...
    $161
    See all

    Comments

    1. pops52 pops52, 8 years ago
      Well I learned something new! Great post!
    2. hotairfan hotairfan, 8 years ago
      thanks pops52
    3. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 8 years ago
      Sa wha ? LOL !! Got it Hotair. What else you got in that hat ?
    4. hotairfan hotairfan, 8 years ago
      ok bobby.....will do

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.