Help with injector identification

[manofkent]

Hi all.
I had a big clear out of a cupboard in my workshop today.
I found an injector - I would estimate about a 20 oz size.
I would be interested to know if it is a commercially made item , as it has the markings "EJL" on one side, and the number 100 on one end. These markings are very neat, I would say they could be etched rather than stamped.
I appreciate it probably won't work, but am curious about its origin.
By the way I reckon it came from a Heilan Lassie, as I once had a lot if bits of this loco.

Any ideas most appreciated 

John

[mbrown]

Sounds like a Linden injector - apparently, in their day they were the tops. Julian is the expert on this and can confirm or otherwise.

Malcolm

[jma1009]

Hi John,

Here is a rare E J (Ted) Linden injector.

A very neat gunmetal casting for the body, not a brass silver soldered fabrication.

'EJL' is stamped on the top face of the diagonal bit, and '100' on the cap for the check valve.

Usually rated at 24 oz per min delivery output. At the time they were quite expensive costing 30 shillings till Ted's death in the mid 1950s.

I am quite sure from your description you have a Linden injector.

Cheers,
Julian

[manofkent]

Thanks Malcolm and Julian.
That was a nice surprise. It is probably a bit big for my 3.1/2 gauge locos, but it would be nice to give it a try.

I searched this site for Linden injectors, and found a thread by Julian on injectors. There you mention Fred Laroche who I knew as a teenager. He came to our club most Saturdays (always I recall with Mrs Laroche) with either a blue Helian Lassie named "Great Northern", or a 5" 2-6-0 Southern tender loco named "Groombridge".
I spent many happy hours driving one or the other. They were excellent locos, and of course the injectors were faultless. You could put steam on first and they would still pick up, almost any reasonable pressure. In fact I think many of the other locos at the club had his injectors - I didn't realise at that time that he made and sold them - probably sold many at the club as well.

I think he had a third loco but I can't remember what it was now.

Fred was a very practical, understated and down to earth man. He was very patient, not a cross word ever, even when I steamed "Groombridge" only to find that dreadful bubble in the glass, and blowing down left its true reading on the bottom nut! He just told me what to do "tender pump - quick". Groombridge also had a donkey pump that was put to good use that day!.

Happy memories - nearly 50 years ago now.

John