I have a Metropolitan 4 1/2 0 injector that I would like to find some info on.
What pressures and delivery rates does this operate at?
Could this have been used on a locomotive, or some other steam powered equipment?
What year range might this have been manufactured?
Thanks in advance for any info
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This size would fit a narrow gauge tank engine or something else very light - maybe somebody at WW&F can compare to what they use. The size is the diameter in millimeters of the tube in the injector. Crane, road roller, traction engine..... stationary applications also. Somewhere I have some information on Metropolitans, but can't lay hands on it right now. I believe they cloned styles of injector made by other manufacturers back in the day.

Near as I can tell, the Model O replaced the 1898 Model, sometime in the early 1900's.
Early Model O's, had a wood handle, while later Model O's had cast bronze handle.

The 1900 catalog doesn't list the smaller sizes however, similar 4-1/2 G has a capacity of 165 Gal with 80 lbs steam and 2 ft lift. It's rated for use on 15 to 20 hp engine.
Depending on temperature, and 2 ft lift, injector should feed with 20 lbs, with maximum pressure around 185 lbs, depending on lift height.

Based on Porter formula, locomotive with 4x8 cylinders was about 9 hp, locomotive with 5x8 cylinders was about 12 hp and locomotive with 6x10 cylinders was about 19 hp.
These were small locomotives weighing 3-1/2 to 7 ton.
Porter locomotives with 6x10 cylinders, typically used the 6-1/2 size, a 4-1/2 O would likely be too small.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q_hBjesnRc

Thanks for the info. I see the mistake in my searches. What I thought was a Zero was actually the letter "O" in the model. I am surprized that this would be used for such a small locomotive considering the size of it. I think the water and steam connections are all 2 or 2 1/2 inch.

Pipe connections on a 4-1/2 O are 1/2 inch.

Per catalog, pipe connections on a 14-1/2 O are 2 inch. Length is about 25-3/4 inches.
Capacity is 2900 gal. per hour, 100 lbs steam or 3275 gal. per hour, 175 lbs steam.

Model O injectors were used for many applications, including locomotives.
It's possible your injector was used on a locomotive.

Now it all makes sense. It has to be a 14 1/2 O. The 1 must be under the 17 layers of paint. Were these fairly popular units? It looks alot more elaborate than the injectors I am used to seeing, but from what I found online it appears that they were designed for higher lift and easier operation.

Back in the 1970's the locomotive now known as Judy K on the Cedar Point & Lake Erie had a Metropolitan injector on the fireman's side (the engineer's side had a Pemberthy). Up until 1975 we ran with single person in the cab, so the fireman's side injectors didn't get used too much. I do remember being told to use the fireman's side injectors a couple times a day to make sure that they were functioning.

"Were these fairly popular units?"...

Yes, in the early 1900's.

The Hayden Derby Mfg Co. typically featured the 14-1/2 size in their catalogs but, they also manufactured many other sizes and models of Metropolitan injectors. The Model O's were designed to operate reliably at high temperatures and pressure, with a low starting pressure.

In 1900, the price for a 14-1/2 O was $125.00. Then, an engineer might have made $5/day.

Don't know how long Hayden Derby survived. Latest catalog I know of was 1914. It appears they were amalgamated and Metropolitan injectors were still being sold in the 1920's.

H.K. Porter sold many locomotives with Metropolitan injectors and also applied their own size designations and tags to Metropolitan injectors. They also supplied Sellers. I'm not sure what brand of injectors other locomotive manufactures typically supplied. I think Baldwin typically supplied Sellers.

The customer usually had a say in what type of injectors they wanted. At the time, there were many competing companies selling injectors. Hancock made injectors similar to the Metropolitan.

Like anything, injectors wore out and today it's not easy finding replacements or parts, which is likely why many go with new Sellers, on larger locomotives, or Penberthy injectors for smaller steam applications.

Occasionally, you still see Metropolitan injectors on "park engines" but, they're only there because the thieves never got them or because they're worn out.

Largest Metropolitan injector I've seen was a 17-1/2 O.

Does your 14-1/2 O have wood handles and applied tags?

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It felt big. It was the last item I saved from a junk yard and I had to carry it about 200 yards to get to my truck. I had a small window of time to grab a handfull of vintage and railroad items including a Faimont A4D motorcar and a 6x7 steam engine. I had seen the injector in a bus body and said if I have time I will try to grab it.

Detroit & Lima Northern #7 at the Henry Ford does indeed use Metropolitan Injectors. It came with two consecutively serial numbered (7 D if I recall correctly) and I've been informed a brand new injector has been recently replicated.

Mine has a wood handle for the lever and somewhat intricate brass handles on the valves. It has a big tag on both sides listing the size and "1898" in large numbers.

The interesting thing is that someone must have had plans to save this thing when it was removed. They removed all the brass pipe coupling nipples and kept them with the injector.

Also, this unit has a valve on what I believe is the overflow. Is that typical? I will see if I can post a picture tomorrow.

Chris, thanks for showing the new injector on Detroit & Lima Northern #7.
How many new injectors were made?

I saw this 18-1/2 O at Heritage Acres museum, Saanichton, BC, in 2009.

I collect smaller size injectors for various projects, like these 6-1/2 O's.
Some are NOS. One has a Porter 2H size tag.

Could you post a picture of the Porter 2h tag?

Slightly off topic on the Henry Ford loco. Why was the decision made to change the live steam line to steel with the replacement injector..? That and the large union seem like a step backwards in the effort to recreate a historically accurate 19th century Baldwin loco.

Definitely not knocking the museum down with their beautiful locomotive, but very curious about that decision.