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I don't know about your whistle, but I know a teeny tad about Lunkenheimer. There is an airport in Cincinnati that was apparently the Lunkenheimer airport. It is now called Lunken. There is a lady named Martha Lunken who writes entertaining columns for Flying magazine, and I believe she married in to the Lunkenheimer clan.
When I bought my Piper Cub in 1962, one of the fuel controls was marked "Lunkenheimer". Same company. I have landed at Lunken airport. Is that more than you wanted to know about things not related to your whistle?
That's a "single chime" whistle, not a "fixed tone." Lunkenheimer does make nice stuff.
Besides the manufacturer and number of chimes, the next most important piece of info we need is the diameter. That looks to be what? maybe 2, 2.5 inches? Small whistles like that were not used on steam locomotives, but you might have seen them on steam tractors.
That entire whistle is brass--someone else chrome plated it. Here's what a single-chime 3" Lunk sounds like (various places in the video):
Thanks Gentleman. I've attached a link to a video, albeit an older one but the whistle is the same and sounds the same although it does sound a bit "off" on camera - much better in person. As you can tell, I'm no whistle expert here.
Jamie: Even though it is not a fixed tone whistle, can you still adjust the pitch? The top "half" screws off and I noted the inside is rather dirty with dust and dirt, I'll clean it out in the not to distant future.
Steve: Where would I measure the diameter? On the base?
Not sure if this makes a difference or not but when you give it a good tug or snap of the wrist, it will give a good squeak or chirp. Not sure what/if that matters. Chance used Lunkenheimer whistles on almost all older engines, the new ones have standard air whistles that sound poorly and what not.
SJC, measure the top half, knows as the "bell." The lower part with the valve is the "bowl."
SJC
The whistle sounds good on the video, mine is small and has a higher pitch.
If you think it is clogged. first messure the opening from the bell to the bowl changing that distance slightly will affect the notes sound/pitch. You can move it up or down to tweak it until you get the perfect note. Just get that distance first, then the whole unit can be dismantaled and cleaned. There won't be any surprises up on the top, but there will be a spring in the valve body if you dismantal that part. Clean it out and put it back together and reset the distance from the bell to the bowl and start testing it to get the right pitch. Note the airpressure will drop as you do this and will also effect the sound.
The thing to look at the most is that thin opening line in the bowl that should be inline with the bell. Any part of that 360 degree opening is cloged the whistle won't sound right. You will see all of the locations on the stem and bowl to take it appart. I clean mine out about once a year.
jamie
SJC
Sorry to here about the derailment. I remember at Lake Fairfax the train would derail. All the dads would get out and pick the thing up and put it back on the tracks. It was a deisel though.
Remember Tiny Engines is local and he could probably turn you a new axle. He is an expert on steam engines.
Don't know of any loose parts that would be under the bell.It could just be a washer. If it ain't broke don't touch it. If it is clogged it will not sound right.
Send me an email and I can get you in touch with him.
Jamie
