Merit 1540

This is a Merit/SEL 1540 model steam engine, probably dating from late 1950’s. It is a relatively small, single oscillating cylinder engine, manufactured in England by J L Randall, and often sold under the “Signalling Engineers Ltd” or “SEL” brand. This one, however, was sold under the “Merit” brand.

Photographs

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Technical Information

• Base Colour: green
• Base Material: painted steel, brass
• Base Meccano Compatible: no
• Boiler Diameter: 38.1 mm
• Boiler Length: 102 mm
• Boiler Pressure (working): 1.0 bar
• Boiler Volume (absolute): 110 ml
• Burner Capacity: 2 x 12 ml
• Burner Depth: 26 mm
• Burner Handle Length: 28 mm
• Burner Length: 90 mm
• Burner Type: methylated spirit with wick
• Burner Width: 37.5 mm
• Chimney: no
• Country of Origin: England
• Cylinder Type: oscillating
• Flywheel Diameter (original): 44.5 mm
• Known Repairs: boiler end-caps (pending)
• Manufacturer: J L Randall Ltd
• Model: 1540
• Number of Cylinders: 1
• Other Information: flywheel trunion is made of bakelite
• Overall Dry Mass (unmodified): 420 grams
• Overall Height: 110 mm
• Overall Width: 122 mm, 124 mm
• Piston Bore: 5.50 mm
• Piston Stroke: 10 mm
• Solder Type: low temperature lead
• Tube Diameter: 3.25 mm
• Tube Material: copper
• Water Level Indication: water level plug
• Whistle: none
• Year of Manufacturer: 1960