Road Rolling and Making Gallery

This gallery is a smorgasbord of road making and rolling subjects, starting with a heavy focus on the products of Barford & Perkins (because they happen to be a particular interest of mine!), with specific examples shown and described.  I’ve also raided my photo archive to create some other galleries of construction equipment and steam rollers, for those who are interested in such things!  More info can be found on steam rollers (and traction engines etc.) on the excellent SteamScenes website.

Note: I intend to work on this gallery over coming months, adding information and photographs in order to provide a fairly decent resource, particularly for those interested in motor rollers – I know from my own research how little definitive information is out there on this topic.  You will also find a selection of roller literature under the Trade Catalogues section of this site, which I also intend to grow as and when I have time!

Motor Rollers

We start with the numerous and varied Barford & Perkins A Series motor rollers of which over 700 were manufactured across nearly 35 years production.

Barford & Perkins Motor Rollers:

  • A Series

BeFunky_1921 A Series Roller.jpg

For my own convenience in researching Barford A Series motor rollers (which it will shortly become clear is something of a personal passion!), I have devised a rudimentary typology based on the very long time this type was in production and the clear model changes across that timespan – the first generation bearing little resemblance to the last (very much like modern cars such as Fiesta or Golf).  I have taken David Jenkinson’s approach to London Midland & Scottish Railway coaches as inspiration – his classification being so well known and used now that it has become the de facto means of describing that railway company’s coaching stock, though was not one they, or their successors British Railways, used themselves.

  • Period 1

The earliest A Series rollers, featuring shallow frame drop, brass radiator, no bonnet side panels, open seat support, chain drive on the offside, roll scrapes (front), seat sides, exposed fuel tank (cylinder).

  • Period 2 (early)

From the latter half of the 1920s the rollers show a more pronounced frame drop, brass radiator, fully enclosed engine housing, solid seat supports (sides), chain drive on nearside, seat/toolbox with no sides to seat base, fuel tank enclosed by bonnet sides.

  • Period 2 (late)

From the end of the 1920s – much as the early Period 2 rollers, but with alloy radiator instead of brass plus variation in seat/toolbox designs.

  • Period 3

The advent of the ‘Q’ for ‘Quick Reverse’ also sees a deeper frame sweep still, to accommodate the new gearbox.  Diesel engine options, a revised seat which often includes the fuel tank (possibly on Aveling-Barford manufactured machines) and revised handbrake arrangement.

The three periods are still very much in a research state, but usefully provide a rough categorisation for the A series rollers.  The design was perpetuated by Aveling-Barford after the merger in 1933, and didn’t finally finish production until the ‘G’ *Grantham’ rollers appeared in 1947.

Below: Examples of the four classifications and their roller types:

Anatomy of an A Series

Here we look at the varieties of A Series rollers, using Barford & Perkins own advertising material as a guide to the main types and their accessories.

Below: A 2 1/2 U 092 Built 1926

Notes: Fitted with the Brotherhood badged Coventry Simplex type four cylinder petrol engine.  Ferguson TE20 type carburettor fitted in place of Zenith original. Owned by Paul Jarman

An early A series in this format (Period 2), and possibly rebuilt at a later date as would probably have been fitted with a brass radiator when new.  Bill Dickins records that: Barford Perkins U092 is a basic 2speed model weight about 2 ton fitted originally with a “BB” 4cyl engine number 195. It was new to Rawthenstall Corporation dispatched 4th December 1926. It was not fitted with a canopy. Its history known to me is that it was later sold to “E Eccles esq. of Sheffield by implication this was on 8/2/1938. At some time it was
owned by some one in Ravenfield ,Rotherfield.

It has appeared on e-Bay a number of times, and I have tried to purchase it on a previous occasion!  It is now on display, in running order, at Beamish though remains privately owned and with a rebuilt seat/toolbox matched to the original type fitted.

Below: A 2 1/2 CC 002 Built 1929

Notes: Fitted with Coventry Simplex engine.  Spares for EE067 restoration. Owned by Paul Jarman

CC 002, an “A 2 1/2 with 6′ 0” wide rolls, was new to “Colonel Radcliffe” through “Brindleys Ltd.” and despatched to Burton on Trent 10th December 1928…Its original engine was  officially a “Reliance”  OE No. 7453.  Coventry Simplex design engines were described “Reliance” from mid 1928 in all Barford Perkins records although they were actually made by Brotherhood! Because of this it has been confusing if researchers call them by the latter makers name!  The engine number is found in the middle of the cover plate name mouldings immediately behind the carburettor. (These notes courtesy of Bill Dickins).

Below: A 2 1/2 EE 067 Built 1929

Notes: Fitted with Morris 1000 petrol engine and extended rear frame to accommodate this and the car’s gearbox which drives directly to the rollers own gearbox. Owned by Paul Jarman

It was built as a model A2.1/2 ton despatched on 22/8/1929 to “W & A Higginbottom, Chester” fitted with a Coventry Simplex  ( to quote the Official Spec Sheet but often called “Brotherhood” on the engine test sheet) model BB 4cyl. No. 527B. As normal for this model it was supplied without a awning on its H2021. type frame. Unusually for this period there are no further notes referring to this machine in the Registers. (These notes courtesy of Bill Dickins).

Below: A AA 048  Built 1929

Notes: On display at Stonehurst Farm, Quorn, Leicestershire.

AA048 is a  Barford & Perkins model “A 2speed with [originally] 6′ 0″ wide rolls and water sprinklers”. New on 23/6/1928 to Borough of Darlington Fitted with a Brotherhood Engine No. 441b. Its original Engine was replaced 8/5/1957 with a reconditioned BXB engine unfortunately no number is recorded in the AB records! However the owners at this time were “Clayton Brothers” again no more info recorded.

The Brotherhood engine was the normal petrol engine used in the “A” & “B” type models up to the fitting of Ruston Hornsby Diesel engines when this model became available as a Diesel version. This later was obligatory due to Aveling – Barford being set up on part of the Ruston Hornsby factory site. The Brotherhood make engine has also been known as a “Coventry Simplex” for most of its manufacturered life but some versions became a “Reliance” about 1928 due to the financial status of the “Coventry Simplex Company”. All were actually Brotherhood build – now Perkins Engines at Peterborough.   The engine number is behind the Carburettor stamped on the raised plate centre of the Barford Perkins Name. Notes courtesy of Bill Dickins.

Below: A3 GG 066 Built 1929 FL8428

Notes: Previously at Shildon Vintage Vehicles, last heard of at auction in Clitheroe in spring 2014.  Restored with copper bonnets and appears to have sustained major damage to frame and headstock in its life.

Below: A 2 1/2 GG 065 Built 1929 FL  8427

Notes: In store at Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester.  Note PTO take off on offside.

Below: A3 QQ 072 Built 1931

Notes: In remarkably original condition and complete with Brotherhood Coventry Simplex type engine. Owned by Paul Jarman

Once again, Bill Dickins’ extensive research provides a background: QQ72. An A3 model supplied with A2.5 interchangeable wheels with the Registration Mark FL 9983. Despatched 2/10/1931 to “Burhill Estate Co. Ltd. at Burwood, Walton – on – Thames. It was painted “Red” and was not fitted with a canopy.”  There is no further history of this roller in the BP history records.

The roller came to me from the Burhill Estate (now a golf club) and has two patches on the bonnet – local recollection was that the grandfather of one of the present staff members on the estate was rolling a road during WW2 when he was strafed by a Luftwaffe fighter.  This practice was not unknown and shows the gentleman to have had a very near miss – the entry and exit of the shell/bullet being through the bonnet and missing the seat and any internal components.  The roller will be conserved and stripped of some more modern additions, but will otherwise remain in as-found condition.  It has received professional attention to ensure it can be operated and further work on the carburettor remains outstanding.

Below: A NN 018 Built 1930

This roller, photographed by James West at the Royal Deeside Railway near Aberdeen, was supplied new to Aberdeen Town Council in 1930.  This became Aberdeen District Council in 1983, a change indicated on the log book (a copy is shown here). It was restored by Sandy Arbuthnott in 2011/12 and appears to be a very faithful restoration.  It is noted as being supplied with wide rolls for conversion to an A3, for use on grass.  It has a BBB petrol engine, No.223.  Many thanks to James for the photos, taken in August 2014.

Below: A 2 1/2 RR 054 Built 1932

Notes: Owned and restored to a very high standard by Andrew Eyre.

Supplied new to Messers Allnatts Ltd, Chase Estate, Park Royal Road London on the 26th February 1932.  It was later used to roll a causeway between the mainland and Osea Island in the Blackwater Estuary.  It was saved from scrap in 1976 by Michael Hoyle, later being sold to Angus Cameron.  It then passed back to Michael Hoyle before being sold, in dismantled condition, to Andrew Eyre in 2000.  Allnatts were a developer, building the Park Royal Estate as one contract.  Major Alfred Allnatt bought Osea Island from Frederick Charrington (of brewing fame) in1936 and probably accounts for RR 054’s appearance on the island.

Below: A 2 1/2 KK 030 Built 19??

Notes: Owned by Andrew Eyre.  Originally fitted with a brass radiator, though alloy one has been substituted.  Unrestored but operable.

Below: Other A Series Rollers

  • D Series

The D series, like the A series, evolved over the years into various shapes and guises.  Beamish’s own example, R025, is currently subject to an extensive restoration in our own workshops.  Inevitably one looks around for other information on these rollers (and more can be found under the heading ‘Rolling Restorations’ on this site), from which these galleries have been derived.

Below: Archive Views (from the Bill Dickins collection)

Below: R 025 Built 1925

Notes: Currently under restoration at Beamish Museum.  Supplied new to the RAF and later sold into private use.  Recovered from a scrapyard in Berwick.  See more of its history under ‘Rolling Restorations’ on this site.

  • Misc Barford & Perkins

Archive material:

B&P Rollers:

Other Makers Motor Rollers:

  • Wallis & Steevens
  • Marshall
  • Aveling Barford

Roadmaking Equipment:

Often overlooked, but equally fascinating, are the implements and tools used in road construction and maintenance.

General roadmaking and construction Scenes:

A selection of views showing roadmaking displays at Beamish and other locations over the last few years.

A miscellany of Steam Rollers…

The majority of these views were taken at Beamish, but also Lincoln, GDSF and Onslow Park (Shrewsbury).

Archive Views:

A selection of local scenes from the Beamish archive.