Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

This is going to be the thread all about my Steam Roller, and what I am doing to it, if you want to read it, I will leave up to you, some find them boring old smelly things, some like me love them!

I will start with a few Back dated posts to get up to the pressent stage that I am at, even thought it may be documented elsewhere on the forum, just so it is all together, for a refference for me if nothing else!

I will collect some Information and then come back and start off!

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

Good stuff, it'd also be interesting to read about what it may have spent its early years doing, history etc

cheers, RJ
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[buzzy bee]

Hi

The Robey was born on 7th July 1924 and her number is 41602

She was Registered for Road work FE6255

She first Went to work for Limmer and Trinidad Lake Ashphalt & CoLTD Fleet no. R13

Then passing to (undated) Inns & Co LTD (Wirksworth Quarries LTD) Woolmer Green, Herts

Then in '65 passing to Someone called Mason, little details are known unfortunateley

Then in '76 Passing to Raymond S King Barton in the Beans Leics

After this she had a few different owners to which I will not go into as it all gets a bit boring. Well I like it, but it means little to other people I expect.

She Arrived with me Late July early August I think, 2011 (only last year, but alot has happened since! and my memory is poor! )

I went to see her one Sunday with a Friend, and inspected her, and was happy with her, knowing Boiler work will be needed in the Future, but for the Price paid, this was fair enough, So did the Deal! Shook on it!

That is the most money I have spent in a day, Christ, all to easily!

She is a 7 Ton Robey Tandem Roller. Interestingly Robey's Designed and made the engine and boiler units for their Steam Wagons, but with a poor network of dealers, unlike some of their rivals like Fodens, they were struggling to sell them, even though they seemed to be a good Wagon, with some noteable features. So Robey decided to think of a way of ensuring they sold, good business sense, the uniots were then put into a set of Chassis Rails, misus a few gears (would have liked a 2nd gear too! ) and were given two rolls, making them a steam roller with the unusual configuration of a Tandem. Who would have thought all these years later the mainstay int he Road roller market, would be Tandems! Note I said Road Roller, the Ammount of people who call the modern Road Roller a Steam Roller is unbelievable, a name people have got used to I suppose, but they are of course Diesel powered. There are some mighty interesting Diesel rollers too, but we won't go into that on this thread!

Anyway that is enough Rambling for now, I will leave you with a picture of what she was like when I bought her, and also with the thought the next (pre) update will be ablout me going to collect her!



Cheers

Dave

[emmerson]

Dave, I went to see one of these in Tavistock in about 1991. I can't remember the owner's name, but he had a hell of a collection! The roller I saw had been featured in a magazine, the name of which I also cannot remember (well, I am old!), along with an article on Morwellham Quay.
We were staying on a small caravan site, and the owner asked what had brought us to that area, so I showed him the piece on Morwelham Quay. He borrowed the mag to read the article, and came back the next morning and asked if we'd like to see the Tandem Roller, as it belonged to a friend of his! We spent a lovely evening with him, and he steamed it up for us as well.
Morwelham Quay was good too!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Tavistock is the home to the Robey Trust, which is where I went over the weekend including the 9th December, A birthday treat for me.

Have a look at:- http://www.therobeytrust.co.uk/ For which I am a member.

Glad it gave you a good time, and I am glad you enjoyed the Quay!

If you are over my way ever, speak up, come and remind yourself what they are like! Mine is one of a handfull that are left.

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

Did you ever cast an eye over that Shire book on steamrollers I mentioned? I'm sure it had at least one grainy old photo of a tandem Robey in it.

R
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[buzzy bee]

Hi

Not yet seen one to buy, will keep an eye out maybe. There is a nice shop in Wales selling lots of steam books but this year and last it has been all loco based, I have however found an envelope whilst tidying, still sealed, jiffy bag type, opened it to see some steam books, I must have bought at some point and it has been put aside, not looked through them yet!

Cheers

Dave

[emmerson]

Dave, I wish I'd had your offer earlier! We spent new year in my caravan at Elm Cottage Little Budworth, and were looking for things to do!
We are up there quite often, actually, but not until early June next time.
Thanks for the invite.

[buzzy bee]

Early June, do remind me, PM me on here, I will hopefully have her be back together by then, and you can be a nice excuse to burn some black rocks!

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

When do you think its first outing of the season will be? Don't forget the Cheshire Run is usually late April, a nice local hop to go and spectate on the Run before heading home again? It'd be quite a climb up into Ash again wouldn't it

R
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[RotaryBri]

[buzzy bee]

[Rick]

17th April is a Tuesday this year - do you mean Sun 15th?

There must be someone around Ash way that could help out with water, is there a pond or lake in the woods nearby at Brown Moss? Or is that too far to get to in one go?

(goes to check) seems there is a lake, although I'm not sure you can get close enough to it.

http://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/attractiondetails.php?estid=3988

RJ
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[MVPeters]

(Most likely the 29th this year).

Didn't Fred Dibnah generously test fire hydrants to make sure they were in full working order................?
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2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I am not sure on the date, just went off what it said on the internet, it isn't the last sunday though aparently, for 2012 it is the secon to last sunday, very rare aparently for the cheshire run to move dates!

Anyway, yeah a pond or river would work, but I need it within about 10 foot of th engine, and I am not risking off roading around there, gets boggy! hehe

Will have to go for a little drive one day when it is quiet, and have a look, I know of someone out that way so will have a word, I might have to put an ibc on the landrover else, and have someone follow me.

The Landrover that seems to be imposible to bleed the clutch, just like the brakes were, hydraulic systems are a modern nightmare, lets go back to positive means, rods and all, no issues that way.

Cheers

Dave