Steam Roller

Seam Roller and workers  -  Where and when?

Does this steam roller still exists?

Steam Roller and gang including probably Percy James Hambly as a young man

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Derek Hambly, Liskeard, Cornwall, England.
Derek's grandfather, Percy James Hambly, is probably one of the workers in this photo

 

Enlarge this photo

   Steam Roller and gang including probably Percy James Hambly as a young man ©

 

Steam Roller

Old Photo

Thank you to Derek Hambly for sending me this photograph of a steam roller and gang of workers.  Derek does not know where or when  this photo was taken, but he believes that one of the workers is his grandfather, Percy James Hambly, in his younger years..

Derek tells me that his grandfather was born in Bodmin, Cornwall and worked for Constable & Harts Co Ltd, a steamroller firm based in London.

Acknowledgement:  Derek Hambly, Liskeard, Cornwall, England:  May 22, 2009

Questions

Derek would like to learn more about this photo and wonders if the old steam roller has survived.

Here is another steam roller photo sent to me by Derek:

Percy James Hambly and a steam roller ©

If you can answer any of Derek's questions and would like to contact him, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to him.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs:  May 26, 2009

 

Answer

1.

Mark Fellows

Cornwall England

Thank you to Mark Fellows who wrote:

Cornwall

"This roller bears a registration prefix, AF.  This was the Cornish prefix years ago and I would have thought this was an image from possible around the Cornwall / Devon area.

I think this roller is no longer with us, unfortunately.

I'll post a link on to the Traction Talk website and see if somebody can shed some useful information on the engine.

Mark Fellows, Cornwall, England:  May 28, 2009

 

Answer

2.

Mark Fellows

Cornwall England

Thank you to Mark Fellows for sending a further email  -  about an hour after his first!

Mark wrote:

Holland

"The Cornish engine is identified!!   This engine exists, but not as a steam roller.  It has been converted into a traction engine.  It is in Holland of all places!!

Unfortunately in our hobby a small number of people convert rollers to traction engines and showman’s engines (like the ones that powered fairgrounds years ago).  This is a major controversial topic in the road steam world!

Below is a reply about the engine from the Traction Talk web site:

'This roller is Marshall 77479 (AF8674) - possibly a Dingles engine. It now lives as a traction engine in Holland.'

The person who replied on the Traction Talk web site added:

'The firm, Dingles, was a very big road rolling contractor, years ago, and had many engines.  I believe this firm did the majority of its work throughout Cornwall and into Devon.  There is also a museum in Cornwall called the Dingles Steam Museum.   It may be worth the owner of the photos visiting the museum as they maybe able to help even more.'  "

Mark Fellows, Cornwall, England:  May 28, 2009

 

Answer

3.

Ben

Thank you to Ben who wrote the message below.  Ben sent this message to me before I had chance to update the web site for Answers 1 and 2 above.

Ben wrote:

1924

"This appears to be a Marshall steam traction engine. The registration number AF8674 was first registered in 1924 and is still currently on the same roller."

Ben:  May 29, 2009

 

Answer

4.

Derek Hambly

Liskeard, Cornwall, England

Derek, who sent me this photograph, added:

Holland

    Percy James Hambly and a steam roller ©

"Thank you  for  the news   about  this  steam  roller  landing  up  in  Holland,  converted  into  a  traction   engine.  I wonder  if  there  is  a  photo  of  it  as  it  is  now.  That  would  be  a  nice  ending  to  the  story."

Derek Hambly, Liskeard, Cornwall, England:  May 30, 2009

 

Transport

Steam Rollers

Around Edinburgh

 

 

 

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