THE ROAD ROLLER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 6

THE ROAD ROLLER

QUESTION OF PURCHASE

ATTITUDE OF TRADE

COMMISSIONER

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE

MAYOR.

Copies of the correspondence which passed between the officer-in-charge of H.M. Trade Commissioner's Office and the Mayor (Mr.. C. B. Norwood) on the question of the purchase of a road roller have been handed to the Press.

On the 3rd August, the officer-in-charee forwarded a letter to Mr. Norwood stating that a heavier roller with •larger diameter was not only unnecessary but could not be recommended for practical reasons. A maximum weight of six tons was recommended as being exclusively used in the United Kingdom. Messrs. Aveling and Porter would seem unwilling to risk their reputation by supplying a machine containing features which might conceivably detract from it* efficiency, and Messrs. Marshall, of Gainsborough, and Robey, of Lincoln, had Adopted a similar attitude, while other firms were presumably equally determined not to imperil the magnificent quality of their products. The very existence of the world's finest roads in Great Britain demonstrated the pre-eminent efficiency of the British road rolling plant, as did the fact that such plants were being exported 'to every Dominion and colony, including the United States of America. Technical points had been satisfactorily met, the only matter definitely open for discussion being the dimeter and weight of the front roller. The whole weight of expert opinion in Britain was against the larger roller. He felt sure that the Mayor would find the statement he had been able to obtain from. London most, helpful iti reaching a decision, and he .thought it certain that British manufacturers other than Messrs. Robey— who had offered to take 'back their roller if it did not give satisfaction—would also be prepared to meet tho council in every possible way, short of incurring the danger of impairing tho efficiency of their product. THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT Mr. Norwood replied on the sth Aug? ust. He stated that a telephone arrangement was made with Mr. Lambie holding up the oruer for 1 the roller until England Had been cabled regarding the supply of the sized roller required. Moreover, it had been agreed to waive the design to simplify, securing a British roller, leaving only the question of its size, and the Mayor had stated willingness to recommend payment of more than the cost of the American roller, provided reasonably rapid delivery took place. Acknowledging the reply embodying the foregoing letter, ho regretted that^ English manufacturers could not see their way to equip their machine with a larger front roller to meet Ithe city'a special requirement. He could not agree that all technical points raised had been successfully met. They had scarcely been touched upon. Main features urged ia favour, of the BuflaloSpringfield machine as against the Aveling and Porter (now in tho council service) were:—! Diameter of roller,, larger boiler givingl greater freedom of power and simplified firing) and ' better governing and control. The greater arc of contact approached more nearly the ideal laid down by a leading British toad engineer (Mr. Francis Wood), the size of the boiler, though he was willing to waive it, was considered of importance by the technical staff, and as refard the third point these factors could c secured by purchasing extras in addition. He could not" ask the. council to override its entire technical staff. The orders for the two rollers accepted by the council must stand. They were as follow:—The' Advance (a' three- ; wheel type with compensa(|fng rear [ wheels), goes to Messrs. Waliis . and Stephens, of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, .through Messrs. Cory-Wright and Salmon, Wellington. The BuffaloSpringfield, to Springfield, Ohio, Messrs. J. Chambers and Son, Wellington. He regretted to note a hint in the correspondence that an out-of-date Aveling and Porter was being compared with its American competitor, the only difference between the standard Aveling and that of the council being that the latter was eight tons instead of six. Hie power unit remained the same. This might account for lack of power in the Wellington machine.

VIRTUES OF BRITISH MACHINE' The officcr-in-charge, acknowledging the,. Mayor's letter announcing the decision to purchaso in America, combatted the statement that the technical points had not been met. The matter of turning radius was disposed of by practical demonstration, British rollers could be supplied with an equally low centre of gravity, and it did not appear to have been at all definitely established that waviness of surface was more marked in the case of British rollers, which, as regarded the question of control, had been quoted fully equipped, though none of the fixtures was included on the 1923 model under comparison. He quited in regard to boiler power letters by Messrs. Anderson, Ltd., referring to the Avetirijr and Porter, rollers that there was no confirmation of the impression the council had received that noiler and engine power on the eight-ton model was too low, and hlbo that the statement that the American roller was a better steamer than the 1923 model was against col-' lected evidence. Regarding the question of roller diameter, the full weight of expert . opinion in Great Britain, was against the larger roller embodied in the American model. Reports for which the council appeared desirous demonsrating the efficiency of the British roller had been supplied satisfactorily con' veying the information, but in the telephone conversation the Mayor had sought further satisfaction on specifia points, and had been supplied with that information also. "As your decision may be taken as reflecting adversely upon the 'merits of the British rollers,", stated the letter,. "I should be grateful if you would consent to the publication of this communication, of your letter of misunderstanding of the nature of the August in order that there may be no misunderstanding of the nature of the considerations which have influenced the final decision in favour of the Anie-. rican roller."