SOME ROLLER QUESTION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12201, 28 July 1925, Page 7

SOME ROLLER QUESTION

INTERESTING CABLES AMERICAN V BRITISH REPLYJFROM LONDON In connection with the controversy over the respective merits of British and American rollers and the Wellington City Council order, the following is a copy of the cable sent on July 16th to the British Engineers’ Association, London, by Mr Dunsheath, honorary correspondent, British Engineers’ Association: —■ “Wellington municipality state British steam rollers cannot give results equalling Buffalo. Springfield machine in laying not mix bituminous road surfaces. Tenders under consideration, suspended about seven days pending your cabled reply. Alleged that English rollers fail for following reasons: Heavier operating cost, lower output and speed, underpowered, become bogged in hot mix, front roller too heavy, too- small diameter, pushing wave of hot mix ahead. Undulations on finished job. Comparisons made between Springfield and Aveling machines in following figures, Springfield stated first: Horsepower nine point five, five point six; diameter front roller, fifty-two inches, forty-oie inches; weights, eight tons sixteen, eight tons seventeen; front wheel two tons ten,- three tons; six; rear wheel six-tops eix, five tons eleven. Arrange your members cable quotations through usual channels for machine complying with requirements. Please cable data.regardinOpbest machines for purpose with that will answer criticisms. Can you confirm that Babcdck Wilcox manufacture Springfield under license. Confer Federated British Industries.”

THE REPLY “ALLEGATIONS UNFOUNDED.”

The: following reply dated July 27th has been - received by Mr B. J. punsheath:.— ; “Allegations against British steam rollers unfounded. At least Aveling, Robey, Marshall. Wallis and Stevens aiL make Tandem rollers satisfactory for purpose stated. There are' already, iri satisfactory use over hundred ana fifty Aveling six-ton tandem rollers of seventeen brake horsepower, driving roller. foHy-tw'o by forty-eight inches wide, two front rollers each thirtynine by twenty-four inches wide, rolling forty-eight inches Width. Biggest firm of steam rolling contractors in this country has fifty of these rollers giving complete satisfaction on hot bituminous mix. Figures given in your cable indicate that the particular Aveling roller unfavourably compared' with Springfield is a departure from Aveling six-ton standard. This may explain any trouble experienced. Babcock not making Springfield roller. Few Springfielde in use - hare, but not because. of any superiority of design, construction or performance.”