Mexborough and Swinton Times December 16, 1938
Mexborough Council Aquire Modern Type of Road Roller
The Mexborough Urban Council’s new Diesel engined road roller.
The new Diesel-engined road roller which the Mexborough Urban Council have purchased from the well-known engineering firm of Marshall, Sons and Company (Successors), Ltd., Gainsborough, made its first public appearance in the town last week.
The necessity for a modern outfit of this description has been obvious for some time, and when the recommendation to buy a new roller was approved by the full Council, the Highways Committee, with commendable foresight, went very carefully into the merits of the various types of plant available, and after offers were received not only studied the details of equipment, but actually visited the makers’ works in order to see for themselves the source of manufacture, and investigate the various -claims put forward.
The final choice was in favour of the “Marshall” roller and there is every reason to believe that the Council has made a highly satisfactory purchase.
The new roller weighs approximately 81 tons in full working order, but the front and rear rollers are arranged for water ballast so that the weight can at any time be increased to provide a little extra pressure when necessary.
The Diesel engine power unit is the famous ‘Gardner” twin cylinder type, and transmission is provided through a substantial 3-speed gear box. A water sprayer system is fitted to all the rollers, and an awning affords ample protection for the driver.
All components are simple and accessible and the roller is easy to start and manage.
The new roller will not, of course, emit any smoke in working along the highways, and will be found to go about its job in an efficient manner without any fuss or no more noise than is, made by the average modern motor-car.
It is interesting to record that Marshalls made their first roller as far back as 1895, and since that time have been largely engaged in supplying rollers for service, not only in this country but in all parts of the world. Naturally, during the intervening years they have handled some interesting contracts, and perhaps the most notable was in 1925, when this company executed what is thought to, be the world’s largest road roller contract, over 100 steam road rollers being supplied to the Greek Government at a production rate of ten per week.
Of course, Marshalls, or Gainsborough, have a reputation for a good many other things such as boilers, steam engines, Diesel tractors, threshing machinery and general engineering work.
It says much .for the strength and durability of their productions that one of the early steam rollers supplied to the Gainsborough Urban Council in 1902 is still in active service. If the new Mexborough roller lasts as long, the Council will not have much to worry about.