Steam rollers were the last type of steam-powered road vehicle in general use, some remaining in service until the mid-1960s. Consequently, many hundreds have survived into preservation and can regularly be seen at rallies and other events. In Steam Rollers in Preservation Malcolm Batten gives us previously unpublished images celebrating a wide range of preserved steam rollers, from different makers, that can be seen in Britain.
The term ‘steam roller’ has become part of the English language, rather like Biro or Hoover. Production of steam rollers, as opposed to a traction engine pulling a roller, began during the 1860s. It was Thomas Aveling who perfected the most common three-point design, with a wide steerable roll at the front and a roll either side at the rear. While most of the other traction-engine builders also produced designs, some of which were quite innovative, it was Aveling’s company, Aveling & Porter, which became the largest manufacturer of steam rollers.
An introduction is followed by the photographs, which are mainly displayed in 2-per-page format and are accompanied by a caption.
164 colour and 12 black & white photographs. 96 pages.