Rusting scrapyard road roller to get a new life at Beamish Museum
Frank Flannigan on the roller
WHEN scrap merchant Frank Flannigan Sr bought an old road roller a few years ago as a non-runner, most people would have thought this scruffy looking piece of machinery was ready for the scrapheap or the melting pot.
However, it can now look forward to a bright future having been taken to Beamish Museum in County Durham where it will be restored and hopefully go on display later this year.
Frank Flannigan Jr explained: “My father bought it from a place near Dunbar three or four years ago. I know some people would have seen it as a piece of junk but my father saw its potential.
“We’re delighted this old road roller has found a new home at Beamish and will be restored to its former glory.”
Beamish Museum contacted Flannigan Skip Hire last autumn when they heard they had the old road roller in their possession.
“The call came out of the blue,” said Frank. “A representative came from Beamish to view it at the Old Dove yard. He reckoned that he probably couldn’t find another one like it in the country so even though it was in a bad state of repair we agreed that they could take it away to restore it.”
Paul Jarman, keeper of transport at Beamish, said: “Barford & Perkins were prolific roller manufacturers and one of the pioneers of motor, as opposed to steam, roller construction. Whilst there is still a lot of research to carry out on this roller, I believe it to be a type D4 and it carries the number %025, which suggests it dates to around 1924.
“It is of the semi-tandem type, in that it has one full width roll and two narrower steering rolls. These could be filled with water to increase the weight and improve the compaction though the two examples of this type of roller that I know of elsewhere were both supplied to the RAF for rolling grass airfields.
“The intention is to fully restore this motor roller in our newly constructed workshops, the Regional Heritage Engineering Centre. It retains its original Albion Petrol engine which is a great plus, as well as a myriad of lovely period details. The restoration will be challenging but one our staff and volunteers are sure to relish!”
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
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Wind direction: North west
