BAXTER’S IMPROVED 8 x 6 BLAKE STONE BREAKER
Barford & Perkins Motor Roller
Written from first hand research and illustrated from his personal archive by
George W. Randall, co-founder in July 1996 and former
Vice Chairman Kinloch Castle Friends Association.
The roads are all rock hewn, consequently uneven with projecting rocks.
Little of their length can be termed "level",
mostly steep, particularly the switchback descent to Harris.
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ONCE THE STONE WAS BROKEN AND LAID ON THE ROADWAY
IT HAD TO BE COMPACTED ... ...
THAT REQUIRED A MOTOR ROAD ROLLER ... ...
Commencing November 1908 letters and telegrams were exchanged between
Mr. Goodall at the White House, Isle of Rhum, N.B. (North Britain)
and Barford Perkins regards purchase of a road roller.
Regrettably very few 1908/1909 replies from Barford & Perkins have survived.
Further enquiries for a roller were made in 1919 when Mr. Wallace Brebner
was Sir George Bullough's factor on Rhum.
Eventually, in November 1926, a Type “A” 2½ Ton Two Speed Roller was purchased !
3 February 1909.
5 March 1909.
Introduced May 1905 - still in production 1912.
16 April 1909.
It would seem no roller was purchased.
McCreath, Taylor & Co., contractors, Glasgow
4 October 1919
No further 1919 correspondence in the files.
It would seem no roller was purchased as more enquiries commence in July 1926.
Three Pages - continues ... ...
continues ... ...
As recommended in Barford & Perkins' letter dated 8 July 1926.
The 2½ ton had a
two-speed gear box, 2 and 4 miles per hour in both forward and reverse
with a
four foot rolling width.
“... it is not
possible to drive a stone crusher off the roller engine.”
See itemised Sale Note below for breakdown of costs.
6 November 1926.
Roller ordered ...
Registration Number U.024
November 1926.
29 December 1926.
4 January 1927.
28 February 1927.
Requesting availability of pulleys and belts to drive the Baxter’s Stone Breaker from the Barford & Perkins Road Roller.
24 March 1927.
24 March 1927.
11 April 1927.
28 April 1927.
6 May 1927.
27 May 1927.
9 June 1927.
6 April 1928.
Health and Safety! Goggles and Respirators requested.
"Cold Chon" Company update.
17 December 1930. (Re-typed original very feint)
It would seem from their "comparisons" Barford & Perkins failed to fully appreciate the surfaces, gradients, or length of roadway their Type A Roller was to be used.
Considering the roadways exceeded twenty miles, the gradients and high rainfall,
the roads would require constant attention due to "washout".
Whilst the Baxter Stone Breaker remains, no Motor Roller has been found,
but clearly one was purchased.
No doubt the water of Loch Scresort hides many secrets!
Regrettably no further exchanges have come to light.
In the early 2000's contractors arrived at Kinloch Castle to remove asbestos.
They gained entry to the underfloor areas where, so they told me, "many boxes of papers were stored." Due to the asbestos dust created in its removal
all the boxes were thrown into a skip and lost.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The photographs of Barford & Perkins, Ltd., Peterborough works from:
George W. Randall Research Archive
Added material25 August 2024.
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