Aveling-Barford was a large engineering company making road rollers and dump trucks at the Invicta Works in Grantham, Lincolnshire. It was formed in 1934 after Aveling and Porter of Rochester, Kent, effectively became bankrupt when the company Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE) went into receivership in 1932. At the same time, Barford & Perkins (related to the later Perkins Engines) of Peterborough were also entering administration. Barford & Perkins, and Aveling & Porter, were Britain’s leading manufacturers of road rollers. The new company, Aveling-Barford Ltd was formed in 1934, and the business was transferred to a 36-acre site in Grantham, leased from Ruston & Hornsby.
Aveling-Barford made a range of three-point rollers in the DX range: 3.5ton, 5ton, 6ton 7ton and 8ton, all powered by Ruston & Hornsby diesel engines. The model is of the 8ton version. It was made in 1938 with power of 19hp. The engine ran at 500 rpm and ran at up to 3.75mph via a clutch-operated three-speed gearbox with reverse.
The wheelbase was 8ft. It was 15’3” long and 5’6” wide.
The model was designed in 1938 by Edgar T Westbury, who had been given access to works drawings and photographs. Castings and drawings were originally available from Bonds O’Euston Road in London and castings are now listed in the Engineers’ Emporium catalogue.
The model was built by John Walker and Reg Peach and was displayed at the 2013 Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition.
