Road-rolling With A Farm Tractor.
Page 12
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rrHE FORDSON tractor seems to turn up in a new guise at almost regular intervals. Yet another use has been found for this power unit by Lake and Elliot, Ltd., of Braintree, who have designed and constructed a. road-roller attachment for use in conjunction with it.
On a wheelbase of 7 ft. 1 On. they have arranged an equipment which has a total weight, including water ballast, driver, and a tank full of fuel, of 4 tons 18 cwt. 2 qrs., the width of the rollers being : front 43 ins, and over the rear wheels 68 ins. The overall length over • the wheels is 9 ft. 11 ins., an extra 4 ins, having to be added for the width of the front scraper, making the total overall length 10 ft. 3 ins. The overall width over the rear scrapers is 5 ft. 11 ins. The unladen weight is 4 tons 8 cwt., to which may be added 7 cwt. for water ballast.
The steering of the roller is accomplished by a special chain gear, which forms part of the attachment, and which is shown in one of the photographs, whilst in the other will be seen, below the body of the machine, the steering lever. There is certainly a demand for a lowpriced road roller which calls for no more attention than does a tractor in the hands of a farm labourer, and this fact has been borne in mind in designing au H constructing the apparatus, ft has undergone very severe tests, and has demonstrated its value in the repair and finishing off of streets and highways and in the construction of minor roads.
The cost of the parts necessary for the whole of the conversion of a Ford. son to roller work is £180, thus bringing the total cost of the appliance to about £300.