Motor Roller Register

The Road Roller Association’s Motor Roller Register is THE Register for all interested in Motor Rollers whether it was (or is) a road roller or a sports field roller. Do you own one or more Motor Rollers, or know of any Motor Rollers? If so please let us know the details.

The key piece of information we require for any given roller is the serial number.  This identifies the roller uniquely, and it is from this that we may be able to date the roller and also provide other information from the factory records.  Alternatively, if only the registration is known this also identifies the roller uniquely and it can therefore be added to the Register; however, the registration alone may not lead to the factory build-record.  As far as possible we attempt to check the details provided against the manufacturers' original build-records as part of the role of the MRR, and all information gleaned is passed on to the owner.  This may include the date dispatched, first owner, engine make and number, weight, colour and extras fitted.  Sometimes we are lucky and the original registration is given.  Anyone sending in details of his roller will receive a free copy of the updated Motor Roller Register.

Build Records

Build-records (aka build-sheets or history sheets) are known to exist for certain manufacturers of motor rollers.  Those for Barford & Perkins and Aveling-Barford (up to the end of WW2) are held in the Lincolnshire Archives at Lincoln.  Some information is also available at Lincoln for Ruston and Hornsby and also Aveling & Porter motor rollers.  Build records for Aveling-Barford rollers built after WW2, ie from the start of the G Series, are now in the possession of the RRA.  Unfortunately some are missing and some are in poor condition.  Marshall motor roller records are held at the Gainsborough Heritage Centre, and the records for both Fowler and Wallis & Steevens are held in the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading.  The RRA can advise on access to the records for Auto Roller.  Sadly it is not known if the records for Thomas Green still exist.