Aveling & Porter: An Illustrated HistoryThomas Aveling, a farmer and self-taught engineer, became the ‘father of the traction engine’. This resulted from efforts to improve agricultural machinery. After success with steam ploughing, his conversion of the portable steam engine, making it self-propelling, produced the first commercially successful traction engine. Establishing a factory in Strood, Kent in 1861, Aveling’s need for finance lead to a partnership with Richard Porter in 1862. This was an ideal relationship that freed Aveling to concentrate on the engineering aspects of the firm. Aveling’s innovations included numerous patents covering improvements to engine layout, to steering and to geared drive. The product that brought the firm international recognition was the steam road roller marketed in 1867. As the world’s most prolific manufacturer, Aveling & Porter became synonymous with the road roller. Profitable as a firm until the failure of the Agricultural and General Engineers combine, the firm was to be resurrected as Aveling Barford at Grantham in 1934. |
Contents
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The Firm 18821934 | |
Products Manufactured 18821934 | |
The Demise of Aveling and Porter and the Advent of Aveling | |
Common terms and phrases
1860 catalogue AVELING & PORTER Aveling and Porter Aveling engines axle Ballard Barford and Perkins boiler building built cast Cement chain drive Chatham Dockyard Clayton and Shuttleworth conical rolls convertible crane engine cylinder designed diameter diesel engine director driving wheels drum Edward Barford factory feet firebox firm fitted flywheel foundry Frank Perkins front roll gear Grantham guns hauling horn plates Illustrated London improved Invicta Kent lathes Leiston machinery machines Maidstone manufactured models motor mounted nhp compound oil rollers patent Pelican Yard Peterborough plough engine portable engine quick reverse railway RASE road locomotive road roller Rochester roller wheels rolling width rope porters Royal Agricultural Society Ruston and Hornsby Scarifier shaft single-cylinder slide valve small number smokebox speed standard gauge steam plough steam road steam rollers Steam Sapper steering Strood supplied tandem roller tank Thomas Aveling Thomas Aveling’s Thrashing tons traction engine tractor tram engines tramway locomotive wagons