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Robey badge IMG 6128
Robey Co engine no 14144 at Anson - IMG 2565

A 110 year old Robey and Co horizontal engine no. 14144 at the Anson Engine Museum rescued from a quarry lagoon

Robey and Co. was a firm based in Lincoln, England that built steam Rollers.

Robey & Co Ltd was founded in 1854, by Robert Robey, as manufacturers of portable steam engines and thrashing machines. By 1862 they had expanded greatly and exhibited a display of agricultural equipment; "fixed engines, traction engines, ploughing tackle, corn mills, saw benches etc" at the Great Exhibition. Soon they extended the range to include a complete range of mining equipment from winding engines and pumping engines to locomotives, cages and kibbles (mine bucket).

History[]

By the turn of the century the firm had been incorporated into a limited company, the works had expanded to cover 15 acres and 20 000 engines and plant had been built. Stationary engines of many types were added to the range, such as the 'Quick Revolution' vertical, for electrical generation. Indeed Robey's 'Globe works' was said to be the first factory in the U.K. lit by electricity.(verification required)

New range of traction engines was introduced and the steam wagon made its appearance in 1906, various models of which remained in production until 1934. Road rollers were made from 1914 and steam tractors enjoyed a ready sale. Road locomotives (Steam trucks) became popular, especially in overseas markets; a few still exist in Australia. An inspired innovation was the development of a tandem roller from the stayless wagon boiler and engine unit.

Engines with simple slide valves, expansion gear, piston valves and drop valves were developed for application in many industries (our Class E is a good example of the latter). Colliery winders up to 84" stroke were amongst the largest of these, exported all over the world. Many are still in use in India and elsewhere. The Robey Trust owns one of three examples preserved in England.

'Overtypes', 'Superheater' and 'Uniflow' engines were sold, the latter, the most efficient type of steam engine made, being a speciality of the firm. Engines were made to every configuration; horizontal, vertical and diagonal; duplex, tandem and cross compound cylinders; open and high speed enclosed, all in a variety of sizes and powers.

Robey made an early entry into the internal combustion engine market: for half a century vertical and horizontal oil and diesel engines were produced for diverse applications such as ship propulsion. Air compressors, rock crushers and hemp decorticators serve as examples to illustrate the wide range of products made.

Robey's contribution to the war effort was considerable; in 1916 Sopwith aircraft and Short Seaplanes were built in large numbers; from 1939 production centred on gun mountings, frigate engines and other heavy items. After the war the capacity and expertise of the company was used to fabricate everything from converters for steelworks to parts for the Jodrell Bank radio telescope. In the firm's later years, however, package boilers in oil, gas or solid fuel fired versions were made in larger numbers: a new boiler barrel and tubeplate for the Robey Trust's Tandem roller was the last boiler made and tested at the works before closure in February 1988.

Model Range[]

Robey Trust Preservation List[]

  • Robey Portable, single cyl. c1875
  • Robey no. 3331 - Thrashing Machine c1880
  • Robey no. 12787 - Class A single cyl fixed engine 1892, Supplied new to Pearson's Pottery, Chesterfield, in 1892, this engine was rescued from the derelict remains of the pottery in 1972 by a local haulier.
  • Robey no. 31821 - Five ton Steam Tractor 1913
  • Robey no. 32387 - Robey 3 point steam roller 1913
  • Robey no. 42522 - Steam wagon - ex ? of Bollingbrook, Lincs
  • Robey no. 42693 - Tandem roller "Stumbles" 1925
  • Robey no. 45655 - Tri-tandem roller 1930 - Herts Wanderer

Preservation[]

Preserved Robey steam engines[]

Known machines built by Robey & Co. Ltd in preservation (TER 2008 list 70 known in UK)
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Engine No. Name Build Date Type Weight Power nhp Reg No. Owner Image Other info
Robey no. 2216 Name ? c.1880 PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 5513 Name ? 1880 PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 5637 Name ? 1879 PE weight 7 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 6529 - 1881 Portable - 5 nhp - owner ? to add At Beaulieu Steam Revival 2010
Robey no. 7406 - 1883 Portable - 6 nhp - Bursleden Brickworks Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 10247 Name ? 1887 PE ? ton ? nhp Reg no. ? Owner ? Canterbury 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 10330 Name ? 1888 PE weight power - Preston Services, Canterbury 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


T42 at Preston Services/Projects
Robey no. 10456 Name ? 1888 PE weight power - Preston Services, Canterbury 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


T38 at Preston Services/Projects
Robey no. 10809 Name ? 1889 PE weight 3 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 13166 Name ? 1892 PE weight 5 nhp Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 15598 Name ? 1895 PE weight 3 nhp Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 19420 Name ? 1891 PE weight power Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 19435 Auld Jock 1899 TE weight 7 nhp AO 8122 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 25961 - 1906 Portable - 3 nhp - owner ? to add At Beaulieu Steam Revival 2010 - Repatriated from Australia
Robey no. 28086 Dartmoor 1908 PE weight 5 nhp Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 28094 Pride of The Walk 1908 TE 9 ton 5 hhp AO 8932 P. Wallington, Oxfordshire Robey no. 28094 TE Pride of the Walk reg AO 8932 at Bloxham 09 - IMG 5885 At Bloxham Steam Rally 2009
Robey no. 28295 Name ? date built ? Traction engine weight power Reg no. ? Owner ?, New Zealand 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Resident in New Zealand[1]
Robey no. 29330 name ? 1910 TE 9 ton 6 nhp CT 4101 owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


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Robey no. 29333 Wally 1910 TE 9 1/2 ton 7NHP AD 9899 Owner Paul Antell, Dorset 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 29450 King George V 1910 Traction engine ? ton 6 nhp AB 9453 John Collins collection, Worcestershire[2] 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Moved to Bob Davis's yard in 2012
Robey no. 29531 Name ? date built ? Traction engine weight power Reg no. ? Owner ?, New Zealand[3] 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Resident in New Zealand
Robey no. 29911 Name ? date built ? Road engine weight power Reg no. ? Owner ?, New Zealand[4] 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Resident in New Zealand
Robey no. 30708 Name ? 1911 PE weight 12 nhp Reg no. ? Owner ?, ROI 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 31821 Name ? 1913 Steam Tractor 5 ton 4 nhp Reg no. ? Robey Trust Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey Trust collection
Robey no. 32387 Name ? 1913 3 point steam roller 10 ton power? DE 2592 Robey Trust Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey Trust Collection
Robey no. 33348 - 1914 TE ? ? Z 200 Robey Trust Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 33810 - 1915 Portable - power ? - Hollycombe Steam collection To add 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 33957 Village Queen 1915 ST 4 tn 6 nhp FE 1620 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Rebuilt as no.40798 in 1922
Robey no. 35548 Sir Giles 1916 TE ? ton 6 nhp DO 2046 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 37657 The Guvnor 1918 ST 4 tn 5 nhp AP 9341 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 37871 Name ? 1918 PE weight 14 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 37958 Jill 1918 PE weight 5 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 37962 Name ? 1918 PE weight 5 nhp - Owner ? ROI 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 38020 - 1919 Portable - 8 nhp - Vinderup, Frilandsmuseum Hjerl Hede 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 38403 Hercules 1919 PE weight 10 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 38818 - 1920 Portable - 8 nhp - P. Cummins, Trowbridge Robey no. 38818 Portable at Lister Tyndale 09 - IMG 4094 Repatriated from South Africa.
Shown at Lister Tyndale Steam Rally 2009
Robey no. 40062 Ruby 1921 Portable - 12 nhp - Breamore Countryside Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 40672 - 1923 Steam roller 7 ton ? nhp FE 5391 Robert Crawford collection To add
Robey no. 40892 Name ? 1923 PE weight 5 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 40991 Shamrock 1923 Convertible tractor 7 ton 5 nhp FE 5373 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41005 PERDITA 1923 PE weight 12 nhp J.R. Godfrey Derbyshire 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41113 Name ? 1923 RR 12 ton power FE 5345 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41492 Name ? 1924 ST 5 ton 4 nhp FE 5736 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41493 Our Nipper 1924 Steam tractor 5 ton 4 nhp MF 3946 Owner ? Robey traction engine Great Dorset Steam Fair At Great Dorset Steam Fair
Robey no. 41593 Name ? date built Tandem roller weight power FE 6255 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41602 The Mistress 1924 Tandem Roller 7 ton ? FE 6319 The Riley Collection 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41803 Name ? date built type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42129 Name ? 1924 Tandem RR 8.5 ton power RL 75 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42216 "57" Jeannie 1925 RR weight power FE 6672 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42493 Name ? date built RR weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42520 Barkus 1925 Tandem Roller ? ? FL 7632 Bressingham Steam Museum 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42522 - 1926 Wagon 6 ton ? nhp FE 5464 The Robey Trust
Ex Alan Rundle, Boston
Robey wagon no 42522 - (FE5464) at Carrington 2011 IMG 6122 At Carrington Steam and Tractor Rally 2011
Robey no. 42550 Name ? 1926 PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 42657 - 1925 Steam wagon 6 ton ? nhp MY 318 Robert Crawford collection Robey steam wagon no. 42657 - (MY 318) at Carrington Steam rally 2011 IMG 6137 At Carrington Rally 2011
Just rebuilt(2009)
Robey No. 42675 - 1927 TE single cylinder 8 ton 6 nhp JU 8198 R.E.M. Booty To add At Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally 2008
Robey no. 42693 Stumbles 1924 Tandem Roller 8 ton ? FE 7490 The Robey Trust Robey Tandem Great Dorset Steam Fair At GDSF 2009
Robey no. 43165 Name ? date built type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 43388 Kernow Knight
Ex Pendle Knight/ Deeside Knight
1929 Tractor 7 ton 4 nhp VL 983 Owner ? Robey steam tractor, Pendle Knight Ex Tom Varley collection
Robey no. 43739 Jesse 1927 PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 43747 Name ? 1928/200? type weight power VK 4540 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Wagon built from boiler of Roller 43747
Robey no. 44083 Name ? 1930 3 RR weight power VL 2370 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 45655 Herts Wanderer 1930 Roller ? ? VL 2773 The Robey Trust 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 46935 Name ? 1933 Tandem Roller weight power CZ 2432 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 48869 Name ? 1939 Tandem Roller 8 ton power EDV 916 Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 49364 Name ? 1941 type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 49481 Name ? date built type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 49484 Name ? date built type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 49494 Name ? 1942 PE weight 16 nhp - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 51956 Name ? 1940 ? PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. UP39 Name ? 1880 type weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. UP40 Name ? 1940 PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. UP41 Name ? date built PE weight power - Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. UP71 Name ? date built PE weight power - Preston Services Canterbury 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. UI "Name" date built type weight power Reg no. ? Owner ? 100px Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki:Requested images


Robey no. 41000 ex PWD date built type weight 10 HP - in Transport Museum Hobart, Tasmanian Robey 41000 Transport Museum Hobart Tasmania
Key References
Machine types Key: SW = Steam Wagon, PE = Portable engine, PLG = Ploughing Engine, RR = Road Roller, SM = Showmans, TE = Traction Engine
  1. Old Glory Magazine no. 241 page 30
  2. Vintage Spirit no. ? page ?
  3. Old Glory Magazine no. 241 page 30
  4. Old Glory Magazine no. 241 page 30


Preserved Robey industrial engines[]

A number of examples of Robey horizontal industrial engines exist in various museums

Template:PML Robey industrial

See also[]

References / sources[]

External links[]


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