David Rollo and Sons

Of Fulton Engine Works, 9, Blackstone Street, Liverpool. (1891), and Sandhills (Boiler Works, coppersmiths, foundry, etc).

See also David Rollo

1873. Mentioned. David Rolls(sic), engineer, Great Howard Street.

1878 Acquired the Fulton Engine Works and Regent Foundry, Bentinck St, from Messrs Braid and Hughes

1891 For description of works see 1891 The Practical Engineer. The Sandhills Works, which included coppersmiths and whitesmiths' shops, iron and brass foundry, forge and smithy, was bounded on the south by Sandhills Lane, on the west by Derby Road, on the north by a timber yard, and on the east by Bankhall Lane, on the opposite side of which was the Bankhall Works of John H. Wilson and Co, cranemakers, and beyond that was Bankhills Station.

1907 Mentioned as David Rolls(sic) and Sons, shipping engineers, of Liverpool.

1908 Mentioned as shipbuilders and engineers.

1909 Works near Sandhills Railway Station included forges for making of forgings under the drop-hammer, most of which was done to meet Admiralty requirements, as well as a brass foundry and boiler shops. The company also operated the Fulton Engine Works constructing marine engines and boilers, and in the repairing of engines, boilers, and ships.

1923 Maker of mixers for tarmac

Succeeded by Grayson, Rollo and Clover Docks

Examples of Engines and other Marine Machinery

The company made numerous sets of marine propulsion and other machinery. Just a few examples are presented below.

1887 'The new steamer Firefly, .... The machinery of the vessel is of the most improved class, and was constructed and fitted by Messrs. David Rollo and Sons, of Fulton Engine Works, Liverpool, under the superintendenoe of Mr. William Glover. It consists of two pairs of compound surface condensing engines, having cylinders 12 1/2 inches end 25 inches diameter respectively, and a stroke of 18 inches. Each engine has a set of air, feed, and bilge pumps, worked by links and lever from the L.P. crossheads, the circulating water being supplied by independent centrifugal pumping engine. Steam of 100lbs. working pressure is supplied by a large steel boiler, having three of Fox's patent oorrugsted furnaces.'

1888 'TRIAL TRIP.—The official trial trip of the steamship Hoopos, one of the Cork Steamship Company's vessels, which has just been fitted with triple expansion engines, &c., took place on the 5th inst. The contract for the new machinery was given to Messrs. David Rollo and Sons, Fulton Engine Works, and the performance was beyond the expectation of those interested. The engines are on the three-cylinder, three-crank, surface-condensing, direct-acting principle, having cylinders 21 by 33 by 53 inches diameter respectively, the stroke being 36 inches. There are two single-ended steel boilers, carrying 160 lbs. pressure per square inch. The dimensions of the vessel are as follows :- 236 feet 6 inches long, 31 feet 6 inches beam, 16 feet 8 inches depth of hold, and 1,297 tons gross register. On the measured mile the mean speed attained was 12 1/4 knots, with the engines running 70 revolutions per minute. The new machinery has all been made to the specification of and under the personal supervision of Mr. F. C. Kelson, the company's engineer, while Captain Croft has superintended the alteration and improvements to the hull.'

1888 'TRIAL TRIP.—On the 26th June the new steel screw steamship Oporto, the latest addition to the Leyland Line, left the Sandon Dock, Liverpool, on her official trial trip. The Oporto has been built to the order of Messrs. Fred. Leyland and Co., Liverpool, by Mr. Charles J. Bigger, Foyle Shipyard, Londonderry. She is constructed of mild steel to Lloyd's highest class, but she is considerably in excess of their requirements. Her dimensions are:— Length, 210 feet; breadth, 27 feet; and depth of hold, 17 feet. She is fitted with a topgallant forecastle, and a long bridge is placed amidships, under which are the saloon and state-rooms. The saloon extends the full width of the vessel. The state-rooms open off the saloon, and are provided with every convenience for the accommodation of a few passengers. She is schooner-rigged, and is fitted with two steel pole masts, the foremast being square rigged. The main deck is of chequered iron plates, and great attention has been given to the deck fittings, which require to be of extra strength, in order to stand the heavy seas of the Bay of Biscay. The machinery of the Oporto has been fitted by Messrs. David Rollo and Sons, Fulton Engine Works, and has been constructed to the specification and under the superintendence of Mr. Neville Evans, the company's engineer. The engines are direct-acting, surface-condensing, inverted cylinder compound, haying cylinders 16 inches and 43 inches diameter, the stroke being 36 inches. Between the high and low pressure cylinders a heat retaining apparatus has been fitted on the principle patented by Messrs. Ashlin and Turner. There is also fitted in the engine-room a Smillie feed-heater, and an evaporator by the same maker. The crank shafts are in duplicate halves on the built up principle. The main boiler is 13 feet 8 inches diameter, by 10 feet long, built of steel, to the requirements of Lloyd's surveyors, for a working pressure of 150Ibs. per square inch. There are two of Fox's corrugated furnaces 47 inches diameter, and the funnel has been fitted with an outside air casing. Messrs. David Rollo and Sons have also fitted a large horizontal donkey boiler on deck and three powerful steam winches, and the evaporator is arranged to act as a condenser for exhaust steam from the winches, when working in port. At the trial the results were highly satisfactory, the engines running 70 revolutions, giving 435 indicated horse power, while the mean speed of the ship on the mile was fully 10 knots per hour, allowing for currents. All on board expressed themselves highly satisfied with the ship's performance.'

1889: TRIAL TRIPS. CAMEROON. — On Nov. 7 the screw steamer Cameroon went down the Mersey for the official trial of her machinery which has been converted from compound to the triple arrangement by Messrs. David Rollo and Sons, Fulton Engine Works. The Cameroon is owned by the British and African Steam Navigation Company, and is a vessel of the following dimensions:—Length, 302 1/2 feet; beam, 34 fest : depth of hold, 24 feet. Everything worked with the greatest smootness. The average speed of the vessel was 13 knots, the machinery indicating about 1,200-horse power.'

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