Still Rolling after 60 years of ownership
John Selby’s family has been involved with steam for well over 100 years. “It all started when my grandfather, Arthur Selby, began his threshing business in 1910, using a 1902 Marshall No. 37173 single-cylinder traction engine.” Based near Epworth on The Isle of Axholme in north Lincolnshire, between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. The business flourished for many years, and continued threshing using steam until around 1948; then tractors took over providing the power. Steam was still an important part of the family’s life, with John’s father Harry buying a 1925 Marshall 7hp No. 79441 FU 4677 single-cylinder general purpose. This was rallied by the family for many years, but by the late 1950s John’s father was keen for the then 14-year-old John to get an engine of his own.
“Rallies were becoming popular and there were a few rollers around,” John said, “so my dad suggested that I should think about getting one.” It wasn’t long before some prospective purchases came to light, “A roller that my father had repaired came up for sale; it was at an auction and I decided that I wanted to buy it,” John said. With £50 to spend his hopes of acquiring the roller were high, “Unfortunately it sold for £120,” John added, “I just couldn’t afford it.”
The search for a suitable engine
The search for a suitable engine continued, “We looked for a roller all over, but we just couldn’t get one,” John continued. But then John and Harry went to see James Stafford at Hatfield near
