Founded in 1870, Robert Bridson & Co was a well-known steam contracting, road-making and haulage firm, located in Cheshire across the River Mersey from Liverpool on the Wirral at Neston, some ten miles south of Birkenhead. Over the years they operated steam wagons for haulage as well as road locos - and also traction engines for threshing. In addition, they also had a number of steam rollers which were hired out for road-making purposes.
In the late 1920s, it was perceived that there was a requirement for another ‘small’ steam roller for the firm’s general use and on the occasion of the Public Works, Roads Transport Congress and Exhibition in London in late November 1929, where John Fowler’s of Leeds were exhibiting some of their contemporary products, a conversation took place on Fowler’s display stand between Mr Bridson Snr and Mr Bridson Jnr and Fowler’s well-known representative, Mr S [Sidney] O Harrison, a distinguished figure
