Metal bar rolling and branding machine

Scale: 1:6. Model of a rolling machine (1829), for rolling and branding metal rods from which ships bolts were made. The model is made largely fromsteel andbrass, together with wooden supports and a baseboard. The whole model is mounted on a rectangular mahogany base which has been stained and varnished. The rolling mechanism consists of two elongated rollers each fitted with three semi-circular grooves, the middle one of which is corrugated and bears an impression of the naval broad arrow mark. The rollers are housed in a verticalsteel and wooden support and can be adjusted in height by turning a pair of threaded bolts with holes for a T-bar. On either side of the roller is fitted a square peg on which an L shapedsteel handle can be worked.

There is an original cardboard printed label which reads, 'L3(26), Machine tools cat. number 26, number .M2727, recd. 1864/58, rolls for marking rods. (Scale 1:6), Presented by The Admiralty. This model represents a machine introduced by Sir R. Seppings in 1829 for rolling and branding the metal rods required for making ships bolts. It consists of two equal rolls mounted in wood and iron housings and worked by a winch handle apiece; screws are provided to regulate the distance between the rolls. There are three round passes but the middle one is slightly corrugated and on top of each ridge bears the broad arrow, the impression of which is left on the metal every few inches in the length of the rods.'