roythebus Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Does anyone remember the RollaController? I seem to remember seeing adverts for them and seeing them at Central Hall many years ago; quite novel controllers, a box with long rods sticking out of the end. The advert said they worked on the split potential system. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted February 13, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 13, 2014 Does anyone remember the RollaController? I seem to remember seeing adverts for them and seeing them at Central Hall many years ago; quite novel controllers, a box with long rods sticking out of the end. The advert said they worked on the split potential system. Made by a firm called Rollason, ISTR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Here you go. Read, understand and be amazed at how it all works, with thanks to the MRC. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 14, 2014 Author Share Posted February 14, 2014 Fascinating stuff! I wonder how many they sold as they seem far more expensive than the Tri-ang, Hornby Dublo or H&M units of that era. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 As far as I can see from the description, the basic principles appear to make this an electro-mechanical version of the modern electronic controller - I wonder if anyone still has a functioning example? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I would think that the continual mechanical breaking of current in a reactive circuit would give rise to arcing and burning of the contacts. The use of transistors or thyristors would be rather more economical and reliabie (and allow the use of feedback to maintain speed). I have built an electronic pulse width modulated feedback controller of this type which gives excellent control. However, it does cause overheating of some motors. My Rivarossi N gauge B&O 0-4-0 was very unhappy when I tried her with it. I believe coreless motors are particularly allergic and require smooth DC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 16, 2014 Author Share Posted February 16, 2014 I don't think such electronic devices were cheaply or readily available in 1961! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SHMD Posted February 16, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thanks 5050. It is fascinating and I want one! (Although I would never use it except to see if/how it works.) I wonder if it was noisy? Kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Found this in the old site archive - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10593 I'm sure I've seen something showing the rotating rods and the elongated triangular contacts. Currently haven't got a clue where though. Even Google doesn't bring anything up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 to answer the query about the 1939 MRN, there will be a copy in the Model Railway Club's library. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 to answer the query about the 1939 MRN, there will be a copy in the Model Railway Club's library. And in our's. I'll have a look tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I don't think such electronic devices were cheaply or readily available in 1961! The mechanical solution was probably the easiest at the time. As for transistors, I think you were more or less limited to the OC35 and similar as a power device, but there were others not long afterwards. Progress was quite rapid in the sixties. EDIT I found these, but I have no idea as to cost... http://www.semiconductormuseum.com/Transistors/LectureHall/JoeKnight/JoeKnight_EarlyPowerTransistorHistory_Bendix_Index.htm and Wiki has this to say http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_semiconductor_device Edited February 17, 2014 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 C'mon, the hunt is now on to find one of these! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) The Jan 1939 MRN 'Trade Topics' refers to a 'novelty' controller ("an electrically controlled controller") introduced by Walkers and Holtzpaffel that allowed an "electrically driven locomotive to run at any speed from a mere crawl to its maximum". A small 0-6-0T was demonstrated backing slowly onto a train and then reversing without any reduction in power. The engine also moved slowly at a rate of 1 wheel revolution in 120 seconds with maximum tractive effort being developed. The unit was enclosed in a "neat box from which protrudes only one knob by which means starting, stopping and speed control are effected". Now whether this is the same design as the 'Rolla-Controlla' can't really be ascertained. In a later issue of the MRN there is a W&H advert for the controller which I will try and post tomorrow. BTW, is 'rjh' still a member on RMWeb? EDIT - I've noticed that I've been spelling the 'H' of W&H wrong for nearly 60 years! It's 'Holtzapffel' not 'Holtzpaffel'! DOH! Edited February 18, 2014 by 5050 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) W & H adverts for their controllers in 1939. First the OO version - Then an 'O' gauge model - Note that the original model is advertised as being suitable for SP (split potential) useage. And 'no resistance wires' does suggest something similar to the Rolla-Controlla. I wonder what happened to the W&H version, possibly the war literally killed it off. Edited February 18, 2014 by 5050 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 ..It is fascinating and I want one! (Although I would never use it except to see if/how it works.) I wonder if it was noisy?... It's an unecessarily complex construction. Much easier to have a slightly ovoid commutator, rotating at a fair rate, with its axis on a cam. The contact sprung but well damped, standing out of contact with the commutator when the cam is at bottom position. As the cam lifts the axis, the contact gets brief power pulses on the high points of the commutator; move the cam all the way to the full speed position, and the contact tracks the commutator continuously for full output. At which point a bypass switch can make full contact, and shut off commutator rotation. I shall call the standard model the OVOtroller. Sound output of chuffing shall be produced by using the modulation generated. (An alternative slightly off-symmetric three lobe commutator model will be available for afficianados of the quality, and it shall be called the BEATroller.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 LT use the split potential system so it must work. +330v and -330v...ish and the tube trains go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Split potential used two windings to give plus and minus supplies. The traction voltage could then be tapped off between them, avoiding the need for a reversing switch. The reversing switch is usually incorporated into the speed control these days, so the system is more or less obsolete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjh Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 (edited) The Jan 1939 MRN 'Trade Topics' refers to a 'novelty' controller ("an electrically controlled controller") introduced by Walkers and Holtzpaffel that allowed an "electrically driven locomotive t:o run at any speed from a mere crawl to its maximum". A small 0-6-0T was demonstrated backing slowly onto a train and then reversing without any reduction in power. The engine also moved slowly at a rate of 1 wheel revolution in 120 seconds with maximum tractive effort being developed. The unit was enclosed in a "neat box from which protrudes only one knob by which means starting, stopping and speed control are effected". Now whether this is the same design as the 'Rolla-Controlla' can't really be ascertained. In a later issue of the MRN there is a W&H advert for the controller which I will try and post tomorrow. BTW, is 'rjh' still a member on RMWeb? EDIT - I've noticed that I've been spelling the 'H' of W&H wrong for nearly 60 years! It's 'Holtzapffel' not 'Holtzpaffel'! DOH! hello - rjh here - and I now am the proud possesser of an actual working Rolla Controla, thanks to Andrew Emmerson, who spotted it at a swapmeet/toyfair more soon; ....... regards, Rodney Hills Edited April 16, 2014 by rjh 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 hello - rjh here - and I now am the proud possesser of an actual working Rolla Controla, thanks to Andrew Emmerson, who spotted it at a swapmeet/toyfair more soon; ....... regards, Rodney Hills Oooh, looking forward to that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjh Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 hello again here'ssome stuff that a few of us in MERG [ www.merg.org.uk ] collected/authored back in 2010, long before we captured a real live R-C...... Enjoy. rgds, Rodney ps - more to come... pps- l'll try and arrange to bring the R-C to the Epsom & Ewell show [ on Sunday week ] if any of you will be therespring_2010_split_39_to_39-1.pdfspring_2010_split_40_to_40.pdfspring_2010_split_42_to_42.pdfspring_2010_split_43_to_47.pdf spring_2010_split_38_to_38.pdf spring_2010_split_41_to_41.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 It worked incredibly well when I watched the original demo at the Model Railway Exhibition. Since I was just a schoolboy at the time, I couldn't afford much of anything then. But I think it suffered from having 4 controls at a good average price, but that couldn't be located away from each other. Also they all had a common connection IIRC. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 hello again here'ssome stuff that a few of us in MERG [ www.merg.org.uk ] collected/authored back in 2010, long before we captured a real live R-C...... Enjoy. rgds, Rodney ps - more to come... pps- l'll try and arrange to bring the R-C to the Epsom & Ewell show [ on Sunday week ] if any of you will be therespring_2010_split_39_to_39-1.pdfspring_2010_split_40_to_40.pdfspring_2010_split_42_to_42.pdfspring_2010_split_43_to_47.pdf That's brilliant! After 50+ years I now understand what it was all about. Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evanelpus Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I have one as well and the last time I tried it out, it seemed to work fine. Not overly noisy but the motor whine is noticeable. As I'm in Australia it's unlikely one would want to pay the postage to get mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I have one as well and the last time I tried it out, it seemed to work fine. Not overly noisy but the motor whine is noticeable. As I'm in Australia it's unlikely one would want to pay the postage to get mine. Any pictures? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now