Road Thumpers!

[Answerprancer]

Hi folks - long time no posty!
So who remembers these? I Remember seeing them being used a long time ago then it occurred to me that they are no longer around.
Just in case anyone is wondering, what I'm talking about is a machine that stood about four feet high and was used by road construction/repair men.
I presume they had a single cylinder internal combustion engine that was designed to turn over very slowly so they would go "kachung kachung kachung" and compact/break up what ever lay beneath like some sort of insane pogo-stick .
Can anyone shed any light on what happened to them? Also, does anyone know what their proper name was?

[jno]

I don't know the answer but happy new year anyway!

[Answerprancer]

You too :-)

[vulcan42]

road breakers, still available to buy or hire.
http://www.hirealmighty.co.uk/uploads/1roadbreakers_1_6.jpg

[ferlew]

Whacker plates, or whackers.
Still in use. More often on paved drives though.

[ferlew]

Ah sorry, wrong thing.
The one you are asking about caused white finger disease.
Pneumatic road drills.

[Answerprancer]

Here is the only photo I've managed to find of one:
http://www.cheffins.co.uk/assets/catalogues/lots/208/625.jpg

[ferlew]

Whacker plate.

[boxtops]

Hire from here:

http://www.hss.com/g/47428/Vibrating-Plate-Wacker-Plate.html

[Answerprancer]

I think these wacker plate thingies vibrate fairly quickly.
The one I'm talking about (as in the pic link I posted) would make a distinctly regular ka-boom noise about every second or so and jump clean off the ground each time.

[Stephen_G]

Google a RAMMER, Ap (I thought my source of the Benny Benassi video for Satisfaction would have provided the answer, but alas no... It does do the blood good to see it again though ;-) )

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that Scrivens - now I'm going to see if there is any video footage out there of one of the old ones in action!

[kawakiri]

Something like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qyn2v0xZ7o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Answerprancer]

Hell yeahh!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZErNqrp8VQU

[Answerprancer]

Blimey! They've all arrived at once! Thanks folks :-)

[kawakiri]

We can all get hammered.