Chain Gallery

Busy street scene at Spitalfields, East End of London

A busy street scene at Spitalfields in the East End of London. The location is the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street. The building at the right is Spitalfields Market. To the left is a branch of the Pearce & Plenty cafe chain, with a sign for the General Gordon Temperance Hotel above

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10424820

Caterpillar track steam engine by R. Hornsby & Sons

The first and original Caterpillar or walking engine made by R. Hornsby & Sons of Grantham. R. Hornsby & Sons grew into a major manufacturer of agricultural machinery, at their Spittle Gate Works. The firm went on to produce steam engines used to drive threshing machines and other equipment such as traction engines; their portable steam engine was one of their most important products and the market leader. Later a chain-track was added to an oil-engined tractor: the caterpillar track; these were developed and patented by Hornsby's chief engineer (and managing director), David Roberts, from July 1904. These were first used on tractors which served with the British Army towing artillery from 1910, but were later fitted to tanks which were used in the First World War from 1916. In 1909, a development model called the Little Caterpillar was demonstrated to the War Office. The army officers present at the demonstration believed it would frighten the horses!

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10282530

LCC-LFB Shand Mason motor steam fire engine

The motor steam fire engine with independent pumping and propelling engines was developed later than the Merryweather Fire King self-propelled steam engine. Developed in 1909 with its oil burning boiler to a double-cylinder reversing engine its first sale was to the London Fire Brigade. The chain drive, from the engine, can be clearly seen attached to the axle of the rear wheel. Seen here at London Fire Brigade headquarters, Southwark SE1

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library