The World's First Caterpillar Track (1908)

(The only surviving materials of this title feature German intertitles).

Mud has defeated many a conquering army. In the days of horse-drawn transport or ponderous and hugely heavy steam-powered engines, R. Hornsby and Sons nippy little petrol-driven caterpillar track must have seemed like the technological development of the century.

In this promotional film, shot in Grantham, Lincolnshire and delivered by the company in a spirit of optimism reminiscent of an edition of 'Tomorrow's World', the little vehicle is put through its paces, making light of its load over clay, mud, soft sand, marshy land and streams. It leaves the horse-drawn load stuck in a bog, and ends the display turning gleefully on the spot in a celebration of manoeuvrability.

7 or 8 years later, could years of trench warfare have been shortened if the engineers had been encouraged by the British military? (Bryony Dixon)

You can watch over 1300 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BFI
• Tractor
• Tractors
• Grantham
• Lincolnshire
• R.
• Hornsby
• Sons
• Steam
• Traction
• Engine
• Tank
• Caterpillar
• Mud
• Powered
• Clay
• German
• Horses
• Early
• Silent
• Film
• Documentary
• Track

[mistral789]

Incredible. This was made over 100 years ago and I'm watching it on my computer screen! Thankyou, BFI, nothing pleases me more than watching films that capture such moments that no one knew would be watchable today.

[terryvision42]

BFI do upload a eclectic mixs of archive material and that's why it makes it one of my favourite subscriptions.

[MrRaidonM]

wow

[crazylibrarian62]

there is 12 minutes video footage bw held at grantham library archives of this 1908 trial - in english!

[Rickinsf]

I noticed the two face-to-face passenger seats behind the driver, and the mud fenders covering the rear. The builders must've had some consideration for comfort.

[peepeevagi]

1:22 They see me rollin, they hatin... xD

[boonthip100]

Wow...wow...so great film!!! clearly show that the smart brain engineer were working hard and desing very good instrument !!to develop our world ..

Great German Engneer..  :)

[magmadragonz]

3:20 - Steam tank, hell yeah....

[bluemoondiadochi]

LOL at 1:40 that last horse looked behind like thinking: ugh, i wish i had one of these!

[gaudeamus66]

I first saw this film or one like it at an evening meeting of the Manchester University (Faculty of Technology) Engineering Society in or about 1965, and like another commentator, I never thought I would see it again. Hence full marks for the BFI. I wonder if they have the archive of the BP Film Service, with other fine films, e.g. oil exploration in Libya. I have found many excellent clips of historic diesel engines, like the Graz air-blast injection oil engine of 1904. Fantastic!

[trahcceb]

@rwhendrix they did, there was tracked tanks in WWI, just not so successful due to the weight of all their armour and recovery was 90% impossible, once stuck in mud.

[dplant8961]

Hi, Folks. Skidooeverest340's comments are just a little off target. The earliest mention that I have been able to find for a tracked vehicle dates back to 1837 in, I think, Scotland, where a tracked machine was built to work in marshes and bogs. It became bogged and sank out of sight on the very first day it was used.

Hornsby did not invent the crawler track and nor did Holt, Lombard or Phoenix. I read there were 100 patent applications for tracked vehicles by 1900.