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World's First Caterpillar Track, The (1908)
 

Synopsis

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A demonstration by the R. Hornsby engineering company of Grantham of a petrol-driven caterpillar track vehicle for general haulage across a variety of difficult terrains. The tractor, coupled to a loaded trailer, is driven over a range of surfaces - clay, sand and soft sand. A traction engine is driven over the same mound of soft sand and is unable to cope. A team of horses pulls a large load through boggy grassland and gets stuck whereas the tractor goes straight through, likewise a ditch and a ford. The tractor drives through the gates into the factory yard, where it demonstrates its ease of movement by spinning on its axis.