One and Only, This Hornsby Steam Crawler Tractor Was Constructed in the Year 1910

This tractor, which is propelled by steam, has been in Canada since it was imported from England in 1910.

The crawler track principle was patented in 1904 and was constructed by R. Hornsby & Sons of Grantham, England. The Hornsby oil tractor, which was constructed in 1896, was equipped with the “chain track” the following year.

h/t: vintag.es

Despite the enthusiastic promotion of the idea, which included the first commercially produced film in 1908 and demonstrations for high-ranking military personnel, several other Hornsby oil-powered tractors were completed with crawler tracks. However, the concept failed to gain traction.

This equipment was initially sold to the Northern Light Power & Coal Company for the purpose of transporting coal to the Klondike gold fields in the Yukon.

The Hornsby company became disillusioned and sold the patent rights of the “chain track” to the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1914 after this single transaction. Holt subsequently merged with Best to establish the Caterpillar Tractor Company.

This was the sole steam-powered vehicle constructed and remains the sole steam crawler in existence today.