So, does this mean the Motorcycle story from 1917 was perhaps
an advertising ploy used by the industry? Was it completely fabricated or
is there a competing story out there?
Just wondering,
Tom Anderson; Collections American Museum of
Science and Energy 300 S. Tulane Oak Ridge, TN 37830 (865) 576-3228
(Voice), (865) 576-6024 (Fax)
From
The Caterpillar Story, a company history published by Caterpillar,
Inc. in 1984 and reprinted in 1990:
"The first workable (tanks), built by British manufacture in 1916,
were referred to as 'water tanks for Mesopotamia' - partly because of their
appearance, partly to keep their true nature secret."
So how does construction equipment titan Caterpillar speak
authoritatively on World War I tanks? Caterpillar predecessor Holt Tractor
Company was instrumental in helping the British develop the tank. Holt was
consulted because of the outstanding reputation their crawler tractors had
already earned for their ability to go anywhere and "climb like
hell," as British Lt. Colonel Ernest Swinton, a key figure in the
development of the tank, put it. The tanks were built in Britain, but the
Holt crawlers provided the inspiration.
Best wishes,
Thomas Berry, Archivist Historical Construction Equipment Association
16623 Liberty Hi Road Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Phone
419-352-5616 Fax 419-352-6086 tberry@wcnet.org http://www.hcea.net
Jackson, Bill wrote:
This is trivial, but if it's true, we are rather fascinated by it.....
We have a copy of an illustration and a caption from Motorcycling and
Bicycling (periodical, 1/15/17 issue), which claims that the World War I era
British tanks were so named because they were shaped almost exactly like the
gas tanks found on many motorcycle brands of the period.
It is entirely true that the two shapes are incredibly simliar, but does
anyone know if there is truth to this? If it were not in a 1917 magazine,
I'd be tempted to think it an urban legend......
Bill Jackson
Senior Archivist
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Milwaukee, WI
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This is trivial, but if it's true, we are
rather fascinated by it.....We have a copy
of an illustration and a caption from Motorcycling and Bicycling
(periodical, 1/15/17 issue), which claims that the World War I era
British tanks were so named because they were shaped almost exactly like
the gas tanks found on many motorcycle brands of the
period.It is
entirely true that the two shapes are incredibly simliar, but does
anyone know if there is truth to this? If it were not in a 1917
magazine, I'd be tempted to think it an urban
legend...... Bill
Jackson Senior Archivist Harley-Davidson Motor Company Milwaukee, WI
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