Only a very minor episode in the development of the Tank, but I'm sure most of us have seen the mention of 'Balata Belting' during the search for a suitable track for Little Willie. Albert Stern says that d'Eyncourt turned down the idea of using Balata Belting, but other accounts say that Wilson conducted trials with it (as well as flat wire ropes) before sending Stern the telegram that said, "Balata died on test bench yesterday morning. New arrival by Tritton out of Pressed Plate. Light in weight but very strong." Stern concludes Chapter 2 of his autobiography with this message and the statement, "This was the birth of the Tank."
It had never occurred to me before to wonder what Balata Belting was, but now I've looked into it, and the story is quite interesting for a number of reasons.
Balata is a type of inelastic rubber, made from the sap of a tree. The tree is closely related to another species from which the very similar substance Gutta Percha is obtained. In fact, these trees are part of the family that produces latex and chicle. Both balata and gutta percha were very useful in the late 19th/early 20th century. Although they are organic, they are highly resistant to corrosion and attack by plant life. One of their uses was the insulation of the early transatlantic telegraph cables.
A further application was the manufacture of drive belts for machinery, as a much superior replacement for leather. Eventually, balata (which was slightly cheaper and more easily available than, and not seriously inferior to, gutta percha) came to be used for conveyor belts that were used in many extremely hazardous industrial processes. It seems to have been remarkably durable and resilient, and is still supplied in the UK today.
Now, the company that became probably the world's leading producer of balata goods was founded by the Scottish brothers Robert and James Dick. Their surname, unfortunately, gives rise to a great many unavoidable double entendres; amongst their products were the Dickbelt and the Dickrope, but they seem to have got away with it.
Interesting digression No. 1: The Dick Brothers later acquired Kerr, Stuart & Company, to become Dick, Kerr & Co. During WWI the female workers at their factory in Preston, Lancashire formed the famous ladies' football team that has a fascinating history of its own.
James Dick died in 1902, leaving an estate of . . . .£1,077,000.
So Balata Belting never made it as a Tank track - at least not in Britain. But this brings us to Interesting Digression No. 2.
The Russian prototype Tank, the Vezdekhod was designed to run on a single wide track made from rubberized fabric stretched over four drums. When I first read this I was extremely sceptical, finding it hard to imagine a type of fabric that would have been able to stand up to such an application. But having read about the qualities of Balata Belting I now wonder if that was what Porokhovshchikov used on his prototype.
Britain and Russia were huge trading partners (Britain exercised considerable control over the Russian economy until 1917) and Dick products were exported worldwide. I wonder if they were incorporated in what some accounts describe as the world's first working prototype of a Tank?
I enclose a couple of advertisements for Dick products. You might observe that one of them is not without comic potential, especially for anyone who is familiar with Buster Gonad.
-- Edited by James H on Saturday 4th of July 2009 11:34:43 AM
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Some years ago I wrote a manuscript, sadly and unjustifiably unpublished about British unmanned military vehicles between 1915 and 1951. One of these was a Goliath type machine built in India in 1944 and with, you've guessed it, balata tracks. The machine was armoured too, so there really was a balata tracked AFV.
Well, well, well. That's fascinating. Would a preview jeopardise your publishing deal . . . ?
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
The Miniature Transporter's hull was formed from two side pieces, one slanting and two vertical plates at the front and a U-shaped top plate, all welded together and supported by five transverse struts.The remainder of the top consisted of three plates, which were bolted into position.The vehicle had no floor.This construction proved to be flimsy and angle section was used to strengthen the rear of the hull.This meant that the Miniature Transporter was built four inches wider than designed.
Due to the vulnerability of the suspension of such a small vehicle as much as possible was protected by hull.The suspension consisted on each side of a rear drive sprocket, a front idler, four guide wheels and two bogey units.These units carried two unsprung cast iron road wheels each.Had development proceeded rubber blocks would have been added between the wheel axles and the bogey brackets to provide a springing effect. Two of the guide wheels were carried on the slanting front plate.The other two were mounted as return rollers inside the hull.Each track was made from two strips of balata belting strengthened by 1/8 inch mild steel channel section.The drive sprocket followed the MetroVick double squirrel cage design.
The vehicle was driven by a rear mounted 10hp Ford petrol engine with repositioned dynamo and fan.The engine was provided with a solenoid starter switch which could be operated by hand or by remote control.This enabled the Transporter to be restarted in the event of a stall during its attack.The engine drove a centre shaft through bevel and pinion reduction gear; steering was achieved through an elementary clutch and brake system.This transmission required no specially manufactured parts: the bevel and pinion came from an Austin 10 differential, and the epicyclics from a Light Tank Mk II.After trials it was considered advantageous to fit two epicyclics, to give a two speed gearbox and to eliminate the brakes.These alterations were never carried out.
The only components which had to be specially made were the carburettor and the brake band control.The carburettor was opened and closed by electrical impulses acting on a ratchet wheel with two independent pawls, the impulses being converted to mechanical action by two standard solenoids.The Miniature Transporters brakes consisted of lined thin steel bands that tightened around the brake drums through the action of pistons.Flow of oil to the pistons was regulated by slide valves operated by solenoids.A pump driven off the engine shaft maintained oil pressure.
The Miniature Transporter had a charge carrying capacity of 600lbs in a space of eight cubic feet at the front of the vehicle.
The remote control mechanism itself consisted of a small control box, cable and a relay panel mounted inside the vehicle.The control had five controls.These were an ignition switch, a clutch lever, a steering wheel, an accelerator and a key.The key was used either to detonate the main charge, or to change the function of the clutch, steering and accelerator controls to allow the placing of explosive charges or the operation of the flamethrower.Also included as part of the control box was a dry battery.Electrical impulses from these controls were transmitted to the vehicle through eight-core cable, which was fed out from the right hand side of the Transporter.Five hundred yards of cable were carried on a reel inside the vehicle.
Gwyn
-- Edited by Gwyn Evans on Friday 10th of July 2009 08:06:18 PM
-- Edited by Gwyn Evans on Friday 10th of July 2009 08:07:33 PM
Most interesting, Gwyn. Ta for the info. So the French had the Aubriot-Gabet "Electric Torpedo" and the Schneider Crocodile, and the Americans came up with the Wickersham, seemingly just after the War. Your start date is 1915, I notice. Did GB have anything of this nature during the War?
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
about British unmanned military vehicles between 1915 and 1951. One of these was a Goliath type machine built in India in 1944 and with, you've guessed it, balata tracks. The machine was armoured too, so there really was a balata tracked AFV.
