There's a profile drawing, in the same style, of that version of the Cowen machine (both of which differ somewhat from all other depictions of the machine) in a recent(ish) edition of IF Clarke's Voices Prophesying War; there are other illustrations in the same style of completely different subjects which I believe to be by the same artist illustrating another IF Clarke book, The Pattern of Expectation 1644-2001. All other depictions of the Cowen machine I've seen show a helmet-shaped vehicle on four (usually footed) wheels, as apparently the original proposal was to armour a Burrell steam tractor with Boydell footed wheels. For anyone who's forgotten what the Cowen proposal looked like, there's a model in the Tank Museum (or was, twenty years ago when I photographed it, below); many years ago I did a drawing based on it, using a scale drawing of a Burrell-Boydell tractor underneath the armoured carapace to try to get some sense of proportion (also below).
-- Edited by Roger Todd on Wednesday 15th of August 2012 11:56:47 PM
Came across this depiction of what is described as James Cowen and James Sweetlong's 1855 Crimean steam chariot thing. No details of origin of drawing. Apparent quote from patent: "This invention consists of an improved locomotive battery to be used in the field of battle, and is so constructed as to exert a most destructive force against the enemy, while protected from damage in return."
"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.
I was being lazy earlier, here's the other illustration I mentioned (the profile in IFC's VPW)...
As I said before, there are several illustrations in both of Clarke's books illustrating various other examples of future imaginings (such as Brave New World, Three Hundred Years Hence, RUR etc.) in the same style, and in the same style as the illustration you posted, all of which are credited only as 'In the author's collection'; all other illustrations he included which were identifiably from other sources such as books, films etc. are credited as such. Consequently, I believe 'your' image belongs to the set in Clarke's collection. Most of those have no signature (including yours) but a couple have 'A WILSON' inscribed in the corner.
