An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of J G Greathead and an illustration of his tunnelling shield. James Henry Greathead (1844–1896) was a mechanical and civil engineer renowned for his work on the London Underground railways. His invention was the tunnelling shield. The Greathead shield consisted of an iron cylinder fitted with screw jacks which enabled it to move forward. In use, the shield was inched forward as the working face was excavated, while behind it a permanent tunnel lining of cast iron segments was fitted into place.
An old cigarette card (c. 1929) with a portrait of J G Greathead and an illustration of his tunnelling shield. James Henry Greathead (1844–1896) was a mechanical and civil engineer renowned for his work on the London Underground railways, Winchester Cathedral and the Liverpool overhead railway as well as being one of the earliest proponents of the English Channel tunnel. His invention of the tunnelling shield is also the reason that the London Underground is often called the 'Tube'. The Greathead shield consisted of an iron cylinder fitted with screw jacks which enabled it to be jacked forward. In use, the shield was inched forward as the working face was excavated, while behind it a permanent tunnel lining of cast iron segments was fitted into place, itself an important innovation. Initially the face was still dug out by manual labour but later his shield used hydraulic action at the face along with cutting teeth to cut out material. This card is from a 1929 set entitled 'Scientific Inventions and Discoveries' (35 cards in the series). The firm of R and J Hill Cigarettes was established on Shoreditch High Street, Hackney, London in the 1700s. In the twentieth century the company issued cards with their Sunripe and Spinet Oval cigarettes. The firm expanded to include H Archer and Co and issued cards, like this set, under 'The Spinet House' brand. The company no longer exists.
Size: 1956px × 3307px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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