1-155-646 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Maxim machine gun, c1895. The engineer Hiram Maxim developed the first fully automatic machine gun (1884) which he offered to the United States War and Navy departments. They refused him and he then offered it to the British and it was adopted by the War Office. By 1891 it was standard issue for the British Army. From Der Stein der Weisen. (Leipzig c1895).