At a loss as to age/date or subject - Steam Engine

[Redroger]

I think the width of the belt (which does seem thin) is due to the angle the picture was taken at. It would seem to fit the seating in the centre of the large flywheel accurately, regarding the man and the equipment. The oil can and the type of clothing were still in use on British Railways up to the end of steam (1969) so they were indeed long lived. Possibly these oil cans still in use today but I haven't seen one lately. The Wyatt Earp soup strainer moustache could really be any time from 1880 onwards when they first became popular. There were still some of these around in Doncaster into the 1990s!

[chinakay]

India rubber belting was available from at least the 1880s...my great grandfather and his partner manufactured it, and they probably didn't invent it 

[youngtug]

Do you mean thin in relation to the thickness of the belt, or the width being narrow?.  The belts would be made of a type of webbing.

[AJ100]

I stand corrected - not a steam engine at all and my thanks to youngtug for pointing this out. Not familiar with Gas Engines so won't hold forth about them.

AJ

[Redroger]

The width; which i am sure in my own mind is due to picture angle. The belt, which would probably be webbing if like most of those used in workshops would be an accurate fit into the shallow slot on top of the belt.When I worked in a locomotive depot there were several of these belts and webbing providing power for an entire workshop and driven from one stationary steam engine. When a position was not in use then the belting for that particular station was disengaged from the main drive belt, and could be re-engaged ready through a lever system

[Scotsquinne]

Thanks for the thoughts folks.  Wish I knew what/where/who it is?  Thought perhaps a sawmill, but doubtful that would be in a brick built building? Have watched a few you tube videos on the hot bulb engines, looking for clues as to what it could have been used for.  Feel like Sherlock Holmes 

[youngtug]

 http://youtu.be/5sA2XDr65LQ

 http://youtu.be/v4-UqIIviJY

 http://youtu.be/OapaCktS_7A

 Just a selection of uses of belt drive.

 I cannot remember there being a groove in any of the drive wheels I came across

[Scotsquinne]

Thanks for the ideas youngtug 
Lynn.

[Redroger]

http://youtu.be/5sA2XDr65LQ

 http://youtu.be/v4-UqIIviJY

 http://youtu.be/OapaCktS_7A

 Just a selection of uses of belt drive.

 I cannot remember there being a groove in any of the drive wheels I came across

But there seemed to be in the one in the photo unless I am much mistaken.