A History of Wheeled Excavators

Examples from the early 20th century.
Oct. 15, 2024

We searched the archives of the Historical Construction Equipment Association for some ancestors of the wheeled excavator.

The original excavators were wheel-mounted—railroad wheels, that is, in the form of half-swing railroad shovels.

Let’s look at where the idea of wheeled mountings went from there in the early 20th century.

About the Author

Tom Berry

Tom Berry is archivist for the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA). Information is available at www.hcea. net, or by calling 419.352.5616 or e-mailing [email protected].

Sign up for Construction Equipment eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates