Classic Machines: the LeTourneau Tournacranes Classic Machines

Classic Machines: the LeTourneau Tournacranes

While a great many of LeTourneau’s inventions were designed for earthmoving purposes, some of his creations had very practical applications elsewhere. By RICHARD CAMPBELL There is a very old saying “necessity is the mother of invention”. This is particularly relevant when describing the development of the Le Tourneau...
Classic machines: The Euclid S-12 scraper revisited Classic Machines

Classic machines: The Euclid S-12 scraper revisited

Intended as a larger version of the Euclid S-7 which had proved to be extremely popular, the Euclid S-12 never really fulfilled its obvious potential. By RICHARD CAMPBELL Back in the February 2006 issue of Contractor, we had a look at the Euclid S-12. The original article was quite short due to allocated space limitations and in the...
Classic machines: Caterpillar's No.12 motor grader Classic Machines

Classic machines: Caterpillar's No.12 motor grader

What makes a classic motor grader? Looks, ability, ease of operation and longevity are all pertinent factors as are resale value if you’re looking to buy another. Whatever the criteria, Caterpillar’s No.12 Motor Grader had them all. By RICHARD CAMPBELL Of the thousands of motor graders manufactured by Caterpillar since their...
The small scale contractor Classic Machines

The small scale contractor

Many of our on-line viewers and also our subscribers to the Contractor magazine collect scale models. Not a lot of New Zealand retailers exist that carry a range of earthmoving diecasts but there are a few. Unfortunately their range is often restricted to Norscot, Joal or Siku but some of the more exotic types are only available by...
Classic Machines: LeTourneau's Model C Tournatractor Classic Machines

Classic Machines: LeTourneau's Model C Tournatractor

Always the innovative thinker when it came to earthmoving equipment, Robert LeTourneau came up with the idea of the Tournatractor in 1946. By RICHARD CAMPBELL  We examined one of the smaller Australian-produced versions of the Tournatractor, the LW12, in the September 2010 issue of Contractor, but the Model C was the grandaddy of them...
Classic Machines: International 2T-55 & 2T-75 PayScrapers Classic Machines

Classic Machines: International 2T-55 & 2T-75 PayScrapers

The late 1940s and early 1950s saw unprecedented growth in earthmoving projects worldwide with demand for new machinery at an all-time high. Some manufacturers were well prepared while others had to improvise as best they could. By RICHARD CAMPBELL. International-Harvester was a large manufacturer of track type tractors with a good...
Forgotten companies: Isaacson Classic Machines

Forgotten companies: Isaacson

Back in time when the track type tractor was still considered a new tool for earthmoving, there were dozens of companies offering attachments to outfit these machines for work. Isaacson were one of them. By RICHARD CAMPBELL. With the end of the great depression in the early 1930s, those tractor manufacturers who had survived the...
Old scrapers in action  Classic Machines

Old scrapers in action 

In the April issue we featured the making of Auckland International Airport, which opened in January 1966. THE AIRPORT WAS FIRST mooted back in 1929 but it was 1959 before a decision on the Mangere site was made and approved and the Ministry of Works started building the new airport. At the height of construction some 170...
Classic Machines- The Clark-Michigan wheel dozers Classic Machines

Classic Machines- The Clark-Michigan wheel dozers

Michigan wheel dozers were well accepted by the earthmoving industry and found use in all manner of operations. Michigan was not the first manufacturer to offer a wheel type bulldozer. That honour belongs to R G LeTourneau who pretty much came up with the concept in the first place. Initially based on the chassis of one of...
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