![]() ![]() In that same year he came to the United States and was employed by an accounting firm of national prominence before joining Caterpillar in 1939 as controller. After studying accounting, business law and economics, he spent five years as a chartered accountant's apprentice before becoming an accountant himself in 1930. William “Bill” Blackie was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1906. Neumiller is named Chairman of the Board.Ĭaterpillar supplies specially designed equipment to the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team and win the gold medal. Members of Caterpillar’s Peoria Cats championship basketball team play on the U.S. Fair is named Chairman of the Board.Ĭaterpillar introduces the first integrated track loader. in England.Ĭaterpillar introduces its first self-propelled wheel tractor-scraper. 1950Ĭaterpillar forms its first overseas subsidiary – Caterpillar Tractor Co. See more of the decade in the video here and meet some amazing people who contributed to Caterpillar below. Just two years later, we introduced the D9 Tractor. Walt Dunbar, who oversaw the assembly of the first D9 production model, remembered fondly, “That first D9 was really a great machine. The way it was engineered, the way it was planned, the way it was assembled – I've never seen anything like it." Read more of Walt’s story below.Īnother mark of the ’50s? We went abroad with the formation of our first overseas subsidiary in the United Kingdom, and by the end of the decade, we expanded manufacturing to locations in Europe, Australia and South America. And, from building modern-day Brazil to exploring the deep cold of Antarctica, our customers broke boundaries around the world with our products. (Fun fact: Cat® track-type tractors were the first tractors in Antarctica!) Starting in 1951, we introduced our first self-propelled wheel tractor-scraper, which was designed for a variety of earthmoving applications. Not long after, in 1952, customers could get our new No.6 shovel (you know it as the track loader today) – a rugged machine for land clearing, digging, grading, truck loading, slope work and more. Made for tough jobs, rough ground and tight spaces, it saved them time and money. It was a demand that we were prepared to meet. Our customers’ projects in the ’50s demanded tough equipment that came with superior, localized service. In the gallery below there are a few more shots to enjoy of the machines mentioned above plus a few for the Caterpillar faithful.When Caterpillar made the move from farm equipment to earthmoving equipment in the 1950s, toy manufacturer REBELL made plastic toys to mark the occasion. It was a fun way to signify the shift – a shift that still defines our company as it is today. I would have liked to see the truck this Euclid rode in on. Of course I was surrounded by an army of other equipment clanking away so the effect might have been lost. Despite the two 6-71’s under the hoods this machine didn’t seem all that loud to me. Truth is stranger than fiction because that is exactly the concept behind the TC-12. It really looks as if a two dozers were frankestiend together by insane Euclid engineers. Looking at the back of the machine you can see right down the middle straight to the blade up front. The one thing I did I know was that it packed two Detroit Diesel 6-71 engines. I was familiar with this machine before the show but really didn’t appreciate the size. ![]() I only saw it operation once during the weekend it was a sight to behold. ![]() One other bulldozer of note was this Euclid TC-12. By this point a large crowd had gathered and there was much clapping, head nodding and smiles at this display of power. Eventually the machine crested the large pile of overburden, teetered at the top for a moment and then slid down. The ground was shaking, the engine groaning, the stacks smoking. At one point the tracks begin to spin and it looked as though the TD-24 wouldn’t have the guts to get it done but the operator dug in the blade, bumped up the RPMS and the battle was won. At one point in the afternoon I stood only feet away from this marvel as it clawed through the soil with little effort. Sadly I don’t have to much footage of this great machine but believe me when I tell you it was awesome. It was great to hear the engine lugging away as the blade encountered a mound of earth.Įlsewhere on the grounds this massive International Harvester TD-24 dozer was busy spreading gravel on the new parking lot road being made by HECA members. I spent a fair amount of time watching this Cat D9 dozer dig a trench and then smooth it over. They appeared to be the most popular form of equipment brought to the show with a variety of sizes and types represented. It was a real treat to see these old dozers in action at the HCEA national meet this past weekend.
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