The famous Gradall excavator traces its roots back to the start of the 1940s. During this time, the second World War had created a shortage of workers since most of the young men went away to fight the war. This decline in the work force brought a huge demand for the delicate work of grading and finishing highway projects.
A Cleveland, Ohio construction company referred to as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda experienced this particular dilemma first hand. Two brothers, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had relocated to the United States from the Netherlands. They were partners in the business which had become amongst the major highway contractors in Ohio. The Ferwerdas' started to make an equipment which would save both their livelihoods and their business by making a unit that will do what had previously been physical slope work. This invention was to offset the gap left in the worksite when so many men had joined the army.
The brothers first invented an apparatus that had 2 beams set on a rotating platform, which was fixed on top of a second-hand truck. They utilized a telescopic cylinder to move the beams out and in. This enabled the fixed blade at the end of the beams to push or pull dirt.
After a short time, the Ferwerda brothers improved on their first design. They created a triangular boom to create more strength. Next, they added a tilt cylinder which enabled the boom to rotate forty-five degrees in either direction. This new model can be equipped with either a blade or a bucket and the attachment movement was made possible by placing a cylinder at the back of the boom. This design powered a long push rod and allowed much work to be finished.
Not a long time later, many digging buckets became available on the market. These buckets came in 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch sizes. There was additionally a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket which was also offered.