The way we were
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 1:28 am
Hi All,
I shall be 70 in two weeks. I've worked on plant since the 1950's
and am still involved, "hands on".
When I started hydraulics were generaly only used for lifting some dozer blades and tipping lorries, many trenches were dug by hand and the plant available on site was rope operated excavators, tipper lorrries and a blade.
There was virtualy no ready mixed concrete and large batching mixers were an esential tool together with dumpers to place the concrete.
These have all but dissapeared together with the companies who made them.
Talking to Martyn (B100 LOADER) over a cup of tea the other day, I decided to start this thread to recall these machines together with their makers, and some of my experiences with them.
I hope to cover all civils plant in turn including mixers compressors and small non opperated gear.
I have sourced a lot of photos for the record but they are difficult to find and I hope you will post your photos and info. when you can.
Clearly this will run to many posts so I will start with the rope machines from the 1950's. These were mainly Ransomes and Rapier,
RB's, Smith, Priestman, Blaw Knox and Allen.
First a few Ronsomes & Rapier machines, I never worked on these
but I did work alongside a R&R 462 face shovel in 1963 which was a 1.5 yard model. I think it had a Mclaren engine? and it was every bit as good as the 38 RB working beside it. All the smaller R&R machines I got close to were Perkins powered.
Any photos of the larger models from this era?
I shall be 70 in two weeks. I've worked on plant since the 1950's
and am still involved, "hands on".
When I started hydraulics were generaly only used for lifting some dozer blades and tipping lorries, many trenches were dug by hand and the plant available on site was rope operated excavators, tipper lorrries and a blade.
There was virtualy no ready mixed concrete and large batching mixers were an esential tool together with dumpers to place the concrete.
These have all but dissapeared together with the companies who made them.
Talking to Martyn (B100 LOADER) over a cup of tea the other day, I decided to start this thread to recall these machines together with their makers, and some of my experiences with them.
I hope to cover all civils plant in turn including mixers compressors and small non opperated gear.
I have sourced a lot of photos for the record but they are difficult to find and I hope you will post your photos and info. when you can.
Clearly this will run to many posts so I will start with the rope machines from the 1950's. These were mainly Ransomes and Rapier,
RB's, Smith, Priestman, Blaw Knox and Allen.
First a few Ronsomes & Rapier machines, I never worked on these
but I did work alongside a R&R 462 face shovel in 1963 which was a 1.5 yard model. I think it had a Mclaren engine? and it was every bit as good as the 38 RB working beside it. All the smaller R&R machines I got close to were Perkins powered.
Any photos of the larger models from this era?