Bucyrus International- From Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing to Caterpillar

Bucyrus was first located in Bucyrus Ohio and an early producer of steam shovels.  In 1893 they moved operations to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
Of the 102 steam shovels used to dig the Panama Canal, Bucyrus supplied 77.  
Bucyrus merged with Erie Steam Shovel Company in 1927 and became Bucyrus-Erie.  
Another merger in 1930 with the English firm of Ruston & Hornsby Ltd formed Ruston-Bucyrus Ltd in England.  The merger gave the company access to world markets.  This partnership lasted until 1985 when Ruston & Hornsby Ltd sold their share during a period of recession in the mining industry. 
Bucyrus also spent time in the 80's known as Becor Western after merging with Western Gear.
In 1993 Bucyrus-Erie filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy through 1994.
The company became Bucyrus International Inc in 1997.  
Bucyrus acquired Marion Power Shovel in 1997, an intense competitor. 
In 2007 Bucyrus acquired German based DBT Group, manufacturer of underground mining products.
The acquisition of the mining division of Terex Corporation was completed in 2010.
Most recently, Bucyrus agreed to be acquired by Caterpillar in a transaction worth $8.6 billion in mid-2011.  

   This video shows original footage of the building of the Panama Canal.   

Bucket Talk! Can You Dig It?

At Gerhart Machinery Company in addition to our cranes and construction equipment, we have a large selection of attachments and parts.  Our buckets range in size from 7 yard on down to 1/2 yard, many types, including Hendrix, Esco, Yaun and Page to name a few. 

Dragline buckets are used on dragline excavators or simply 'draglines'. Smaller draglines are used for road and port construction and larger ones in mining.  Draglines are among the largest mobile equipment ever built on land.  

A dragline bucket system consists of a large bucket suspended from a boom and wire ropes and is maneuvered by means of ropes and chains.  The hoist rope is powered by a large diesel or electric motor and supports the bucket and hoist coupler assembly from the boom.  The dragrope is used to move the bucket assembly horizontally.  The bucket is controlled by maneuvering the hoist and dragropes. 

The first dragline was invented in 1904 by John W Page, partner of Page & Schnable Contracting, for digging the Chicago Canal.  By 1912 he realized building draglines was more profitable than construction and page Engineering Company was born.  They invented the arched dragline bucket, a design still used today.  

Enough bucket talk for now, let's have some fun!  Enjoy the clip of Big Muskie!  

Rough & Tumble Historical Construction Equipment DIGGING AREA October 10...

In The Beginning

In 1957, Roger Gerhart purchased a used REO dump truck and a Caterpillar crawler tractor and started Roger E Gerhart Inc.  Beginning with small excavating jobs, the business soon grew into road building, bridge construction, trucking, demolition and coal mining.  In 1976 Roger E Gerhart Inc expanded the base of its operation and Gerhart Equipment Company was created.  The focus of this new company was the sales and service of heavy construction equipment.  The primary product of the company was Northwest draglines and cranes and Mack "off highway" trucks.  Gerhart became known world wide for sales and service of the Northwest brand of equipment.  In 2000 the business name was changed to Gerhart Machinery Company and it continues to provide outstanding sales, parts and service for the Northwest brand and many other brands of heavy construction equipment.
Gerhart Machinery Company is located near the town of Lititz in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  Lititz is known for Wilbur Chocolate, Sturgis Pretzels, craft and antique shows and the oldest continuous running Fourth of July celebration in America.  We invite you to visit us for a tour of our shops and equipment yard.  While here enjoy the attractions and hospitality our area has to offer.