Caterpillar Chronicles: History of the Greatest Earthmovers: The History of the World's Greatest Earthmovers - Softcover

Eric C. Orleans

9780760336731: Caterpillar Chronicles: History of the Greatest Earthmovers: The History of the World's Greatest Earthmovers

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0760336733 ISBN 13: 9780760336731

Publisher: Motorbooks International, 2009

This spectacular pictorial history of Caterpillar from its beginnings in 1870 to the present day. It showcases the equipment and engineering breakthroughs that have kept Caterpillar at the top of their industry for almost 140 years. Stories of prototypes and development are included - and dramatic photographs that bring this to life. From the 'Best Steamer' to the 797 Dump Truck, the hi-drive D9G test machine to the mobil-trac batmobiles, from the tried and scrapped test models to the Cat D10 prototype, all of Caterpillar's unparalleled history is here, in brilliant pictures and detailed images that tell the full story of these magnificent construction machines.

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Review:

Eric Orlemann's origional hardback book on the history of Caterpillar's muck-shifting products is used as a reference throughout the world. it is not just that he is an extremely well-respected technical writer, but within his publications he provides his public access to the rarest of photographs. For example the 240-ton capacity electric-drive 786 coal hauler that featured twin cabs with two operators and, I kid you not, a 988 with a bucket at each end! A must-have for the serious muck-shifting machinery enthusiast and has now been republished in paperback form. --Eartmover magazine, October, 2009

Caterpillar is one of those words like Biro and Hoover which, whilst trade names, have entered the popular languae to describe any item of a similar function or nature. This book starts with the creation of the Best and Holt dynasties that merged in 1925 to become Caterpillar tractor Company, thoguh the name Caterpillar had been registered as a company trademark by holt in 1910 after photographer Charles Clements conied the name in March 1905, at which time Holt were calling the tracks 'platform wheels'. The book relates the early days of crawler development, the advent of diesel engines in the Diesel Sixty of 1931, and the appearence of construction machinery and wheeled vehicles. the chapter on elevated sprocket drive crawlers proves it is not an idea of the 1970's as the Dayton-Dick Company of Quicy, Illinois, introduced its high-drive Leader Model 25-40 tractor in 1917 and other manufacturers followed, including Cletrac with their F 9-16 in 1920. The Best CLB 'Humpback' 30 elevated drive sprocket tractor for orchard and nursery was produced in 1914-1915 but only 45 were ever built. in the battle for more power, solutions such as the Petersen Quad-Trca D9G which used 2 DGDs in tandem and the side-by-side S x S D9G of 1966 were produced in small numbers for jobs such as high-powered ripping and puch-dozers for scrapers. The tie in with Class is detailed, including the badge engineered Cat lexicon 485 in 1997 which meant that Caterpillar once again had it's name on a new combine, something not seen since 1935 when its combine interests were sold to Deere & Company. Caterpillar is such an iconic company that has grown and thrived where other companies have withered, this book is a must for aynone interested in tractors or construction machinery. --Vintage Tractor, Sept 2009

From the Back Cover:

One name stands at the top of the earthmoving industry: Caterpillar. The company’s bulldozers, loaders, haulers, scrapers, graders, excavators, and other heavy equipment have literally altered the Earth, helping to build our modern civilization. Constant development and innovative engineering have made “Caterpillar” the measure by which all other equipment manufacturers are judged.

Caterpillar Chronicle traces the evolution of the company’s earthmover, industrial, and agricultural equipment lines. Veteran author and earthmoving industry insider Eric C. Orlemann has gone behind Cat’s corporate doors to get the untold story as well as never-before-seen photographs of rare prototypes, experimental machines, and special-application machines. The earliest steam tractors, early diesel-engined tractors, the first elevated-sprocket-drive machines, and the largest modern mining machines are reviewed in fascinating detail. Over 200 color and 50 black-and-white photographs of modern mining marvels and antique machines make this a must-have for any Cat fan.

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