New books available on earthmoving pioneer Robert G. LeTourneau
Well-known heavy equipment author, Eric C. Orlemann, has put together the most comprehensive history and amazing collection of photographs ever assembled of earthmoving pioneer and famous inventor Robert G. LeTourneau.
Credited with inventing the modern scraper, LeTourneau established his own earthmoving business in 1920. He took the primitive contraptions of the day and developed them into efficient earthmoving machines. Shortage of equipment in 1922 led LeTourneau to build scrapers using brazed metal construction instead of rivets, and scraper motions powered by electric motors using rack and pinion drive.
After designing several types of scrapers to be pulled by large crawler tractors such as the Caterpillar Sixty, LeTourneau experimented in 1923 with the world’s first self-propelled scraper called the "Mountain Mover". In 1928, LeTourneau pioneered the cable control unit where the motions of the scraper were controlled from a double drum winch mounted on the tractor. This relatively small, inexpensive unit was actually one of the most significant breakthroughs in earthmoving equipment.
With the advent of larger rubber tires, LeTourneau brought out the first high-speed self-propelled scraper in 1938, the Model A "Tournapull". The basic configuration of this scraper became the standard of the industry with its single-axle prime mover and unique hitch, allowing the two-wheel tractor to swing more than 90 degrees in each direction. The scraper hit its heyday during World War II when large numbers were employed by the Allied armed forces. R.G. LeTourneau, Inc., supplied over 10,000 pull-type and over 2,000 self-propelled scrapers during the war years.
In 1953, LeTourneau sold his earthmoving equipment business, including three of his five factories, to Westinghouse Air Brake Company who continued to produce the machines. They were updated and improved over the years and eventually became known by the brand name “Wabco”.
Meanwhile LeTourneau continued in business and produced some of the most incredible and fantastic machines ever to move on the planet. Not only did he build scrapers, including in 1966 the largest the world has ever seen, but also jungle crushers, haulers, land trains, logging equipment, some of the world’s largest cranes and all kinds of special military machines. He perfected the electric wheel drive concept, which did away with transmissions, clutches and gear boxes. He also invented the jack-up leg, offshore oil drilling platform and boasted that, by 1970, more than half of the world’s offshore drilling rigs were built by LeTourneau. All his machines featured electric wheel drive and/or electric rack-and-pinion drive for their motions.
The history and achievements of this earthmoving pioneer and famous inventor have been accurately researched and portrayed by Eric Orlemann in this two-volume set. Along with accurate technical data obtained from company records, page after page shows stunning photographs, most never before published, of machines so incredible they have to be seen to be believed. These two volumes brilliantly display the extent of LeTourneau’s innovations and the genius that developed high-speed earthmoving.
Volume 1 covers the mechanical drive era from LeTourneau’s early creations up to the company sale to Westinghouse Air Brake Co. in 1953. Machines described are: Carryall pull scrapers, Tournapull scrapers, airborne scrapers, earth wagons, Hug Lugger, Tournadozers, compactors, house movers, dozer blades, mobile cranes, and much more. Includes 310 factory professional b&w photos.
Volume 2 covers the electric drive era from 1953 until 1970 and includes land trains, wheel dozers, wheel loaders, massive cranes, Pacemaker electric diggers including self-propelled scrapers of every configuration and size up to the colossal LT-360, the world’s largest. Includes all the fantastic and almost unbelievable tree crushing and logging monsters, and a section on the company’s first hydraulic wheel loader, forerunner of today’s record-breaking range of LeTourneau wheel loaders. Includes 278 factory professional b&w, plus 30-photo colour section.
Each volume is card bound, 8 1/2" x 11", 160 pages.
Volume 1 - The Mechanical Drive Era, 1921-1953: $29.95 plus $10.00 shipping.
Volume 2 – The Electric Drive Era, 1953-1970: $29.95 plus $10.00 shipping.
Buy both volumes and pay only $10.00 shipping for both.
The Earthmover Encyclopedia
Keith Haddock, who writes the Historical Perspective feature in Heavy Equipment Guide, has also compiled a fascinating, comprehensive book titled The Earthmover Encyclopedia covering the history and development of every type of earthmoving machine. The soft bound book has 320 pages with over 900 black & white photographs: $ 34.95 plus $10.00 shipping.
Christmas special: Order all three books and pay only $12.00 to ship entire order.
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Park Communications, 505 Hegler Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 1T3
Phone: 780-434-2840