Pictured here is an Adams #10 road grader at work on Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg County line in 1936.
Following the Depression era of the 1930s, the province of Nova Scotia embarked on a 1,400-km road building program which included several grading and paving contracts with an annual budget of $3 million.
Along with the Nova Scotia Department of Highways, several contractors, including ones from Ontario, deployed crushing outfits, asphalt plants and paving equipment.
Prior to 1900, the J.D. Adams Company, located in Indianapolis, had built several models of horse-pulled graders, while the late 1920s saw introduction of the self-propelled Model #10.
Units built for the Canadian market were made at the Paris, Ontario J.D. Adams plant.
HCEA Canada obtained a similar Adams # 10 grader a decade ago that was originally bought by Towland Construction of London, Ontario. The grader was restored by our volunteers over a three-year period having arrived literally in pieces.
Past president of HCEA Canada, John Hoover, provided valuable expertise during the rebuild as he had worked for several years at the Adams Paris plant. Keep an eye out for our Adams #10 Grader in action at one of our 2018 events.
This article is provided by the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) Canada. HCEA Canada is a Proud Community Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum.
