American Model 750 cable shovel

cable shovel

Pictured here in the late 1950s is an American Model 750 cable shovel loading pit run gravel near Caledon, Ontario. 

Owned by Franceschini Bros. Construction Ltd., based in Cooksville, Ontario, this air-controlled cable shovel with a rated bucket capacity of 1.52 cubic metres, was powered by a G.M. 6-71 diesel engine.

It wouldn’t have taken too many passes to fill that GMC single axle dump truck. American Hoist and Derrick Ltd. manufactured this Model 750 from the early 1950s continuing through to the early 1970s. 

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Franceschini Bros. Construction Ltd. was formed in 1946 eventually focusing on aggregate production with pits in several locations, including Caledon and the surrounding area.

One of the original founders, Aldo ‘Buck’ Franceschini, passed away in 2011, but was a regular at the HCEA Canada old equipment events.

A great supporter of our efforts to preserve antique construction equipment, Buck had donated a Koehring 305 cable backhoe along with an I-H TD 14-142 Series bulldozer. Well into his 80s, Buck would regularly operate both machines with great skill and natural finesse at our events. 

To see more than 60 restored pieces of vintage construction equipment in action, be sure to attend the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) Canada’s 2021 events, including ‘Wheels & Tracks in Motion’ held in June, and the ‘Last Blast’ in October. Both events are held at the Simcoe County Museum near Barrie, Ontario. 

HCEA Canada is a Proud Community Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum