By HCEA Canada
Pictured here in 1967 is a Bucyrus Erie truck crane on demolition duty in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Although the wrecking ball was commonplace on demolition sites in the era, so was a clam set up.
It worked well razing this hotel where space was limited and the debris field had to be controlled.
The Wisconsin based Bucyrus Company began operations during the 1880s, manufacturing steam railway shovels. By the 1920s, they had their own line of revolving cable shovels.
A decade later, large scale dragline manufacturer Monighan became part of the Bucyrus company. Several large steam and electric Bucyrus draglines toiled on the Welland Shipping Canal during its construction from 1915 to 1935 while large walking draglines were employed in quarry stripping operations.
Bucyrus Erie cable machines from the Model 10 B up to the 4 cubic yard rated Model 88 B were prominent in the 1940s through the 1970s.
Versatility was the key. They could be equipped with shovel front, backhoe front or boom for crane work, clam and dragline work. To supply the Canadian market, Bucyrus Erie had manufacturing plants in Guelph, Ontario and in Nova Scotia.
To see more than 60 restored pieces of vintage construction equipment in action, be sure to attend Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) Canada’s 2019 Last Blast Event on Saturday, October 19, held at the Simcoe County Museum near Barrie, Ont.
HCEA Canada is a Proud Community Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum.
