Pictured here in the late 1950s is a portable crusher/screening plant operated by Franceschini Bros. Construction based in the aggregate-rich area of Caledon, Ontario.
They had been in the aggregate supply business since the mid-1940s and used several pits in the area as well as the Greater Toronto Area.
Typical of the era, a cable shovel was used to feed the gravel/screening plant. Wheel loaders with their multi-purpose use in pit applications, were on the horizon, but not readily accepted by contractors.
Cable machines still had several years of production ahead of them.
While the NCK cable shovel seen here was a British-made machine, several units found their way to Canada. Based on the well-known US-built Koehring machines, NCK’s were built under license by Newton-Chambers Ltd. of England from the late 1940s to the mid-70s hence the brand name NCK.
The late Buck Franceschini donated several machines to HCEA Canada in our early years. A Koehring 305 cable hoe, an International TD 14 bulldozer and TD 9 were some of the machines. Buck would come to the events and operate every machine he donated to make sure we were operating it right!
RELATED: A 1960s WABCO Haulpak
The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) Canada 2025 events include Wheels & Tracks in June and the Last Blast in October. Both events are held at the Simcoe County Museum, near Barrie. To see more than 60 pieces of vintage construction equipment in action, be sure to attend. HCEA Canada is a proud Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum. Visit HCEACanada.org for more information.