Pictured here in 1969 is a Northwest Series II Model 9570 cable-controlled backhoe owned by Leo Contracting Ltd. of Toronto, Ontario.
This job involved installing 3.2 km of storm and sanitary sewers in the industrial area of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
With the new hydraulic excavators poised to take prominence over the old-style cable machines, like this Northwest, manufacturers had slowly begun the transition. This machine is fitted with a hydraulic bucket cylinder.
As well, this 9750 machine is equipped with a 3-cubic metre bucket and could dig about 10.6 metres deep.
So as the story goes, the boom section was lengthened about 4 feet to dig that deep and the company name ‘Leo’ on the boom is where exactly the splice was located.
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These machines could be configured as shovels, draglines or as lifting cranes. Air controls were the industry standard, enhancing duty cycle for operators. There were no joysticks or air-conditioned cabs in this era.
The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA Canada) 2023 event Wheels & Tracks in Motion will be held on June 10 and 11, while the Last Blast event takes place on October 14.
Both events are held at the Simcoe County Museum near Barrie, Ontario. To see more than 60 restored pieces of vintage construction equipment in action, be sure to attend. HCEA Canada is a proud Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum. Visit their website at hceacanada.org for updates.
