Bobcat Company Receives Historic Landmark Award
Historic Landmark Award
In recognition for the invention and development of the skid-steer loader, Bobcat Company and the Keller family were recently recognized with the “Historic Landmark” award. It was presented by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE).
In 75 years the ASAE has only honored 42 other developments in agricultural engineering in the U.S. ASAE is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food and biological systems. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in St. Joseph, Mich., ASAE comprises 9,000 members in more than 100 countries.
“It is quite an honor for the Bobcat® skid-steer loader to be included in this exclusive Who’s Who of agricultural events,” says Mike Ryan, president of Bobcat Company. “The skid-steer loader has significantly reduced the need for human labor, and improved the speed and efficiency of projects, not only in agriculture—where it started —but also in construction, landscaping and grounds maintenance, government, utilities, shipping, mining and industry throughout the world. We are proud that this North Dakota product received this award.”
History of the skid-steer loader
The history of the skid-steer loader began in 1957 when brothers Cyril and Louis Keller designed and built a three-wheeled, front-end loader in their machinist-blacksmith shop in Rothsay, Minn. The light and compact machine—with its rear caster wheel—was able to turn around within its own length, while performing the same tasks as a conventional front-end loader.
Melroe Manufacturing Company—known today as Bobcat Company—purchased the rights to the Keller loader in 1958 and hired the Kellers to continue refining their invention.
As a result of this partnership, the M-200 Melroe self-propelled loader was introduced at the end of that year. It featured two independent front-drive wheels and a rear caster wheel, a 12.9 hp engine and a 750-lb. lift capacity. Two years later they replaced the caster wheel with a rear axle and introduced the M-400, the first four-wheel, skid-steer loader. The “Bobcat” name was added in 1962 to describe the key attributes of the machine: tough, agile, and quick.
In the years since, the Bobcat skidsteer loader has experienced quite a few changes, including the development of a hydrostatic drive system, rollover protective cab structures, radius and vertical path lift-arm configurations, deluxe instrumentation and heating and air conditioning.