For those interested in statistics, the Keller brothers built seven loaders in 1957-58. In 1958-59, some 18 M60 Melroe loaders were built. Another 400 M200 Melroe loaders were built in 1959-60.
And of the world’s first skid-steer loader, the M400, there were 200 built from 1960 to 1962.
1962 marks the introduction of the M440 -- the first Bobcat-branded loader, white with red trim -- and two years later celebrates its 1000th loader. By 1969 the company builds its 10,000th loader.
Another decade later (1980) the company reaches its 100,000th loader milestone. In two more decades (2001), it hits the 500,000-loader mark. The growth was skyrocketing, and by 2008 the company celebrated number 750,000. Then in 2014 it hits the 1,000,000 loader milestone. Whew!
Over the course of six decades, from the first three-wheeled loader to today, there has been -- on average -- one Bobcat loader built every thirty minutes, every day, every week, every year.
However, since the 50th anniversary and 750,000th loader celebration in 2008, the pace is even more impressive: one loader built every 12.5 minutes!
M200 is the second design of the Melroe self-propelled loader, with a 12.9 hp Onan engine. The lift arms are again redesigned, giving the loader 750 lb. rated capacity -- 400 are built.
The Melroe brothers invite the Kellers to demonstrate their loader at the Melroe farm equipment exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. The loader is an instant hit, and before the fair was over the Melroes invited the Kellers to join them. After reaching a royalty agreement on their clutch drive design, the Kellers are hired to design a new loader and bring it to production at Melroe Manufacturing Company in Gwinner, North Dakota.
M60 Melroe self-propelled loader is an improved version of the Keller loader with a larger 9 hp engine and improved lift arm geometry, sometimes called the “grasshopper boom” design -- 17 are built.
Keller Loader, the first three-wheeled loader built by brothers Louis and Cyril Keller for Eddie Velo, a turkey farmer whose barns needed cleaning. The Keller Loader has a rear caster wheel and two drive wheels with an innovative clutch drive mechanism and is powered by a 6 hp Kohler engine. The Keller brothers build six more loaders at their Rothsay, Minnesota, machine shop before being introduced to the Melroe brothers in 1958.
825 Bobcat, with a rated capacity of 1,500 lb., continues the trend toward larger, diesel-powered machines. It is discontinued in 1983, replaced by the new B-Series 843.
1074 Bobcat feller buncher, a tree-harvesting machine with a shear attachment that can cut, bunch and transport trees. Over the next decade, several different models are built -- including the 1080 and an innovative six-wheel drive model 1213 -- but the product line is discontinued in 1987.
M610, with a Wisconsin gas engine and 1,000 lb. rated capacity, will remain the most popular Bobcat model for the next decade. When the last M610 rolls off the assembly line in 1982, it signifies the end of the clutch-drive loader and the transition to diesel powered equipment.
Cyril Keller demonstrates the loader, which was developed in secret by his brother, Louis. It is introduced the following year with an overhead guard (or ROPS) and given the model designation M371, powered by a 14 hp Kohler engine.
M600 has a Wisconsin VF4D gas engine. It is built until 1975. A vertical forklift mast option makes it popular with bricklayers.
M500 delivered more power with a 24 hp Kohler K662 gas engine.
M500E is adapted with a 10 hp electric motor, allowing grain elevators to use the loader inside boxcars and in other dusty environments. A retracting cable reel allows the machine to work within a radius of about 50 ft.
M444 replaces the M440 less than a year later, with the addition of pressure-oiled clutches for better durability.
M440 is the first Bobcat-branded skid-steer loader. With a 15.5 hp Kohler 2-cylinder engine, it has a rated capacity of 1100 lb. It is a totally new design, with the drive system enclosed in side tanks that feature an oil bath for lubrication. The design change allows the operator to enter the loader from the front.
M400 is adapted from the M200 by adding a rear axle. With four-wheel drive, it is the world’s first skid-steer loader. Some 200 M400s are built. What makes the skid-steer unique is the use of two independent transmissions that allow it to turn in its tracks. The new loader is 6 inches longer than the M200 and – with some tweaking – will eventually achieve a 70-30 front to rear weight ratio for optimal skid-steer performance.
873 marked the transition of the larger frame size loader to vertical lift path.
Long wheelbase 753L (later renamed 763) gains a bit of lift capacity by increasing the distance between the front and rear axles without sacrificing its characteristic skid-steer maneuverability.
7753 is the first of the Bobcat vertical lift path loaders that would revolutionize the line. Its vertical path boosts lift capacity without increasing machine weight. These new loaders are called ideal “lift-and-carry” machines.
Next Generation “50 Series” 753 and 853 models introduced, with an innovative electronic monitoring and diagnostic system called “BOSS,” a dual path cooling system, protected axle bearings and a single tilt cylinder.
943 is the second Bobcat loader with the engine mounted transversely, allowing the hydrostatic drive pumps to be belt-driven for more efficiency, lower noise and easier service access for routine maintenance. This transverse engine design is repeated on succeeding loader generations and continues today.
After the early 1980s recession, company management makes a conscious effort to keep from raising prices on its Bobcat loader line. The strategy lasts 10 years and, much to the dismay of competitors is touted in ads saying, “Still at 1983 Pricing.” As a result, the skid-steer loader becomes a cost-effective solution of choice across many industries, unseating the once-popular tractor loader backhoe.
440 and 443 are the first to have a transversely mounted engine. The newest Mini-Bobs replace the 310 and 313 and are still 3 ft wide and 6 ft tall.
Articulated loader, called “the Bobcat that bends in the middle,” diversifies the loader lineup. A rough-terrain forklift version -- the 2000RTF -- is introduced a year later. The market for articulated loaders doesn’t grow as expected and the line is discontinued in 1995.
40 Series Bobcat 743 launches and quickly becomes the world’s most popular skid-steer loader. At its peak in the late 1980s, the production of the diesel-powered 743 represents half of all Bobcat loader factory output. The 40 Series loaders are the first to incorporate the new Seat Bar operator safety system. Other 40 Series models include the 540, 542 and 543; the 641, 642 and 643; the 741, 742 and 743; and the 843.
New Breed 30 Series launches, including models 530, 533, 630, 631 and 632 with gas and diesel, air- and liquid-cooled engines. A major product feature is its center-mounted chaincase with drive chains in a “bowtie” configuration, which eliminates adjustments, a highly touted competitive advantage. Models 730, 731, 732 arrive the next year.
The new “Bauhaus” Bobcat logotype is unveiled with the cathead symbol that is still used today.
520 is the first of the “B-Series” design, a complete makeover of the Bobcat loader line. The goal was to make many components -- operator cabin and ROPS, seat, steering levers, pedals and tailgate -- interchangeable among several frame sizes. Such design standardization will allow more efficient mass production of the Bobcat loader in the Gwinner factory.
The S595 skid-steer loader has the highest rated operating capacity (ROC) of any of the 500-series loaders in its lineup by boasting a 2,200-pound ROC. Operators can move more material in a shorter amount of time and get more work done in the same amount of time for increased productivity with the 74-horsepower skid-steer loader.
New 700- and 800-frame-size loaders are released. The S750, S770 and S850 skid-steer loaders are now manufactured with a Tier 4-compliant, Bobcat 3.4-liter diesel engine that do not require a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
The S740 skid-steer loader is added to the 700 frame-size loader family. It boasts the highest rated operating capacity in the under 75-horsepower skid-steer loader class and doesn’t require a diesel particulate filter (DPF), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
Tier 4 S630 and S650 skid-steer loaders set the pace for greater productivity due to their enhancements in operator comfort, hydraulic power and easier serviceability.
First-ever Bobcat-branded Tier 4 engine is used in the 500 and 600 frame sizes in 2014. The new engines, ranging from 49 to 74 hp, are designed to significantly reduce the amount of particulate matter created in the combustion chamber, achieving Tier 4 EPA emissions compliance without using a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
The S595 skid-steer loader has the highest rated operating capacity (ROC) of any of the 500-series loaders in its lineup by boasting a 2,200-pound ROC. Operators can move more material in a shorter amount of time and get more work done in the same amount of time for increased productivity with the 74-horsepower skid-steer loader.
New 700- and 800-frame-size loaders are released. The S750, S770 and S850 skid-steer loaders are now manufactured with a Tier 4-compliant, Bobcat 3.4-liter diesel engine that do not require a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
The S740 skid-steer loader is added to the 700 frame-size loader family. It boasts the highest rated operating capacity in the under 75-horsepower skid-steer loader class and doesn’t require a diesel particulate filter (DPF), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
Tier 4 S630 and S650 skid-steer loaders set the pace for greater productivity due to their enhancements in operator comfort, hydraulic power and easier serviceability.
First-ever Bobcat-branded Tier 4 engine is used in the 500 and 600 frame sizes in 2014. The new engines, ranging from 49 to 74 hp, are designed to significantly reduce the amount of particulate matter created in the combustion chamber, achieving Tier 4 EPA emissions compliance without using a diesel particulate filter (DPF).
500 M-Series frame size introduced. Six models were offered, with operating capacities ranging from 1650 lb. (model S510) to 2100 lb. (model S590), and engines rated at 49 hp (models S510, S530), 61 hp (models S550 and S570) and 66 hp (model S590).
Vertical lift path S750 and S770 models fill in the lineup, with 3,200 lb. and 3,350 lb. capacity.
A770 all-wheel steer (AWS) loader replaces the A300. AWS offers both low impact all-wheel steer and maneuverable skid-steer operation at the flip of a switch. With the new 700 frame size and M-Series features, the A770 has a rated capacity of 3,325 lb.
S850 regains the “world’s largest” title with a rated capacity of 3,950 lb., lift height of 12 feet, and 92 hp diesel engine.
M-Series kicks off another complete remake of the loader line. The first to be introduced are the S650 (vertical lift path) and S630 (radius path). The distinctive “cab-forward” design moves the operator closer to the work, giving better visibility of the attachment and all around the loader. It offers easier entry and exit, a sealed and pressurized operator cab for a clean working environment, better lighting and the latest electronic instrumentation.