mrfixitpaul
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2009
- Messages
- 365
Bobcat pioneer dies! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louis Keller, the co-inventer of the skid steer, passed away on 11 July 2010 at the age of 87. Together with his brother Cyril, Louis built a 3 wheeled loader in 1957 for a turkey farmer in Minnesota. The original Keller machines had 2 drive wheels and a rear caster wheel. The brothers built 6 more units in the first year. In September 1958 the Kellers started working with the Melroe brothers and the result was the M60 self propelled loader which was first displayed to the public at the 1958 Minnesota State Fair. In 1960 Louis added a rear drive axle, resulting in the M400 - the worlds first true skid steer loader! Melroe was later to become part of Bobcat which is, in turn, now part of Doosan. Information courtesy of Earthmovers UK
