1965 P&H Stik-Clam.

[qball]

I first saw one of these a few years ago at an H.C.E.A show and i thought it was really neat. I was talking to one of my collector buddies earlier this year and the stik clam came up. he said he was familiar with the machine and the owner and he left it at that. A few weeks ago he called and asked if i would be interested in buying a running stik clam.:tong
So, here is my rough but running, one of only 50 or so made and only a few surviving, 1965 POOR AND HOPELESS Stik-clam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMN0EJQWpFA&feature=g-upl

 

[bigshow]

Awesome find!

 

[mikebramel]

Looks in real nice shape

Zero tail swing too

 

[Deere500a]

http://www.constructionequipment.com/ph-stik-clam

Pretty sweet find, don't let her make you Poor and Homeless.

 

[Clawed Backster]

Neat machine!

 

[Digger Ron]

Hi,
I bought my P&H Stik-Clam in 1985 from the first owner (I am the second) to use on a project. I have used it and loaned it out a lot. Right now I am refurbishing it due to some broken parts. I hope to make it as close to original as possible. I have a lot of projects to use it on. I dug my foundation and back filled for our home twenty years ago.

When P&H quit making them (only a TOTAL of 106 units) they sold all remaining interest to a person a few miles from me. I have some manuals and drawings. Unfortunately I never made video of it OPERATING, to put on you-tube. The Stik-Clam is truly unique and still can do things no other machines can do. (For example: it can dig a hole straight down to eleven feet, only 36 inches square without the top portion much bigger!)

How much did you have to pay for your machine? I think they should be quite valuable as rare as they are.

 

[Delmer]

If anybody needs parts, I saw one at an auction within the last year. I didn't stick around to see what it went for, but I'd bet I know where it is, if it it's not already at the port in China. Machine was mostly complete, not all original though.

I believe it's L&M salvage, Richland Center WI, but that's a guess, they might not have got it, or they may have cut it up.

 

[Digger Ron]

Thanks, I found out the whereabouts of that machine. I will try to get in contact with owner. I left my contact info with the salvage yard to pass on.

Since only 106 units total were produced almost 50 years ago, (and they have some weaknesses that occur if not used right,) there probably are only a few around anymore. There are probably even less that have the matching special designed trailer sold with the machine in 1965. They sold as a package for just under $12,000.00. For the price you could buy a MUCH larger machine, which is the main reason why they were not popular. (I bought a 100 acre farm for $13,750.00 in 1963 for example.) For their price you could have had a Corvette AND a Cadillac and had enough left over to buy the gas to drive them for a year!! (Gas was 19.9 cents per gallon.)

I have brochures and manuals for anyone that would be interested. I could upload a pdf. of the sales brochure if anyone is interested.

 

[robin yates uk]

never saw one of these before, ugly but functionable I guess.Looks like a cross between a dragline/excavator. Thanks

 

[Deere500a]

That was some neat info Digger. Every now and then come across something from the past, its too bad it didn't catch on or continue. That's the fun part of ebay poking around looking at the old ads like dynahoe, hopto, drott ect...

 

[Digger Ron]

This was probably the FIRST fully hydrolic MINI-EXCAVATOR ever offered commercially to the public. Most people thought bigger was better. It wasn't until the 1980's that the Mini-Excavator was recognized as really practical. They could go where big stuff could not, and minimize hand labor. Their design inspired the latest generation of machines and almost ALL copy the features they designed, without the use of computer aided design. I have copies of the engineering drawings. Those guys in the pre-computer age really did wonders!

 

[qball]

i believe my stik clam is the one delmer saw in wisconsin. my buddy mike furguson found it and arranged for me to come get it. i would love ANY info on it because it has a few issues i need to sort out before the h.c.e.a. show in august.

 

[Digger Ron]

I spoke with the man at L&M Salvage, Richland Center, WI This AM and left my contact info. He said someone named Kevin bought it from him. (Maybe you?)

I'd be happy to share what I know or have.

RON

 

[qball]

ron, that would be me. i am the kevin that bought the stik clam. i cant wait to get it all sorted out.
small world, huh?

 

[Digger Ron]

Check with the man at L&M salvage for my contact info. I can work with you on whatever you need for your machine.

RON

 

[JDOFMEMI]

That looks like a nice little digger there. Too bad it was about a generation or so ahead of its time.

Maybe we can get a video of it working?

 

[Digger Ron]

I hope to get my machine up & running by summer. This time I will document it working with video. I hope to attach a pdf. document of the sales brochure. That describes the capabilities quite well.

 

[robin yates uk]

I hope to get my machine up & running by summer. This time I will document it working with video. I hope to attach a pdf. document of the sales brochure. That describes the capabilities quite well.

this is turning out to be a very exciting post,:drinkup

 

[Delmer]

ron, that would be me. i am the kevin that bought the stik clam. i cant wait to get it all sorted out.
small world, huh?

Wow, I'm glad it wasn't reborn into a hyundai.

L&M runs a nice operation, not too many of them left anymore. They're getting squeezed harder and harder.

 

[Digger Ron]

I've been trying to upload the sales brochure attachment. It indicates uploading to 100% then it says it failed! Getting frustrated with stupid computers. (Maybe it is me that is stupid?) I will try to find another avenue to get it published.
DIGGER RON