The history of the towed scraper

biggerdigger · Sep 2, 2009

Hi everyone,

I've just uploaded a new article on the history of the towed scraper. Interesting stuff... It outlines the different brands and what happened to them.

Enjoy!

http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Contractor/July+2009/The+history+of+the+towed+scraper.html

tripper_174 · Sep 2, 2009

Thanks for the article. I've worked with Cat 60's, 70's, 80's, 435 and 463 scrapers and seen lord knows how many Letourneaus so found it very interesting.

dozerdave · Sep 2, 2009

Hi biggerdigger,

Good stuff,

Garwood was by far the hardest loading scraper I ever pulled. Cat 90 and Wooldridge the easiest. The round bottom Cat 70 was super for building ditch pads.

westladog · Sep 15, 2009

Thanks!

Dozerboy · Sep 15, 2009

I'm more then happy those where before my time.

B&S Grading · Sep 15, 2009

Well Atleast We Still Use Them... Technology Has Not Blown Everything Out Of The Water Yet...

Martin · Sep 15, 2009

biggerdigger said:
Hi everyone,

I've just uploaded a new article on the history of the towed scraper. Interesting stuff... It outlines the different brands and what happened to them.

Enjoy!

http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Contractor/July+2009/The+history+of+the+towed+scraper.html

Hi Biggerdigger That contrfedpublishing,site is a good one.It said that the guy who write the historical storys is doing a book.Do you know if he did it

Abscraperguy · Sep 16, 2009

Approximately when did hitch mount scrapers come out? Was it when tractors started to get used to pull them or was it quite awhile after that?

I wonder what some of those old guys who invented those rigs would say if they saw some of the big towed scrapers today. There are some pics on this site somewhere of mega scrapers married to D11's. I believe there is a company in Australia who makes a big one and I believe Ktec Earthmovers makes a big one.

dozerdave · Sep 16, 2009

K-tec looks like a super scraper. great picture.

ben46a · Sep 16, 2009

53 yards heaped for the large K tec? thats massive!

Abscraperguy · Sep 16, 2009

What's the Aussie mfg that builds some large pull scrapers. I saw some listed on a RB auction somewhere a while back.

WabcoMan · Sep 16, 2009

Abscraperguy said:
Approximately when did hitch mount scrapers come out? Was it when tractors started to get used to pull them or was it quite awhile after that?

First hitch mounted scrapers go way back to the late 1920s - LaPlant-Choate, GarWood, Heil, Bucyrus-Erie, Kay-Brunner just to name a few.

Glad you all enjoyed my towed scraper article

biggerdigger · Sep 17, 2009

Martin said:
Hi Biggerdigger That contrfedpublishing,site is a good one.It said that the guy who write the historical storys is doing a book.Do you know if he did it

He's still working on it...

Martin · Sep 17, 2009

biggerdigger said:
He's still working on it...

Tell him to work harder i am getting anxious

shovelman · Oct 13, 2009

Is this a representation of a real unit?

I found this topic and concluded it was the best place to ask this question. I have just purchased the new 1:50 scale First Gear Allis-Chalmers HD-21 with towed scraper. My question is if a real scraper like this was ever produced?

I've never seen a LaPlant-Choate (A-C) towed scraper that utilized hydraulics. Any factual information is greatly appreciated.

Here's a photo for reference. Thanks in advance!

WabcoMan · Oct 13, 2009

Hi Shovelman,

Yes it is a real scraper - but a modified one.
While it is true that LaPlant-Choate made a lot of cable scrapers they were pioneers in hydraulics.
Many of LaPlant-Choates smaller scrapers were all-hydraulic and their TS-200 motor scraper was all-hydraulic right from the start (apart from the apron lift (which was hydraulically actuated but attached to a cable).

The scraper behind the new First Gear HD-21 is a modification pf the TS-300 bowl which was an all-cable operated scraper.
LaPlant-Choate marketed this as a model C-314 "Carrimor" and when Allis-Chalmers took over it was known as the C-114.

Just as many of the older Cat scrapers (No.60, No.80, 463 etc) have been modified to hydraulic operation so has this particular example.
First Gera must have had a look at a converted example to get measurements for the model as they are pretty thorough with their research (unlike Norscot).

The only thing I would criticize on the model are the tires - diamond tread with smaller diameter wheels on the front would be more prototypical.

Hope this clears this up for you :drinkup

shovelman · Oct 14, 2009

WabcoMan,

Thanks for your reply! I completely agree with your assessment that they patterned the model from a real machine they found somewhere that had been modified from complete cable operation.

I find it quite interesting that the model manufacturers of classic/historic models would prefer to do their own research than utilize the resources of this and other websites/forums, but they want to keep their secrets and I can imagine some of the reasons why.

'All the best,

J_Deere · Dec 13, 2009

Back in the early 70's, my brother and I use to ride our dirt bikes out in the middle of no where. One day when we were riding through a forest of eucaliptus trees we found a clearing. On the edge of the clearing were a couple of old cable control pull scrapers. By the weeds growing up around them, it was obvious that they had been sitting there for a while. I guessed that they had been used to level the clearing and built some roads thru the trees. They were very interesting to look at with all of those cables and the big cable spools mounted on the back.

About 3 years ago all of this land was developed for a golf course and houses. A relative worked on the project and one day I asked him about the old scrapers. He told me that they had found the old scrapers and also a couple of old cable control dozers which had been completely swallowed up by brush. He said they were clearing the site with their D9L and all of a sudden the operator hit something solid...the two old dozers. All of them got cut-up for scrap.

RKO · Dec 13, 2009

WabcoMan said:
Hi Shovelman,

Yes it is a real scraper - but a modified one.
While it is true that LaPlant-Choate made a lot of cable scrapers they were pioneers in hydraulics.
Many of LaPlant-Choates smaller scrapers were all-hydraulic and their TS-200 motor scraper was all-hydraulic right from the start (apart from the apron lift (which was hydraulically actuated but attached to a cable).

The scraper behind the new First Gear HD-21 is a modification pf the TS-300 bowl which was an all-cable operated scraper.
LaPlant-Choate marketed this as a model C-314 "Carrimor" and when Allis-Chalmers took over it was known as the C-114.

Just as many of the older Cat scrapers (No.60, No.80, 463 etc) have been modified to hydraulic operation so has this particular example.
First Gera must have had a look at a converted example to get measurements for the model as they are pretty thorough with their research (unlike Norscot).

The only thing I would criticize on the model are the tires - diamond tread with smaller diameter wheels on the front would be more prototypical.

Hope this clears this up for you :drinkup

AC/LaPlant-Choate made a few all Hydraulic C108? and C114 pull scrapers at the very end. They were the same as the self propelled scrapers with dolly wheels. I bought a C114 from the Ferris (spelling) the AC dealer in Omaha Ne from a closed land fill in Kansas Just like the model. The land fill had a smaller C108? scraper also The C114 had large cylinders and was suppose to operate on low pressure (1250 pounds) high volume hydraulics. The land fill was pulling them with AC Dozer's with home made looking Hydraulic units on the back. The hydraulic lines that came with the scrapers were around 1 1/2 inch lines. When I first got it it took for ever to raise and dump a load. I blew up the cylinders being used on high pressure so I replaced them with smaller High pressure cylinders. That was the easiest loading and unloading scraper I ever pulled. Traded it on a 627 scraper and wish I had the pull scraper back.
There was two for sale in eastern Iowa two years ago. I never heard what they sold for or how much.

RDG · Dec 15, 2009

Spent many years operating towed scrapers back NZ. Vickers Onoins 6/8 yd and 8/11yd behind TD 15C and TD20 B and Cat 80, 470 and 463 behind TD 25 Bs. Good learning experince, once youve roped up an ejector rope a few times you learn to go easy on the winch lever and dont get to greedy when loading in heavy sticky material, its easy to get it in but can cause some pain getting it out.

The history of the towed scraper

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Senior Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member