Letourneau Heavy Equipment
Letourneau Heavy Equipment
ITEM E492
By Eric C. Orlemann
Known as “The Dean of Earthmoving,” R.G. LeTourneau is considered one of the world’s greatest inventors of earthmoving and material handling equipment. With outstanding photography, this overview of 90-years-plus of manufacturing features LeTourneau’s earliest earthmoving equipment introductions in 1921, all the way up to today’s giant loaders produced in Longview by Joy Global as “P&H Generation 2” wheel loaders. Even though Joy Global has officially announced that it is removing the “LeTourneau” name from the mining product lines, as a tribute to its heritage, a small “LeTourneau” plate is now fitted inside the cab. This companion book to the three previous publications — R.G. LeTourneau Heavy Equipment: The Mechanical Drive Era 1921- 1953, R.G. LeTourneau Heavy Equipment Photo Gallery: The Electric-Drive Era (1953-1970), and Modern LeTourneau Earthmoving Equipment since 1968 — includes much updated information and all new images of the LeTourneau enterprise.
Softbound, 176 pages, 300-plus photos, 8.5x11 inches
In his introduction, Eric C. Orlemann laments the disappearance of fabled heavy earth-moving equipment manufacturers including Euclid, Allis-Chalmers, Bucyrus-Erie, and Lima. Written in 2014, Orlemann predicted the eventual addition of LeTourneau to that list, noting the company’s acquisition by Joy Global in 2011. In 2016, Komatsu Limited acquired Joy Global. A current search of Komatsu’s product offerings does not include LeTourneau. Orlemann has previously authored three other books devoted to LeTourneau. They provided the LeTourneau history in three eras: MechanicalDrive, Electric-Drive, and Modern. In some 339 black-and-white photographs, generally a half-page in size, and not used in the previous volumes, this newest book provides three chapters that cover these time periods dating to 1921. Each chapter provides a brief overview, with detailed and informative photo captions to showcase the innovative machines developed to move earth, transport equipment, launch missiles, tow aircraft, and clear land of trees—check out the Overland Train. As the LeTourneau name disappears from products, so will the name of Robert G. LeTourneau, noted for tithing and giving 90 percent of his income to his church, and the creative genius responsible for his company’s becoming a world leader in earthmoving equipment. This book helps us remember.
Book Review by Robert Gabrick
