Skid Steer History

According to Joe Keller at www.skidsteerhistory.com, the birth of the skid steer can be traced back to the summer of 1956. Elvis Presley’s song “Heartbreak Hotel” was at the top of the charts, Eisenhower was president, and Gunsmoke was on television.  The first skid steer, however, looked a little different from the modern skid steer.

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Turkeys?

The pain point that became the starting point for the skid steer was, of all things, turkey manure. Eddie Velo was one of the pioneers in the turkey industry.  He was in serious need of a piece of equipment that could efficiently clean up the manure produced by large flocks of turkeys being housed in two-story barns.

The standard loader tractors that were available were too heavy to operate on the second floor of a barn and were simply not maneuverable enough to effectively go around the support poles within the barn.  He needed something new to solve his problems.

Keller Manufacturing

Eddie Velo talked to brothers Louis and Cyril Keller, who owned a fabrication and repair business, about what he needed.  Within less than a year, Keller Manufacturing had developed a three-wheeled, lightweight, maneuverable prototype loader for Eddie. He invited the Kellers to join him for testing in 1957. With some modifications and redesign, the first skid steer was born.

It had two drive wheels and one caster-type rear wheel, similar to what you see above.  Power was supplied by a 6-hp engine with a rope-starter.  The tines on the front scoop were made from the metal bars of a local jail because it was the only steel the brothers could find that was hard enough.  The maneuverability problem was solved by using right and left independent control levers combined with a very unique clutch mechanism.

 Melroe Manufacturing

After a short time, the Kellers only had one unsold skid steer loader left from their original six.  They were looking for a way to mass produce but were having difficulties finding suitable and fair funding for that purpose.   Someone suggested the bring one of their loaders to the 1958 Minnesota State Fair.  At the fair, it not only attracted a great deal of attention but opened the door for it to be mass produced by a company named Melroe Manufacturing.

Four-Wheeled Skid Steers

You're probably more familiar with the four-wheeled skid steer, which was developed in 1960.  This change occurred because there was a need for skid steers to work on rough terrain than the solid, semi-flat surfaces found inside barns.

Birth of the Bobcat

In 1963 the name Bobcat was born.  The North American bobcat (the mammal, not the manufacturer) was described in a dictionary of the time as “tough, quick, and agile” – which accurately described the skid steer and the Bobcat brand name was born.  However, it would still be several years before the Bobcat developed into the hydrostatic drive skid steer that is in common use today.

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