Gehl is a well known manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment.  Their impressive product lineup includes skid steer loaders, track loaders, articulated loaders, compact excavators, asphalt pavers, and telescopic handlers. Today, Gehl equipment is a common sight on work sites across the US -- but how much do you know about its history? In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to journey back through the history of Gehl and learn how it grew to be a leader in compact and heavy equipment.

Early Owners

Like so many American equipment manufacturers, Gehl had its beginnings in a blacksmith shop. This particular blacksmith shop evolved into a iron foundry owned by Louis Lucas back in 1859 West Bend, Wisconsin (where its headquarters remain today). The original focus of the Lucas Foundry was on implements and machines needed by local farmers.  Demand was high for products like plows and cultivators -- which isn’t surprising because many historians consider Wisconsin to have been the nation’s breadbasket at the time.

The Lucas Foundry changed hands a few times before it ended up as a part of the Gehl family. It was first purchased by Charles Silberzahn, and then in 1902 was purchased again by John Gehl. The name of the company was changed to Gehl Bros. Manufacturing when John was joined by his brothers in 1906.

Marketing and Innovation

Their first major breakthrough was the Hexelbank Ensilage Cutter, designed by Charles Silberzahn. This innovative machine would revolutionize the way farmers prepared food for their livestock.  This device used a hand-crank to speed up the process of cutting chopping up livestock feed by hand. It would become the predecessor to today's forage harvester.

By 1921, Gehl began to market their products throughout the countryside via salesmen. Because of this, the Gehl brand became well-known among farmers looking for labor-saving machines. Gehl manufactured several innovative machines for the local agricultural industry for many years, including silo fillers, an auto-steering manure spreader in 1927, and a forage harvester 1942. Gehl manufactured their first skid steer loader in 1973, along with some other self-propelled machines. In the 1990s, they broke new ground with their Scavenger sludge spreader and added asphalt pavers to their already extensive lineup of products.

Gehl’s Major Acquisitions

Gehl purchased Dynalift, known for their telescoping boom forklifts, in 1988. In 1997 they acquired the Mustang Manufacturing Company in 1997.  This acquisition greatly increased their presence in the skid steer market, and both their line of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders have remained extremely popular. Gehl became a subsidiary of Manitou in 2008, after partnering with Manitou to sell Gehl telescopic loaders under their name in 2004.

Conclusion

Gehl is still headquartered in the same city it was born over one hundred years ago.  It remains a powerful presence today when it comes to agricultural and compact equipment. If you're in the market for a piece of equipment for your farm or your fleet, be sure not to overlook this brand!

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