Then and Now
Wheel Loaders
Some ideas seem so simple in hindsight. Despite the simplicity of mounting a shovel attachment on a tractor, this is a more recent invention than other types of earth moving equipment. The wheel loader, (also known as the front end loader or tractor shovel) was not invented until the 1920s. At this time small agricultural-type tractors were fitted with a shovel mechanism and bucket. Original designs were intended for light materials. Advancements over time have seen the wheel loader develop into a heavier machine for earth-moving.
As of today, there is a wide variation of types of wheel loaders, the most extreme being the tracked loader. In addition to traditional wheel loaders, there are wheel loaders fitted with equipment to enable them to perform specific tasks such as block, timber, and waste handlers.
