going through my dad's and my pics.

my dad worked for a dirt contractor in late 30's, early 40's...welded in shipyard in bremerton, wa. during ww2. came back to south dakota after war, and started his own underground biz in 1947. i feel these are some interesting pics.

some more

the truck mounted 200 is my dad's...other pics are when he worked for dirt contractor from minnesota in late 30's early 40's

first pic is of dad's 300 hopto mounted on ford truck, others when he worked for minnesota dirt contractor in late 30's early 40's

old dirt contractor photos dad took

few from when my dad was in biz....from 47-78

dad in 75, drott 50, new sewer main crossing sioux river in watertown, sd. 2nd lift station in 73 when he had the 40 drott truck mounted, 4th is when dad picked up the truck mount 40 drott brand new in 68

first pic, dad bought allis chalers hd 5g to do a demo job, the 545 allis loader was his first rubber tire, another pic of the 300 hopto mounted on ford truck, and in 1975, a sewer main project my dad and his competitor bid as joint venture. 27 foot cut. dad's making first cut with 50 drott...final 20-h Bucyrus erie

Great pictures, thanks for sharing! Love seeing the mix of graders in action as well as everything else.

first pic is the first machine my dad bought in 47. a badger ladder trencher. chain and buckets gone, think this pic was taken in mid 70's. 2nd pic, his truck mount drott 40 installing sewer main in rosholt, sd in early 70's 3rd pic is 50 drott at a river crossing, 4th is the truck mount 40 drott digging footings for a new school in webster, sd on the 3rd pic, the guy in the hole with shovel walking out is me

I love to see what they used and the skill it took to operate it. To see how far the equipment has evolved today is amazing. I would say imagine what they could do with modern equipment but if they are like my dad they would prefer to run the older equipment. He has a lot of recent production equipment but still will get on the 980B, D8H, DW21 water pull. Before he will get on the newer models. He still has a Wabco D pull water wagon he won’t get rid off.

few more of dad's equipment

and lastly...some more pics of when he worked for dirt contractor.

Thanks for posting all great stuff. I liked the elevator and dirt wagons in those early pictures, and the dump operator on the back of that one wagon. All the different things they tried and some that fell by the wayside and others that were brought forward and developed.

These all look to be late 20's into mid 30's International's. *

Sweet history. This pic sure reminds me of dad's Hopto 211 back when it was new, decal big black letters HOPTO on the boom me 3yrs old on the ol' mans lap playing operator on the job but lost pic.

@dayexco Nice pics and stories.

my dad's headstone

see the twin stacks on that 50 drott? v6-53. dad LOVED detroits.

I knew a guy that bought 6 P&H excavators with 6V-53's but they only had one muffler, if you can call it that. Drott 50 must be around a 1 1/2yd. excavator.