Caterpillar's Archives

Each week Corporate Heritage Services opens its historical collection to share stories of its people and chronicle nearly 100 years of innovation. Below is a complete compilation of past artifacts, images, stories and videos.

Pride

Meet the people from our past who played a part in building our company, one breakthrough at a time. Learn about their inventions and the projects that have made Caterpillar extraordinary.

PIRACICABA

1954 – A Caterpillar employee working in the Piracicaba, Brazil facility in 1954, the same year the facility opened.

See Full Size Image

Caterpillar Piracicaba, Brazil facility, 1954.

INVENTOR’S HOLIDAY

2020 – Read how it all began for Caterpillar on Thanksgiving Day in 1904.

Full Story

SERVICE SHOP

1982 – A group of Cat® dealer employees relax during their lunch break in the service shop.

See Full Size Image

Employees having lunch near equipment in 1982

CELEBRATE

1910 - On August 2, 1910 Benjamin Holt, founder of one of Caterpillar’s parent companies – the Holt Manufacturing Company – registered a trademark for track-type tractors and combine harvesters with the U. S. Patent Office for his company's exclusive use. The trademark was "Caterpillar."

Full Story

MANUFACTURING DAY

2020 – Our history of manufacturing goes back to 1925. Throughout the month of October, Caterpillar facilities around the world are celebrating Manufacturing Day.

See Full Size Image

Products

Enjoy stories about Caterpillar’s innovative machines and our rich heritage.

THE CAT® 769

1962 – It has been 60 years since Caterpillar introduced its first off-highway, rear dump truck, the legendary Cat® 769. Learn more about our entrance into the haul truck market, what set the 769 apart, and how it laid the foundation for the off-road trucks of today.

Full Story

First Caterpillar 769 Off-Highway Truck, 1963.

PIKES PEAK

1919 - "Pikes Peak or Bust” was originally the slogan of the pioneers. It’s fitting, therefore, that 100+ years ago a pioneering machine, the Holt Caterpillar 5-Ton tractor, scaled the famous mountain and reached the highest point ever achieved by a dozer.

Full Story

LOGGING IN AFRICA

1914 - Holt Caterpillar 60 track-type tractor hauling logs in the forests of the Ivory Coast, Africa.

See Full Size Image

PIPELAYER ANNIVERSARY

1955 – Sixty-five years ago Caterpillar introduced to the world the first integrated pipelayer machine, the No. 583. Watch these machines in action.

Watch Video

DOZER EVOLUTION

2020 – Learn more how this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cat® dozer blade. Some say it may be the ultimate part provided by Caterpillar to its customers.

Full Story

Services

Since the beginning, Caterpillar has understood the importance of superior parts and services. After all, it’s part of our DNA.

PREDICTING THE FUTURE

2022 – Providing the best service to customers has long been a part of Caterpillar’s history. Join Caterpillar Archivist Lee Fosburgh and host Rusty Dunn to learn about what Caterpillar’s early visionaries pictured for the future of parts delivery and services.

Watch Video

BEST IN CLASS

1965 - A group of Cat® dealer personnel is providing instruction in the sale and service of Caterpillar products at a training center in Geneva, Switzerland.

See Full Size Image

Group of people in white jackets looking at parts

FIRSTS FOR PARTS

1890 - See a page from what maybe our first parts book. The product is a steam tractor and the page depicts the door to it's boiler.

See Full Size Image

EARLY DEALER

1926 - Cat® dealers have been providing services and delivering parts on the jobsite since our founding in 1925. Robinson Tractor was one of our fist dealers located in Oakland, CA.

See Full Size Image

Antique photo of Cat dealer service truck

DEEP CLEAN

2000 - Cat® dealer providing onsite service to a 793B off-highway truck at a mine site in Niger, West Africa.

See Full Size Image