Caterpillar's legacy of innovation and engineering prowess spans decades, and it is marked by a series of remarkable products that have left an indelible mark on the industry.
From unconventional designs like the D6 with wheels to the Caterpillar mower attachment for track-type tractors and the audacious "side-by-side" machine featuring two D9Gs sharing a 24-foot dozer blade, these unconventional creations exemplify the company's daring spirit and commitment to pushing the boundaries of possibility.
Despite the varying degrees of success with customers, these products stand as testaments to Caterpillar's unwavering dedication to pioneering new ideas and technologies.
Caterpillar Mower
In the 1920s, Caterpillar introduced a mower attachment for its track-type tractors. It was attached to the back of the tractor and jutted out to the side at a 90-degree angle, creating a seven-foot cut. The mower was made for Caterpillar models Ten, Fifteen and Twenty-Two. In 1935, the company announced the discontinuation of the mower for its machines.
Caterpillar Ten with mower attachment, 1928.
A Russell Grader No. 4 Motor Patrol with a Caterpillar track-type tractor, 1927.
Motor Patrol
Moving on to the 1920s, Caterpillar expanded its product line further into road construction and maintenance. Caterpillar purchased the Russell Grader Manufacturing Company, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Russell was considered one of the best manufacturers of road maintenance equipment at the time. Caterpillar revamped the Russell line, including the Motor Patrol, an early version of the motor grader. Early Caterpillar designs included a separate grader attachment for the track-type tractor. Caterpillar engineers soon realized it made more sense to combine the power of the tractors with the graders in one product called the Auto Patrol, which was introduced to customers in 1931. The company's last design of the original Motor Patrol model was in 1933.
D6 With Wheels, Nicknamed the “Sugar Baby”
Fast-forward to the mid-1950s. U.S. Sugar—still in business today—accepted a bid from Clewiston Motor Company, a Caterpillar dealer (now Kelly Tractor) in Florida, to replace the tracks on D6 dozers with rubber tires. The dealer changed the tracks to 21X25 tires, with all four wheels the same size. The sugar company used these D6s to haul wagons carrying sugar cane from the field to their processing mills. Around 150 special D6s with tires were made for U.S. Sugar until the mid-1960s.
Three Caterpillar D6s with wheels in a field, 1955.
A Side-by-Side D9 at an antique Caterpillar machinery show in California, 2017.
Side By Side D9.
Finally, in the late 1960s/early 1970s, Caterpillar introduced the Side by Side (or SxS) D9G, comprised of 2 D9Gs that were attached and shared one 24-foot dozer blade. Also known as the Twin D9, it was built off the concept of the Quad-Trac D9G, which Peterson, a Cat dealer, created. The SxS D9 was made for high volume and low cost. It was excellent in applications such as coal stripping, reclamation, stockpiling, preparing sites, and feeding hoppers and belts. When coupled, the SxS D9 was operated from the left tractor and only required a single operator. A second, more powerful version of the Side by Side was introduced in 1974. During their time, these unusual products were considered a success at the worksite but ultimately were discontinued by the late 70s.
Over its century in business, Caterpillar's commitment to innovation and excellence has led to the creation of these remarkable machines, each of which has left a lasting impact on their respective industries.
