Gradall began producing its famous excavator in the 1940's, during a time wherein World War II had created a scarcity of laborers. This decrease in the work force brought a huge need for the delicate work of finishing and grading highway projects.
A Cleveland, Ohio construction business known as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda experienced this specific problem first hand. Two brothers, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had relocated to the USA from the Netherlands. They were partners in the business that had become among the leading highway contractors in Ohio. The Ferwerdas' set out to make an equipment that would save both their business and their livelihoods by inventing a unit which would carry out what had previously been physical slope work. This invention was to offset the gap left in the worksite when so many men had joined the military.
The brothers first invented a device that had 2 beams set on a rotating platform, which was fixed on top of a second-hand truck. They used a telescopic cylinder to move the beams in and out. This enabled the attached blade at the end of the beams to push or pull dirt.
After a short time, the Ferwerda brothers improved on their initial design. They made a triangular boom to produce more strength. Then, they added a tilt cylinder which allowed the boom to rotate forty-five degrees in either direction. This new unit could be outfitted with either a bucket or a blade and the attachment movement was made possible by placing a cylinder at the back of the boom. This design powered a long push rod and allowed much work to be done.
Not a long time after, many digging buckets were introduced on the market. These buckets came in 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch sizes. There was also a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket that was also available.