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Bobcat Finds a Home at the Smithsonian06-17-09 | News

Bobcat Finds a Home at the Smithsonian




Craig Orr and Alison Oswald Smithsonian archivists reviewing the material.
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Leroy Anderson, Bobcat Company historian, with Craig Orr and Alison Oswald, archivists with the museum.





One of many early Bobcat images images. Photo Credits: Bocat and Simthsonian


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Bobcat Co. originated as Melroe Manufacturing Co., a Gwinner, N.D., family-owned agricultural equipment maker founded in 1947. The original compact loader was invented by Louis and Cyril Keller, who operated a small family blacksmith shop in Rothsay, Minn. Based on a request from a local turkey farmer, the brothers set out to develop a small loader that was lighter and more maneuverable. After a few prototypes, a move to North Dakota and an acquisition by Melroe Manufacturing Co., the three-wheeled Keller loader went into production in 1958 as the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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The Bobcat Co. records focus primarily on production, marketing and advertising. They span a period from the 1940s to the present and illustrate the progression of a once-small, family-owned company that emerged as an industry leader. The donation includes photographs, product literature, advertisements, employee newsletters, drawings, scrapbooks and audiovisual materials. The collection also contains notes on a 1985 trip to Japan where employees learned about Japanese manufacturing and engineering techniques, some of which were implemented in Bobcat factories. These papers are available for research and complement the Archives Center?EUR??,,????'?????<

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The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. After a two-year renovation and a dramatic transformation, the museum shines new light on American history, both in Washington and online.

To learn more about the museum, check americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY).

 

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