Payline: International Harvester's Construction Equipment Division

At the beginning of the twentieth century, progress was booming. International Harvester was busy making tractors but dove into the growing construction equipment industry. Around the same time, Frank G. Hough started his own company to create attachments for tractors and eventually became involved with construction equipment. PayLine: International Harvester’s Construction Equipment Division follows the evolution of International Harvester’s construction division and the Frank G. Hough Co. through the years to the merger between the two companies in 1974 and up until Dresser Industries bought the construction division in 1982.

Whether you are an International Harvester or construction equipment enthusiast, this book covers a very unique aspect of IH’s history and chronicles the evolution of an influential aspect of construction equipment. Oscar H. Will III’s authoritative text, alongside archival and modern color photography, brings this chapter of IH and construction equipment to life.

This book tells the story of PayLine, which marked the high point of International Harvester's foray into construction equipment. Oscar H. Will III chronicles the company's early efforts, its success with machines ranging from the PayLoader to the PayHauler, and it's expansion right up to its sale to Dresser Industries in 1982.

With attention to each particular model, including history, specifications, market position, and color photographs of these mighty machines at work, this book is a fitting tribute to International Harvester's giants in the earth, and a critical chapter in the story of American industry.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Finding the Market: 1909–1945

Chapter 2: Postwar Optimism: 1946–1955

Chapter 3: Big Dams and Interstate Highways: 1956–1965

Chapter 4: Expanding Lines at Hough: 1956–1965

Chapter 5: Aging Markets and Economic Turmoil: 1966–1975

Chapter 6: Hough Division: 1966–1975

Chapter 7: PayLine: 1976–1985

Index