Ruston-Bucyrus
From Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki
The Ruston-Bucyrus company of Lincoln was created from a merger of Ruston & Hornsby of Lincoln, England and Bucyrus-Erie of Ohio, America.
Contents |
[edit] History
Formed in 1930 by the merger of Ruston & Hornsby of Lincoln, England and Bucyrus-Erie of Ohio, America. The company already had a long history of producing Steam excavators from the earliest machines. Both companies having then moved on to produce the new engine driven machines replacing steam driven ones.
[edit] The Beginnings of Steam Excavators
Earliest history to go here e.g. Otis steam excavator patent.
[edit] The Ruston Proctor Years
[edit] The Ruston Hornsby Years
[edit] The Bucyrus-Erie Years
[edit] Split from Bucyrus
The UK Firm was split in 1985 into Bucyrus Europe Ltd and RB Lincoln Ltd.
- RB Lincoln then acquired the Pegson Crusher lines in 1989, and the Priestman excavators and grabs lines in from the failed Sanderson Group (the Winget Dumpers range went to Seddon Construction and the Forklifts to ? then to Caterpillar). Pegson crushers were subsequently sold off in 1996 to Powerscreen who were then taken over by Terex group in 1999.[1]
- Bucyrus Europe then went on to acquire the Rapier Walking Dragline division from NCK-Rapier parent company Newton, Chambers & Co..
[edit] Other Ruston-Bucyrus Products
In 1934 they started building Rock (blast) hole drilling rigs for use in quarries, opencast sites and Civil engineering applications. Thes could drill from 4" up to 12" Dia. holes and down to 700 ft.
In 1937 they started making Bulldozer gear to fit to International Crawler tractors, as was supplied in American by Bucyrus-Erie.
In 1938 they introduced a range of towed scrapers to complement the Bulldozers. These were again based on B-E designs.
[edit] Model Range Listing
[edit] Rustons
- Ruston No. 60
- Ruston No. 75
- Ruston No. 100
- Ruston No. 120
- Ruston No. 160
- Ruston No. 250
- Ruston No. 135 Stripper
- Ruston No. 300
- Ruston No. 6 Excavator
- Ruston No. 4 Universal 1926-34 Various engine options, 360 sold by 1931 when MkII introduced. Ultimately replaced y the 10-RB in 1934.
- Ruston No. 3 Universal 1929-1934 29 hp 4 cylinder petrol engined, with just 14 no. built
- A special m/c a Shale cutter was designed for cutting clay for London Brick Company. 5 built of variouse chain lenths.
[edit] RB Models
- No.4 - 1932 1/2 cu yd
- 21-B - 1932-39 3/4 cy yd Universal
- 32-B - 1932-38 1 cu yd Universal
- 37-B & 37-RB - 1932-49 1-1/2 cu yd Universal
- 43-B & 43-RB - 1931-55 1-3/4 cu yd
- 52-B - 1931-36 2-1/4 cu yd Quarry & Mining Shovel
- 52-B Ward Leonard -
- 55-RB - 1936-45 2-1/2 cy yd Face shovel
- 100-RB - 1933 3 cu yd
- 14-RB - 1934-37 1/2 cu yd Universal ( replaced no.4) (115 built)
- 16-RB - 1934-37 5/8 cu yd Universal (123 built)
- 10-RB - 1934 3/8 cu yd Universal To compete with Priestman Cub (in Dragline, Face shovel, Skimmer or Backactor form) Welded frame constructon.
- 17-RB - 1937 1/2 yd
- 19-RB - 1937-67 5/8 yd
- 20-RB - 1939 3/4 cu yd
- 22-RB
- 30-RB
- 37-B
- 38-RB
- 50-RB
- 61-RB Face Shovel
- 71-RB Dragline 4.5 cu yd. Bucket, 246 hp Cummins NT 855 PTC 6-cylinder or a 265 hp GM Detroit Diesel 12V-71N 12-cylinder engine. 90 ton
- 110-RB Face shovel
- 150-RB Face shovel
- 190-RB
[edit] Blast hole Drills
- Model 26 drill
- Model 30 well Drill
- RB 22-W / 22-RW
- RB 27-T / 27-RT
- RB 42-T / 42-RT
- RB 60-RL - 1952
[edit] RB Bulldozers and scrapers
- RB S-46 5 cu yd
- RB S-68 6 cu yd
- RB S-91 8 Cu yd
- RB S-152 10 cu yd
[edit] RB Hydraulic Machines
- RB 3-RB - 1963 1st hydraulic machine
- RB H-1 - 1971
- RB 375-RH - 1976 Hydraulic Shovel
- RB 375-RSS - 1983
- RB 220-RHI - 1983
- RB 220-RS - 1983
- RB 220-RH
- RB 195-RB - 1974 Hydraulic Face shovel
- RB 190-RH
- RB 175-RH - 1983
- RB 150 RHW - 1983
- RB 150-RH - 1974
Ex Priestman/Sanderson long reach models aquired in 1990
[edit] Preserved Machines
There are quite a number of machines preserved in the UK, several in museums. Others in private collections, some of which have been restored to working order.
[edit] Ruston Proctor Steam Navvy No 306
This machine was originally used at a chalk pit at Arlesey, in Bedfordshire, England. After the pit was closed, the steam navvy was simply abandoned and 'lost' as the pit became flooded with water. By the mid-1970s, the area had become a local beauty spot, known as The Blue Lagoon (from chemicals from the quarry colouring the water), and after long periods of no rainfall, the top of the rusty navvy could be seen protruding from the water. Ruston & Hornsby expert Ray Hooley got to hear of its existence, and organised the difficult task of rescuing it from the water-filled pit. Ray arranged for its complete restoration to working order by apprentices at the Ruston-Bucyrus works. Subsequently it passed into the care of "The Museum of Lincoln Life", although it is not known whether it remains in operational condition.From wikipedia entry on steam excavators: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_shovel
[edit] Other Preserved Machines
[edit] VET Collection
The Vintage Excavator Trust (VET) has a collection of RB machines in various states of restoration at there site in Threkeld in Cumbria.
- 110-RB Face shovel from a Lancashire quarry.
- 38-RB Face shovel
- 38-RB Dragline /Crane
- 22-RB
- 10-RB
As well as a NCK-Rapier 605 face shovel
A selection of machines belonging to other people are also stored on site;
- Ruston-Bucyrus 21-B from 1935
- 10-RB fitted with grab
- 10-RB Shimmer
- 20-RB
[edit] S.E.Davis
S.E. Davis & Son Ltd. of Astwood Bank, Redditch. has a large collection of plant, which include several RB's as well as Caterpillar, Allen, Vickers, International, Cletrac, Bristol, JCB and may other makes, as well as Steam Engines, & Tractors.
- 38-RB Unrestored
- 30-RB of 1966 fitted with Face Shovel gear (Full repaint) was Displayed at SED 2007
- ?-RB Face shovel
- 10-RB of 1945 with Lincoln Cab
- Several Dragline as well as other makes,inc. Priestman, and NCK Rapier
[edit] See Also
[edit] Reference
- Ruston History, The Story of Lincoln's excavators
- Classic Plant & Machinery Magazine
[edit] Links
Cite error:
<ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
