Hough-International Harvester employees and Pay Loader, Libertyville, IL.
Ray "Steve" Miltimore is in the driver's seat. Circa 1965. Dunn Museum 2006.15
In 1939, the Frank G. Hough Company in Libertyville built the world’s first production payloader tractor shovel.
The company became the largest employer in central Lake County with 3,000 employees. It would eventually be the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber-tired tractor shovels.
Inventor Frank G. Hough (1890-1965) coined the term "payloader." Hough was working as a mining engineer in Wisconsin in 1920 when he conceived of the idea of "moving bulk materials in large quantities with hydraulically operated, mobile equipment."
The company became the largest employer in central Lake County with 3,000 employees. It would eventually be the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber-tired tractor shovels.
Frank G. Hough (1890-1965)
By 1933, his company was incorporated and operating out of Chicago.
Hough Company, Libertyville, Illinois, 1939. Dunn Museum 2010.34.
In 1939, Hough opened his plant in Libertyville, which covered 14,400 square feet. This is where the first Model HS Payloaders were manufactured. Payloaders arrived on the market at a time when there were no machines with shovels attached to the front or rear, and they provided speed, maneuverability, and fast cycle times.
Hough was an industry and community leader in Libertyville. Under Hough's leadership and legacy, the company defined the modern wheel loader and accomplished such achievements as four-wheel drive, torque conversion, and hydrostatic transmission.
In 1952, Hough sold his company to International Harvester and became a division of that conglomerate. Frank Hough continued as the chief designer, and the Payloader name was retained. By then, his plant had over 312,000 square feet and employed more than 1,000 people.
The photo of employees with work anniversaries (above) was featured in the company newsletter, The Payloader. Left to right: G.A. Gilbertson (management); William F. Pentzien, 15 years; Floyd F. Patrick, 10 years; Betty L. Cazel, 5 years; Fred A. Arnold, 10 years; Edgar White, 10 years; Richard H. Moore, 10 years; Minor B. Williams, 10 years; Jack Forney, and George J. Stedronsky, 10 years.
Hough dissolved in 1966 and became a division of Harvester. Dresser Industries bought the plant from Harvester in 1981. Komatsu Ltd. formed a joint venture with Dresser in 1988. Komatsu is a Japanese company that manufactures construction and mining equipment. It was founded in 1917.
Komatsu and Dresser Industries established Komatsu Dresser to make mining tractors and related equipment. This 50-50 ownership lasted from September 1988 to August 1994, when Komatsu bought out Dresser's share.
In 1995, Komatsu America Corporation purchased the plant. The Libertyville plant closed in 1996 when Dresser and Komatsu reassessed their manufacturing capacity in the United States. Komatsu's mining products were consolidated under the name Komatsu Mining Systems in 1997.
Like Hough and International Harvester before them, Komatsu still uses the Antioch (IL) Proving Grounds to test earth-moving machines.
Komatsu's headquarters are now in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Komatsu America is North America's second-largest, fully integrated manufacturer and supplier of construction equipment.
In recent years, the museum has received several generous donations of Hough and International Harvester items from the company and former employees, including photographic images, newsletters, Payloader models, and even a drafting table and drafter's tools. A sample of the photographs and slides have been shared in this post.
The company made the earliest Hough donation to the museum in 1961. The 1939 Hough Model HS Payloader (Dunn Museum 61.51) is shown in front of the company plant in Libertyville.
Hough Company entrance, Libertyville, IL. Dunn Museum 2010.34.32.
Frank G. Hough's office at the Hough plant in Libertyville, IL, circa 1940. Photo by Carl Ullrich. Dunn Museum 98.8
Hough-IH employee anniversary photo featured in the company newsletter, The Payloader, November 1957.
Dunn Museum 2010.34.43.
The photo of employees with work anniversaries (above) was featured in the company newsletter, The Payloader. Left to right: G.A. Gilbertson (management); William F. Pentzien, 15 years; Floyd F. Patrick, 10 years; Betty L. Cazel, 5 years; Fred A. Arnold, 10 years; Edgar White, 10 years; Richard H. Moore, 10 years; Minor B. Williams, 10 years; Jack Forney, and George J. Stedronsky, 10 years.
Drafting department, Hough-International Harvester, Libertyville, circa 1965. Dunn Museum 2010.34.19
Offices at Hough-International Harvester, Libertyville, circa 1965. Dunn Museum 2010.34.5
View of the manufacturing operations at Hough-International Harvester, Libertyville IL, circa 1965.
Dunn Museum 2010.34.35
Assembly Department, Hough Company, Libertyville, IL. Photo by Carl Ullrich. Dunn Museum 98.8
Hough dissolved in 1966 and became a division of Harvester. Dresser Industries bought the plant from Harvester in 1981. Komatsu Ltd. formed a joint venture with Dresser in 1988. Komatsu is a Japanese company that manufactures construction and mining equipment. It was founded in 1917.
Komatsu and Dresser Industries established Komatsu Dresser to make mining tractors and related equipment. This 50-50 ownership lasted from September 1988 to August 1994, when Komatsu bought out Dresser's share.
H-65C Pay Loader, Libertyville, IL, circa 1970. Dunn Museum 2006.15
Aerial photograph of Libertyville IL plant looking southeast from Route 176,
circa 1975. Dunn Museum 2010.34
Like Hough and International Harvester before them, Komatsu still uses the Antioch (IL) Proving Grounds to test earth-moving machines.
Komatsu's headquarters are now in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Komatsu America is North America's second-largest, fully integrated manufacturer and supplier of construction equipment.
In recent years, the museum has received several generous donations of Hough and International Harvester items from the company and former employees, including photographic images, newsletters, Payloader models, and even a drafting table and drafter's tools. A sample of the photographs and slides have been shared in this post.
The company made the earliest Hough donation to the museum in 1961. The 1939 Hough Model HS Payloader (Dunn Museum 61.51) is shown in front of the company plant in Libertyville.
- Diana Dretske, Curator ddretske@LCFPD.org
