Astounding to think of the millions of people who's backs aren't killing them due to the ingenuity and perseverance of these two Minnesotan brothers.

@tacomas9602

Жыл бұрын

Skid steers are hard on your back, trust me.

@contraband1543

Жыл бұрын

​@@tacomas9602 I sure doubt a 20 minute bumpy ride in a bobcat is anything even close to as bad as shoveling all day.

@ShainAndrews

Жыл бұрын

@@contraband1543 You have never been in a machine that has ZERO suspension. You get sloppy with the operation and the machine beats you down in a big way. Especially with foot controls. You can drop the boom like a sledge hammer and it rings your spine like a bell.

@tacomas9602

Жыл бұрын

@@contraband1543 imagine spending 8 hour days in one doing sand bedding every week or hauling sawdust..my back is fucked. I’ve put a thousand hours or more on one unit alone. My back is shot.

@contraband1543

Жыл бұрын

@@ShainAndrews If you're shitty at running the machine then yeah, of course it's going to beat you around. That goes without saying. That the same thing as saying riding a horse is painful when the problem is you just don't how to ride a horse. I've driven foam filled tires skid steers on concrete all day and my back had no complaints. Probably because I wasn't in there jerking the controls around like you, thinking it's a lonely Saturday night or something lmfao

My family was the proud owner of the orange Keller Loader that Cyril was driving in the video. My father bought it at auction in the early 1990s in WI and while the auctioneer told the story that it was one of the first Bobcats he wasn't entirely convinced. A few years later the Keller family tracked us down and bought it back and now it seems that it became Cyril's personal loader.

@Streckenstillleger

Жыл бұрын

Really cool Story that U Tell us.thanks😊

@kellerthesciencefeller3436

Жыл бұрын

My dad, Joe Keller, saw your comment. He was the one who picked up that Keller Loader from Robert Johnson. I was on the trip too when I was still quite young. He's tried to find a contact number for anyone in Robert's family. He would love to talk with anyone if that is possible.

@LoganBraaten-wm1lh

Жыл бұрын

The two brothers are my great great uncles. Are you related to them at all? Because if you are we could be related.

@Streckenstillleger

Жыл бұрын

@@kellerthesciencefeller3436 nice plan.good luck.😁

@keithjohnson7847

Жыл бұрын

@@kellerthesciencefeller3436 I'd love to get in contact with you. Can you send me your contact info?

I am extremely proud to call Louis my grandpa. I only wish I would have had more time to have real conversations with him. I was only 17 when he passed. I distinctly remember his funeral, the dirt was filled in with one of the first machines they made. It was a very beautiful to see such a machine, made by the two of them, come full circle. Amazing men the both of them.

@itsshrimpinabag9544

Жыл бұрын

That's so sweet. 😭 What a loss.

@gta123987

Жыл бұрын

The kellers are my great uncles on my grandmas side. Ed schillinger is my grandpa. Name in credits.

@andyholinka3107

11 ай бұрын

What a cool story. He was a certified badass!

@dawsondetrana5496

11 ай бұрын

You got some of that bobcat money?

@sealteamsix1784

10 ай бұрын

skid steer loaders made it a lot easier and faster to build. there is probably entire airports, malls, suburbs/towns, etc (and 100+ million people) that would not exist without your grandpa.

Nowadays it's hard to imagine a construction site without a skidsteer, these guys truly changed the equipment industry. Great documentary!

@jakemocci3953

Жыл бұрын

Imagine how many backs these two old timers saved, I can’t imagine doing demolition without them, they can do the work of10 laborers

@JarthenGreenmeadow

Жыл бұрын

@@jakemocci3953 more like 100, a skidsteer never gets tired and lifts a ton xD

@arjanvanraaij8440

Жыл бұрын

Well today there are traditional stering loaders with the same size of a bobcat opperate more gentle then skidsteers.

@DontWatchProductions

Жыл бұрын

@@arjanvanraaij8440 dont rain on this parade.

@jonyemm

Жыл бұрын

​@@arjanvanraaij8440 such as?

"We can fix anything but a broken heart". Two wonderful gentlemen with gifts of service to their community.

@gilzor9376

Жыл бұрын

@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ . . . . did you really need to taint that thoughtful comment? You bring disgrace to the truth with your misdirected quotes from the book. As you probably know, you actually serve the Devil by stirring malice towards those who truly believe.

@eve__________

Жыл бұрын

@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist8repent to deez nuts

@milo6373

Жыл бұрын

True facts ,🤔🎯☝️✌️🙏

@laryedus

Жыл бұрын

@Repent and believe in Jesus Christ WTF ?????

@bobbg9041

Жыл бұрын

Oh with this story, I think they fixed broken harts after all.

I spent a week with Cy in Gwinner in 1973 at Bobcat Operators School. I was the only one to attend that week, so I had him to myself. Great guy, we went to the bowling alley every day after class to drink Grain Belt Beer. He told me the whole story as you hear it now. I was honored to be there with the original guys that created it. I did 20 years with the Bobcat store in Orlando Florida.

@LoganBraaten-wm1lh

Жыл бұрын

The two brothers are my great great uncles. Wondering if you could share any more cool stories like that.

@waynejohnson5611

Жыл бұрын

@@LoganBraaten-wm1lh Not sure how much I could tell you, I spent the better part of 5 days with Cy showing me about operating the Bobcat. I had experience already so we stopped early and went to the bowling alley, 3 lanes if I remember right, and drank beer and talked. He was a really nice guy, I never met Louis. He gave me a signed book about the evolution of the Bobcat, but someone nabbed it many years later. Pictures of them running the first machine in the turkey stalls, and how it evolved. I wish I had the book, but gone now.

@flat6fever680

Жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@deandee8082

Жыл бұрын

@@waynejohnson5611 theeves, rotten bastages!

@steelwitness

Жыл бұрын

sounds like quite the honor

That was fantastic! I really enjoyed this.

@letsdothis9063

Жыл бұрын

Good to see you here. Yeah, how awesome and well done was this? I worked in landscape, irrigation, and lighting when I was younger. I will forever have an appreciation for Bobcat. Very capable and very durable machines.

@user-fm6ny3uo2b

Жыл бұрын

Very kool.

@williampotter2098

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that was a fun video. I didn't even know they existed until I started watching Sonne Farms. Seeing how they were invented makes it seem more real. That's real history.

@buddyguy4723

Жыл бұрын

@Chimpin Out Chicago last weekend, am i right.

@chrism4008

Жыл бұрын

I find you in the most interesting places

It's rare that you see two brothers create something so influential and not fall apart to greed

RIP Louis (2010) and Cyril (2020).

@flat6fever680

Жыл бұрын

I figured that sadly those gentlemen had passed on by now. What amazing men and nice long lives they had. Really makes you ponder your own contributions.

@ehsnils

Жыл бұрын

Two men that left a lasting legacy behind.

@itsshrimpinabag9544

Жыл бұрын

I'm happy for them that they don't have to see what becomes of this country they worked and fought for.

It's always fascinating to me how something goes from a novel idea to an industry standard.

I always wondered about the history of the Bobcat. I used to run a Bobcat back in the mid 70's on a dairy farm running Silage carts, cleaning barns all kinds of various duties, then I joined the Army driving the APC 113 which steered just like a Bobcat. The instructor said you drive this like a pro, I told him I used to run a Bobcat every day. Thanks for the upload. I hope these brothers got rewarded financially for all there efforts and hard work. They deserved it.

@s.marcus3669

Жыл бұрын

Cool story! I too, lived on a farm in Israel and drove an M-113 in the Israeli Army. Fun fact: NASA used to (or maybe still does) use an M-113 for an escape vehicle in case something goes wrong with the Space Shuttle/newer rockets. It's not really the best choice, if you think about it; even if you clad the thing in asbestos it's still made of aluminum....

@fokkerd3red618

Жыл бұрын

@@s.marcus3669 I didn't know that about NASA, but your right about them being all aluminum. Ours had a 300 Detroit Diesel. I was a Track vehicle mechanic on all armored vehicles.

@dons8122

7 ай бұрын

I can't even think of cleaning out barn with out a skidsteer any more all of the attachments out there for them now

@fokkerd3red618

7 ай бұрын

@@dons8122 My Dad made sure me and my brother knew what it was like to clean barns by hand.

@allaussietraveller9879

4 ай бұрын

Yes, I read they each got a $100 Home Depot gift voucher for their hard work developing the Bobcat.

It's my personal belief that these 2 brothers should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for this machine. If they gave that award to the man who invented dynamite, that blew things up, they should very well award it to these two. The unfathomable amount of man hours and backbreaking labor this machine does and has saved mankind from doing is a true blessing to the human race, the world over. It's an extraordinary, remarkable machine.

@kurtvonfricken6829

Жыл бұрын

Only problem with that is the Nobel Peace Prize is for Peace. If you keep two countries from blowing each other up, for example, that might get someone nominated.

@peachsncream5808

Жыл бұрын

I understand your sentiment .

@MNJay1

Жыл бұрын

@kurtvonfricken6829 Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, while a memorial prize in economic sciences was added in 1968. They can hand it out after the fact.

@Halofan830

Жыл бұрын

Alfred Nobel, the man who invented dynamite also invented the Nobel Prize :)

@MNJay1

Жыл бұрын

@Halofan830 A method of destruction gets the prize, under the premise that it helped railroad and mining operations. Seems to me the Bobcat machine saved more backs and made work easy, just like dynamite.

That was a really fun watch. And the Keller brothers' emphasis on fun was great. And how they described the turkey farmer saying "If only I had a machine to clean the coops my job would be fun". And then the ending with the dancing Bobcats! Work's not always fun, but working to make it fun is worth it.

@cdjhyoung

Жыл бұрын

I've been around large scale turkey farming. I can't imagine this machine making it 'fun'. But maybe tolerable.

@herzogsbuick

Жыл бұрын

@@cdjhyoung heh I have no doubt. It could be a relative thing, since everyone had just gotten back from the war. On a scale of WWII to Your Favorite Thing To Do, surely turkey farming's not all the way on either side. Their words though, who am I to judge another?

@cdjhyoung

Жыл бұрын

@@herzogsbuick I've raised hogs, beef cattle, veal calves, chickens, turkeys and dairy cows. On a scale of the worse to smell, turkeys are a close second to veal calves, but not nearly as disgusting. The idea of keeping turkeys in a barn and only cleaning the pen when you move them out, that would be hard to take. No wonder he had a hard time hiring help, good or bad.

Eddie Velo was the turkey farmer that went to them with an idea. He was a hard working man whose idea of a break was to use a smaller shovel for a few minutes. He didn't pay employees much, but he was actually a fairly decent man to work for. Eddie was a hands on boss, he would get dirty with the rest of us.

@unclebenny9028

Жыл бұрын

Smaller shovel break... Classic!

@Greg-io1ip

Жыл бұрын

The best bosses share the work. I remember the age of "Delegation" to subordinates was being drummed into corporate and middle management Americans by 1980's and somehow they forgot who was doing the real work. We do it to ourselves. I can remember on one hand my best bosses, employees and coworkers. They all believed in doing work. It is unfortunately a short list.

@bobbg9041

Жыл бұрын

The boss whos willing to get down and dirty earns respect from his crew. FACT. I've got no respect for a guy who pushes paper all day giving commands but won't budge an inch to help when your backed up.

@Swarm509

Жыл бұрын

Did he get anything for bringing them the idea of the Bobcat? I realize the brothers actually invented and built it but it sounds like it wouldn't exist if Eddie Velo didn't bring them the idea.

@wolfman515

Жыл бұрын

@@Swarm509 He didn't do as well as he could have, but he did get good deals on bobcats and attachments for his farms.

I believe it was 1967, and I was 11 when my dad took me with him to the Indiana State Fair to see a demonstration of the newest Melroe Bobcat. The operator dug a hole, and the entire machine fit inside the hole deeper than ground level. Then he dug himself out and refilled the hole. From that day on, the farm always had a Bobcat on it! Thanks for sharing and bringing back good memories. 😁👍🇺🇸

I bought my first Bobcat in 1989. It's a used 743, that I still own today. When I bought it, it had just under 800 hours and cost me $10,000. That machine worked 3 to 5 days a week for about 15 years, helping produce millions of dollars. It turned into a yard machine. I keep her in great shape and will never let it go regardless.

@corybuiltsean1900

Жыл бұрын

You have a good one new ones tho trash

@gavinvalentino6002

Жыл бұрын

CBS is a brilliant genius.

@corruptduboiscountyindiana5058

Жыл бұрын

millions of dollars? What did you use it to rob banks?

@BangBangBang.

Жыл бұрын

@@corruptduboiscountyindiana5058 hey edge lord, being hired and doing work may be a foreign concept to you

@27neverlose

Жыл бұрын

@@corybuiltsean1900 Your 100% right... The new Bobcats are definitely not like the old style work horse's. These new Bobcats spend more time in the shop then they work. Most of the time they need to go to an authorized bobcat dealer. It's a scam how they need so much dealer support or they will refuse to run.

Every single skid steer manufacturer in the world owes you men a debt of gratitude.

@mike93eh

Жыл бұрын

And every skid steer manufacturer today is superior to Bobcat LOL

@merlepatterson

Жыл бұрын

@@mike93eh I didn't mention Bobcat.

@guamazolopez6456

Жыл бұрын

@@mike93ehkinda sad tbh idk what’s happening to bobcat

@mike93eh

Жыл бұрын

@@guamazolopez6456 better engineering.. Bobcat slacked off hard the past 2 decades

@pinwizz69

Жыл бұрын

​@@mike93eh. Doosan bought them out and began the downfall by not keeping up with state of the art improvements. What mods the have done are not what they need.

I started working as a welder for Melroe in Gwinner,ND in 1975- it was a great place to work back then- I stayed for a few years, we would get laid off every year for about 4 months and then they would call us back- as the sales got better and better, the plant got bigger and bigger- I made good money for 1975- the winters were brutal- but the money made us stay. I worked the night shift as it paid more than the day shift. I got a better offer at another company with no layoffs, so I left Gwinner behind.

@wilmerhersa1808

Жыл бұрын

Proud of you Sr. I hope you enjoy your life after the sacrifices. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 ♥️

I had no idea the bobcat brand was that old. The brothers seem to be extremely good people. Definitely an interesting story.

@gen-xboomer9489

Жыл бұрын

I saw my first one in 1981 when it dug out our pool as a kid. Not a farmer, have no land or use for one, but damn I still want one some day😁

@richfarley8122

Жыл бұрын

Those guys are what America needs more of today. Been running skidsteers for over 20 years. Had no idea that it came from such humble traditions.

@l337pwnage

11 ай бұрын

I never knew the story, but I figured Bobcat was old because we had a Gehl skidsteer and we always called it a "Bobcat", lol, so I knew there was something about that brand. Although, I'm glad we had a Gehl because it had a high seat position for great visibility and all hand controls. And while it was new enough to have a cage it was old enough you could take it off.

@scottrayhons2537

11 ай бұрын

@l337pwnage I had a Gehl also. Simple machine to work on but underpowered.

@l337pwnage

11 ай бұрын

@@scottrayhons2537 Ours had a little Ford gas 4 cylinder. It was just used to move manure, snow, and other small stuff, so it worked for us. My dad would lay an electric bathroom heater right on the intake to start it in the winter. Amazingly enough, we never burnt the barn down, lol. I dunno where the choke was supposed to be, but, for us, it was a piece of wire laying on the floor next to the seat. Again, tho, the controls were brick simple and easy to use. Much later in life I worked for a company that had a Bobcat brand, and, wow, was it a lot more exercise, both physically and mentally, to operate. And the visibility was terrible.

The simplicity of the first steering/clutch system is a thing of beauty.

@nowake

Жыл бұрын

to conceive of that setup is pure genius

@bhatkat

6 ай бұрын

And with now suspension you can beat them day and night for a year without a breakdown, as well as being one of the most versatile items ever designed.

Boy, that was ingenuity in action. We owe a LOT to those two gentlemen.

I wish to thank the company for including a lap belt on the model 600! I spent many hundreds of hours in a model 600 working for my Uncle on his dairy farm. Those clutches worked so smoothly and easily and after a time you could operate that machine like it was part of you. What an amazing tool!! That model had no cage and for those of you who spent time in such a model you know why I'm thankful for that lap belt! (For those who didn't, it turns out it wasn't all that hard to lift a load high and slow too quickly and tip it on it's nose! With the lap belt on you had just enough time to lower the load and flip yourself back upright! Without the belt, well that would be very bad!)

@abefehr6155

Жыл бұрын

Amen doing a lipstand off the windshield sucks

@larrybolhuis1049

Жыл бұрын

@@abefehr6155 Oh there was no windshield, you'd be doing a face-plant in cow manure !!

@billmadison2032

Жыл бұрын

I can't imagine some idiot trying to put one of those on a trailer and having it roll on their head. When I was 18 I was working for a landscape company and the foreman kept flipping it over loading it on the trailer. I put it up there no problem and from that day forward I was driving that thing all the time

@ranlove47

Жыл бұрын

Had a bobcat for my landscaping company in the late 80-90. Teaching new hires not to raise the bucket with a full load and back quickly or stop the dump half way was quickly learned when one new hire thought he could just jump in and go to work. After he launched himself out of the seat he quickly got the message.

@actionjksn

11 ай бұрын

​@@ranlove47I drove a different brand called New Holland and those things would not start without the seatbelt on. Which was fine I could not figure out a scenario where you would want to drive it without the seatbelt on.

As a young child, I remember meeting Cyril while ice fishing on Ottertail Lake. He was retired by then and always kind to us kids. He was known for taking his time to plow some snow roads on the lake with his skidsteer.

This was a great video. I am speaking as a proud grandson of my grandfather , as a fireman invented two things. First off, a portable fire fighting water machine is capable of providing water to multiple areas within short distances, primarily for high-rise buildings and domestic dwellings. No.2 is the swing check valve for allowing pumps to suck water from ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans. He was a great man. And it makes me more proud that there are men just like him who made this world easier for the betterment of us all. Thank you, Grandad. 🙂👍

@itsshrimpinabag9544

Жыл бұрын

Wow, that's so cool. I sure miss my Opa. Brilliant man, makes everyone in my generation look stupid.

People like these is what kids should be looking up to these days ! Best story I've heard in a very very long time. This is awesome!🤓

@StoneTheCr0w

Жыл бұрын

​@killacommieformommy don't lick the boot so hard son, you'll wear a hole straight through the leather

@turtleguy420

5 ай бұрын

​@@StoneTheCr0w😂

Cool , thanks for sharing. I like the quote from the brothers " we can fix anything , welding anything but can't mend a broken heart "

May they tinker away forever in the great machine shop in the sky. Rest in peace Louis and Cyril Keller, two of the brightest minds the 20th&21st century

Never in my life did I think I'd see 4 cowboys square dancing with bobcats, this video was worth it just for that alone

@kilburnvideos

Ай бұрын

That was priceless.

These men and my dad all went to school at a time when an 8th grade education would give you a start in life. Why because in school then reading writing and math was really taught and comprehended before a child move to the next grade. My dad built boat, homes fixed anything that broke. He worked for other then started his own business and him and my mom with 1 8th grade education the other a high school education started and sold 3 different companies that they dreamed up and started. Amazing people that generation.

@robertbowman9108

Жыл бұрын

goes to show, high school really doesn't have a academic purpose, mostly social

@abefehr6155

Жыл бұрын

Indeed

@CustomWeldingandFab

Жыл бұрын

Now we have laws that don’t allow just an 8th grade education.

@roadieman209

Жыл бұрын

@@CustomWeldingandFab Now we have laws that allow 8th grade "Boys" to compete in 8th grade Girls sports! WTF?? America is finished.

@CustomWeldingandFab

Жыл бұрын

@@roadieman209 exactly, sad

My uncle and my dad were both in the integrated poultry business at its inception. Scooping out the litter between flocks was indeed a hard, labor intensive, time-consuming job. That's why my uncle purchased a Melroe Bobcat 500 in the early sixties -- brand new and yellow in color at that time, for some reason. Later on my dad purchased a used one of his own -- a white Melroe Bobcat 500 much like the ones at the end of this video -- no roll cage. After much use by my late dad and myself over the years, the thing is still operational and reliable, and I still have it and use it. The engine -- a 23hp Onan "opposing 2 cylinder" -- has been rebuilt twice, the last time by me. The cylinders were worn so -- beyond the use of the available oversized pistons and rings -- it had to bored and sleeved, but it's still running. The Bobcat is truly a labor-saving miracle machine and many thanks to the Keller brothers for their God-given gift of engineering genius. My back and the backs of countless others are eternally grateful.

@atomicwedgie8176

Жыл бұрын

My Dad bought a used M500 in '75... no roll cage. In the early 80's he traded for a used M610 and the 1st thing he did was take off the roll cage. Don't know why they quit the hand/foot control... so, intuitive! I hauled a lot of rocks, hog manure, and what have you, with both of them. He threw me on the M500 at the ripe old age of 8! Miss you so much, Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!

@tablature6121

Жыл бұрын

@@atomicwedgie8176 I hear ya, Atomic, I miss my dad still and after over 30 years gone. He absolutely loved his Bobcat and could use it as if a part of himself. I imagine your dad removed the cage for 2 reasons: !. It obscured his side vision, and 2. The 'Cat was used on mostly level ground where there was little chance of a rollover, which, because of the low center of gravity of the Bobcat, little chance of a rollover on any ground. EDITED TO ADD: 3. Sometimes they were removed to provide greater overhead clearance, as in a chicken house with low hanging equipment. In reality, they were useless appendages mandated by the government. I seriously doubt a complete "rollover" of any Bobcat from that period. Maybe teetering to land one side or the other, but the sheer, flat construction of the 'Cat on either side, plus the high boom mounts on either side, would prevent any complete "rollover" on either side, and that on the steepest of grades. Your dad was no doubt a better, and more realistic, accident actuarial than any employed by the government or any insurance companies, at least when it came to these amazing machines. I really haven't kept up with all the newer models and innovations, but I've really had little need to except for where to get parts when needed from whatever ownership changes over the years -- (in order of my memory) Melroe, Clark, Ingersoll-rand, to whoever has them now (I think it's still Ingersoll- Rand, but not sure). And I have had machinist fabricate parts, as have others I have known, simply due to the age, and sometimes the price of replacement parts for the 500. Fortunately, they're so well built, that is a rare occurrence.

@atomicwedgie8176

Жыл бұрын

@@tablature6121 Yeah, lost him last February, on Mom's birthday. He treated everyone like they were a long-lost friend and was ALWAYS in a good mood! He took the cage off, because it was safer to exit if the arms were up. They were used hard, but always parked in the machine shed overnight. Hope you get your 500 purring, again!

@tablature6121

Жыл бұрын

@@atomicwedgie8176 Condolences for the loss of your dad. All too well do I know your grief. I pray the Good Lord extends some comfort and peace. Yeah the 'Cat is still purring although I haven't had need of it since retiring, so it's still parked in the shed awaiting the completion of a restoration started some time ago. I've hopes of making it a showpiece of museum quality. It's more than earned it.

@atomicwedgie8176

Жыл бұрын

@@tablature6121 Good luck and Thank You for the kind words! OOHRAH!

As someone who is a long-time fan and operator of Bobcats, I had never heard their backstory - to my shame. This was awesome and the way the Keller Bros handled their success is… inspiring , if that is not too cliche.

I can't put into words what the Bobcat has did for our farm. I'm a young age of 52 a started driving the 610. Dad retired now, we still have a 642B bought new in 1991. The hand foot feet sequence I do without thinking. Raised 5000 pigs, no slat equals alot of bobcat time. Love love you all and a big thanks to all the Kellars. John T.

@mimusic1853

Жыл бұрын

Hello there we’re in the concrete business in Iowa and no wonder my brother always said those hand foot feet models were to push manure heck you can’t do any efficient fine grading in them😂

@abefehr6155

Жыл бұрын

Yeah amazing machine

@norrishude6177

Жыл бұрын

Have been driving one since 2000 but can't tell you what foot does what, it just happens.

@atomicwedgie8176

Жыл бұрын

Hand/Foot controls RULE!!!!!!!!!!! So, intuitive!

The first bobcat I ran was a M500 in 1973 and 50 years later at 66 years old I have a bobcat in the barn I use a good bit!. I never new the history on how they got started, great video!. I wouldnt own anything else but a bobcat!, I've owned and operated them for 50 years!.

@vincentcalcopietro6970

Жыл бұрын

Which model do you have now

Such a heart warming story! The good days of AMERICAN ingenuity. We would be so much better off to get back to this mindset!

@ms.annthrope415

Жыл бұрын

We still produce such men. The products are for the information age, not mechanical. Microsoft, Apple, Linux, Amazon, Google, Dell, etc.

@OLDSCHOOLROGUE

Жыл бұрын

@@ms.annthrope415 Not exactly the same thing. Yes, those men have much ingenuity, but, they are not all pure of heart.

@rodyoutsey8786

4 ай бұрын

Amen. I've said for years, when they put a computer in a Bobcat it was the beginning of the end! Now look at what this stuff has become. A bunch of over engineered junk that the average person can't afford. Or if we're to buy a used current model can't afford to fix.( Even if you can get the parts.) I bought a new Bobcat in 93. Still have it today. Very reliable and simple. Just before things got out of hand.

We still have a 642B on our farm. Grandpa bought it new in the mid 80s, she’s old and haggard but still works as it should. These gentlemen changed a lot of industries with the Bobcat. Pretty cool to learn it was invented not terribly far from where I farm today.

We had some in the foundry basement when I worked at a GM foundry in the 70s. They were a blast to operate and so very useful.

A truly inspiring story and I've never seen two more deserving fellas.

A rare breed these days. Humble. Service-oriented. Smart. And always trying to improve things. Hats off to them!

I just want to say publicly, thank you to the Keller brothers, Cyril and Louis. Well done, gentlemen. Well done.👏👏

Absolutely awesome story. You never hear these origin stories and this one definitely a good one Also the bobcat dance at the end was as impressive as it was goofy 🤣

My hat is off to the two of you gentlemen and all who helped it come to fruition. Possibly two of the best financial moves I've ever made...not to mention therapeutic.

What a lovely story. It is The American Dream: hard-working people with the vision see the solution to an unfilled need. My own dad grew up on a farm in Kansas and he learned how to fix what was broken--whether it was a tractor, or plumbing, or a door, or a washing machine. And he passed all that on to me. I am fortunate to have that sort of connection to the Keller brothers. Much respect!

The comments are almost as good as the video. Really enjoyed this. I've owned and run several bobcats over the years and can never get enough of them.

Two men who changed so many industries. Brilliant.

Worked all thru high school and most of college on a landscape farm. The skidsteer/bobcat was the most versatile piece of machinery we had and was fun to operate!

At General Mills Elevator A in Duluth Mn there were electric powered Bobcats unloading grain from boxcars. They were 440 volts and really quick. When the good guys were operating them they just kind of bounced around. When the cord got pinched between the wall of the car and the cord, there were huge sparks and the machine was shut down until a new cord was put on. Tons of fun to operate and everybody wanted to operate one.

Well done boys, your engineering and ingenuity will live on forever. Great story.

This kind of people made the world go round. Even in Germany the Bobcat is very well known.

Very interesting to see how a couple of clever guys filling a need, has expanded into a universal name worldwide! And that little dance at the end, priceless!!

Their statement about its use for cleanup is 100% accurate. I work in an aluminum smelter, and we absolutely use front-end loaders to move material, but it's a skid-steer that cleans up.

Incredible men,,if they needed something they invented it,,if it broke they made parts to fix it,,people today could learn a lot from them.

70 years almost where the world would be without these two men.

@gilzor9376

Жыл бұрын

Credit they do deserve, however . . . . . Necessity is the mother of all inventions proven successful. Therefore without a doubt, had these two men never been born, another two, or even perhaps just one, would have been there to fill the need.

@roadwolf2

Жыл бұрын

These boys were from the see a need fill a need days.

Fantastic video. Anybody that grew up on a farm in Minnesota in the 1900's had to have a great work ethic to survive .

@itsshrimpinabag9544

Жыл бұрын

Or a farm near-'bout anywhere, really.

@synchronuse

Жыл бұрын

Anyone who lived then is dead now.

What a couple of humble, wonderful gentlemen!!!

Love, and hard work. These brothers and those like them are what really built this country.

This is amazing. These guys changed every farm, ranch, construction site since!

About two years ago, I worked at the Gwinner plant for an engineering internship for half the year. I learned a whole lot in my time out there, but seeing the scale of production the plant can churn out in a day is mind-boggling. From an idea built in a garage to a household name. It's also insane how big Bobcat has become, even since 2003. They make it all now, from lawnmowers to forklifts to tractors.

As a landscaper in the 80's I had hundreds of hours on Bobcats. Great machines.

That was a great true story of good ol' American ingenuity & the can do spirit of the Keller brothers! I'm inspired!

It's fascinating to me that the lack of steering wheel was the difficulty. My dad had a bobcat wheel loader when I was a kid and I thought it was entirely intuitive and I took to it very well. Now that I have my own property I can't wait to get my hands on one myself.

@chrisstromberg6527

Жыл бұрын

Yes, you essentially became one with the machine!

The time honored saying that necessity is the mother of invention is as true as ever. And these two ol' boys prove it.

Very cool video, what a story! My dad had one of the first 610's in our area. My brother still has it and uses it. I have an 853 Bobcat and I'd be lost without it!

@speed5763

8 ай бұрын

my dad ask me in 1975 if i wanted to work on the farm (just graduated) I said NO unless you get a bobcat . Seem like all i did was run a pitchfork /shovel --Got a 610 two days later-Been farming ever since ! !

Great story. We owned a BC when we had a fertilizer business. Aptly named, a real money maker, time, and back saver. Thanks, Keller brothers.

What a fantastic and homely story proving once again that necessity is the mother of invention, especially when you've got some very clever country boys.

This is amazing! I love the story and it's a nice little documentary. No fluff, No drama, just perfect.

Fantastic! THESE are the kinds of stories a lot of us want to hear and celebrate.

I hope they know how much happiness they've given so many of us. Bobcats are great

Hello from VA!!! I built a beach with one, I actually drove it into water submerged with sand, and the bobcat never stopped, from building crossties to pushing sand all the way so kids could enjoy the water. Still to this day families enjoy that beach we built, we I mean me and these geniuses

I've been an engineer designing custom equipment for 9 years. Seeing the simplicity of that belt reverser at 9:41 was humbling... It's a very clever way to do the job with minimal complexity.

A fascinating look at the origin of something that's now so commonplace and mundane, and the footage of the squaredancing Bobcats at the end is worth the weight of the film it was shot on in gold. I'm going to guess that those were four of their best operators, and despite the precision with which they execute it, it probably only took somewhere from a couple hours to a couple days to put together.

That was great to watch. So neat to see faces and a person behind such a commonly used item.

Bobcat has been in my life since I was 8 years old. 28 years later and we still have bobcats.

Truly one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. I loved seeing these two small town brothers bring their idea to life. Very cool how Cyril still has an original caster model for himself. Amazing how many companies started like this back in the day. I’d be honored to invent such a machine with my brother.

I grew up on a bobcat they are fantastic in every way. You can do so much with one. Awesome machine.

What a story! Wonderful people!

An awesome video and machine! I have an Bobcat model 610 that my dad left me when he passed away in 2015. He used to run that little Bobcat all the time and made a good little living with it, after he retired. It has since been setting and I would love to get it back up and running. Maybe I can some day, thanks for this video, loved it. Have a great day!

as a skid steer operator and heavy equipment operator myself of 7 years so far and counting, i always wondered how bobcat came about, good to know lol now i know lol im very good in a skid steer no one at my work can keep up with me in another skid steer im so comfortable in one its unreal. its like 2nd nature to me. great video, mad respect to my elders and 4 fathers .

I have an older Melroe 843 that I love and refuse to get rid of. It's outlasted a lot of newer machines with far fewer issues. This was a great video that has answered a lot of questions. I wish this generation could learn from men like them.

One of the virtues of equipment was its cost and repairability, today they are incredible machines but are unfathomably complex, expensive and unrepairable. My case 1845 will run with no battery and I can fix it (well the pumps are a bit over my ability). Regulations are killing entrepreneurs.

@rodyoutsey8786

Жыл бұрын

Amen. I've said for years, when they put a computer on a skid loader. That was the beginning of the end. I bought a new Bobcat in1993. Still starts every time. I also have an old 610. Just good, simple, reliable machines.

@ronfullerton3162

Жыл бұрын

I preferred the Uni 1845 just because of all functions were ran by hand. When it was rough ground, I could brace myself with my feet and legs and not get gosseled around. Regardless of the make, these two brothers came up with the idea and made life easier for us that used them.

@willtricks9432

Жыл бұрын

@@rodyoutsey8786 I have a 610 and it is so easy to work and work on tough as old boots and still going.

@rodyoutsey8786

Жыл бұрын

@@willtricks9432 Amen to that.

@RuralTowner

Жыл бұрын

And some businesses being sue-happy if you try introducing something you think might be a great idea only to get a letter proclaiming infringement instead of a friendly Please Don't. End up having to walk on egg shells.

Wow. This just made my day! What an incredibly charming story.

Another Minnesotan here. The Bobcat, and the skid steer system, has fascinated me since I was a teenager long, long ago! And to think that neither brother required a high school diploma, college, computer programming, outsourcing for drafting services… Good going!!

Brilliant video of two very humble brothers done real good!! Thank you❤

I've put tons of hours on Melroe and Clark Bobcats, excellent machines! I've used a few of the other skid steers as well, but always preferred the Bobcats.

Great stuff. Nothing beats history and what can be learned

I really enjoyed that Video on Bobcat and those gentlemen may they rest in peace didn't know it was a truly American-made piece of equipment

What a great history of what these men did God Bless them for a great machine

Very cool! I've always worked around Bobcats, interesting to see how it all started with 2 brothers

I'm very happy that you showed it as it is, a brand name. Everyone says bobcat but it's technically and literally a mini excavator. Nice to see you showed the distinction.

Thank you so much. It just shows that sometimes less is more. Smaller can do Bigger. Great work to the inventors for their perseverance and determination.

I've got a 1979 ish Bobcat 530. Kohler gas twin that runs great!:) I could sell it today for more than what it was new. Can't say that about many things. Probably the most versatile machine built!:) Thanks!!

I remember the first one I operated was in the mid 70s, sure beat a shovel and wheel barrow

I got to use a Bobcat in '98 at my very first job as yard clean-up for a construction company. I've wanted to own one ever since because they're just so much _fun_ to drive. Forget race cars or off-roading, I'll take a Bobcat. A coworker of mine had to build a berm on her property and I told her to rent a Bobcat because it would do the job and is super fun, and she did, then bought one.

Ran many of these in my 66 years. Never knew the history.. great story

Holy cow! An orange Keller loader! My grandpa had one. Took way to long to find out what it was with no plate or markings. When I started lawn care at 14, I also started with a handed down bobcat 48 belt drive commercial mower. Built like a tank, still runs! Most machines we have and take for granted today, was most likely invented by a farmer. The ingenuity of farmers who need things, is like reading about a prison break with nothing but air. Makes me proud to say I'm a bobcat boy. To this day! Till I die.

Amazing...inspirational...that old school American can-do attitude. Love and respect from 🇿🇦

I remember the first bobcat loader I saw and wondered who invented it and where -when it happened thanks for a story I've long pondered.

Has any thought been put to making a show on the history of the Melroe Company and how it was broken up after Clark? You can't walk 10 feet without finding something with their name or something related to them in North Dakota or Minnesota. Every picker on every combine is either a Melroe or Westward-Melroe, Bobcat's are everywhere, Melroe harrows are still common, Melroe plows are found along side other plows, Melroe-Geisler chisel plows are still found on small farms and on auctions, as are the newer Melroe ones, Melroe seemed to have a big impact on the short line side.

Hi. I am Russian. It probably will sound strange, but I proud that America have people like this two brothers. They a really great people. It was interesting documentary film about brothers, who work hard & make products, which know in all world. I hope they will live a few happy decades more, & I hope new American's will be like this brothers.

This was amazing to watch. I never realized how far back let alone how two brothers on a farm came up with the idea for a machine that would become one of the most popular and insanely versatile machines imaginable. They have an attachment to make this machine do almost anything now. Doesn't matter what you're doing, there's probably an attachment to do it with. Few products out there can claim such versatility for the price. One machine, dozens of attachments, allowing one to accomplish an incredible amount of work on the farm, construction site, even just around the house. They're just that good.

Arguably one of the most productive machines ever made. Thanks for the history lesson! :)