by Nick Drew | Mon 28 Jul 2014
Rare Koehring scrapers from the archives
I recently spotted one of my photo’s as I often do these days, appearing on another Facebook page, which is focused on vintage and classic plant and I was asked if I had any more featuring the Koehring machines, so I have delved back into the Digger Man Blog archives and found a couple more to post.
American company Koehring were more well-known for cranes, shovels and in later years hydraulic excavators, like the 1166 up to the big 1466. But the company also produced dumptruck's and motor scrapers. These motor scrapers, the Koehring WH125 Wheeler, evolved from the company’s Dumptor range and were first introduced as early as the 1930’s.
The machines in these shots were owned by John Laing, but they appear to be being operated by military personnel judging by the berets they are sporting. They do look a crude machine based around a front tractor unit with an 8 cubic yard scraper box to the rear.
Also of note in these photos is what appears to be a form of pusher plate on the front of the tractors, and the dozer working with them which I suspect is an international TD-18A fitted with a Bucyrus Erie blade set up.
These photos were probably taken post World War Two but have no dates on them to confirm this.