Gradall started producing its well-known excavator in the 1940's, during a time wherein the second World War had created a scarcity of laborers. This decrease in the labor force brought a huge demand for the delicate work of finishing and grading highway projects.
A Cleveland, Ohio construction business referred to as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda experienced this specific dilemma first hand. Two brothers, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had moved to the USA from the Netherlands. They were partners in the company that had become among the major highway contractors within Ohio. The Ferwerdas' started to build a machine that will save both their company and their livelihoods by making a unit that will do what had before been manual slope work. This invention was to offset the gap left in the worksite when so many men had joined the army.
The brothers first created an apparatus which had 2 beams set on a rotating platform, that was connected on top of a second-hand truck. They used a telescopic cylinder to be able to move the beams in and out. This enabled the fixed blade at the end of the beams to pull or push dirt.
After a short time, the Ferwerda brothers improved on their initial design. They created a triangular boom to produce more power. Next, they added a tilt cylinder that allowed the boom to turn 45 degrees in either direction. This new unit can be equipped with either a bucket or a blade and the attachment movement was made possible by placing a cylinder at the back of the boom. This design powered a long push rod and allowed a lot of work to be finished.
Not a long time after, many digging buckets became available on the market. These buckets came in 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch sizes. There was also a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket that was available as well.