Caterpillar: Modern Earthmoving Marvels

by Frank Raczon, Keith Haddock (Photographs)

For this book, Frank Raczon dug up the dirt and constructed the only modern history of the world's heaviest machinery. So many things differentiate the Caterpillar brand from its competitors that it can be difficult to know where to begin. From its trademark Caterpillar Yellow to its tradition of making the most rock-solid products on earth, everything about the Caterpillar name is synonymous with the world's toughest machines. In fact, the company's success has led to it being used by economists as a bellwether for the state of the economy as a whole. In Modern Earthmoving Marvels , author Frank Raczon details the largest and most modern earth-moving machines today, with down-to-earth explanations of how and why they work the way they do as well as interviews and quotes from Caterpillar's engineers and operators themselves. Featuring rare historical photography and insight from noted industrial historian Keith Haddock, this book offers a glimpse of how the Caterpillar's meteoric rise from an under-the-radar producer of agrarian and industrial equipment led to its modern status as an international corporate superstar. Filled with excavators, backhoe loaders, motor-graders, off-highway trucks and more, this book is sure to capture the imagination of anyone who has ever passed a construction site and wondered just how the machines work the way they do and what they're truly capable of.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2014

Reviews

[Toddv · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Caterpillar — Modern Earthmoving Marvels” walks the reader through the significant product innovations that have taken CAT from its humble beginnings to the diverse global brand that it is today.

I really enjoyed learning more about the history of each product line and how Caterpillar’s hard work and commitment to its customers spurred innovation and growth. Author Frank Raczon provided the level of detail that every construction equipment owner or operator really appreciates.

Even if you’re not a gear-head, you will enjoy this book. I left my copy sitting on the table, and my 5-year old couldn’t resist picking it up and looking through all the wonderful photography of the equipment. Having spent my whole life around CAT equipment, it made me one proud dad. In fact, I can’t wait to share this book with my dad.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you GoodReads for the free book. This book shows so much history about the Caterpillar machines and has lots of great pictures. It will be a favorite on my coffee table. Excellent book.

[Michelle Carrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, passed it on to my dad who sometimes works with these machines and he also though it was super cool and very informational.