Time to wax poetic about one of my favorite topics: construction equipment. Not only is the history of these machines intimately entwined with human progress, but learning how the first guy came up with the first forklift, grader, excavator, tiller, or what have you is fascinating. The grader was invented in 1883, when James Porteous was working in the irrigated San Joaquin Valley. His horse-drawn “Fresno Scraper” made short work of creating ditches and moving soil. Later, the Russell Grader Manufacturing Company made a self-propelled grader by adding a blade to a tractor. Caterpillar saw the possibilities, bought the Russell Grader company, and promptly produced an integrated, specialized grader that it called the No. 9 Auto Patrol. Weirdly, the No. 7 followed the No. 9, but then we got back on track (ha ha) as the No. 10 came along. Today, we consider this cosmetically dapper 1937 Caterpillar No. 10 Auto Patrol grader for sale as a non-running project on Machinery Trader, priced at $9900. The new owner will need to charter appropriate transport from Cheshire, Connecticut.
This Cat “ran when parked” but is currently functioning only as a lawn ornament. It’s equipped with Cat’s early D4400 four-cylinder diesel, good for about 43 hp at the drawbar and a massive 421 lb-ft of torque. Parts are no longer easy to find for these engines, which is probably why it isn’t running. Now back to the odd man out – that No. 7 Auto Patrol. Cat made the 7 after the 9 to entice buyers with a “base” model: whereas the 9 was equipped with a five-handle power control box for left lift/right lift/sideshift/circle/scarifier, the 7 had a three-handle box, missing the circle and scarifier. To angle the No. 7’s blade, the operator stabbed the blade into the ground and drove around it. By the time the full-featured No. 10 arrived, nearly every component had been improved: the new model had a power shaft, better circle support for pivoting the blade, more comfortable driver’s quarters, and a more robust frame.
No, the driver’s accommodations are not plush, but the canopy was standard, offering a modicum of protection from rain, and the seat padding had improved. The power box, seen here, is accompanied by a single gauge; looks like one is missing. This Cat weighs over 13,000 lbs.
Pneumatic tires were still a bit rare on construction equipment in 1937 – tracks were much more common. A flip-down step on both sides of the cab aids ingress; the No. 10 was introduced in 1933, and its canopy supports were curved like a bird cage – these are straight. The mushroom air cleaner assembly is still present on the grader’s snout. While No. 10 Auto Patrols don’t sell every day of the week, my hunch is this seller might need to discount this handsome grader before it finds a new home. What do you think?
I’m pickled tink the author enjoys this stuff, we’d never see it otherwise. The authors description is quite thorough, and always fun delving a bit deeper. Not mentioned, is this machine was actually very modern for 1937. It has no electrics, and is started with an auxiliary “pony” motor, usually gas. The gauge is fuel pressure, and the missing one was probably engine temperature. You can see the spark plug at the rear. You would start the pony motor with one of those levers, and one of those other levers engages it to the diesel. Ka-poop-ka-pop,,putt,,putt, hmmmmmm. Hey, it worked. The “control box” has these dog clutches inside, and the separate levers engage the driveshafts to “screw” the blade up, down or sideways. Most graders then were usually either pulled by “old Dobbin”, or a dump truck. We don’t think of it much today, but grading roads was a full time job. Most, if not all rural roads were gravel well into the 50s. Gravel roads develop what’s called “speed ripples”, and are a total PITA. I could really use this, as the Forestry Dept. has suspended all grading of back roads, and they just get worse and worse, to the point it’s no fun. Can you image a road trip and 300 miles of rough roads? All hail the grader,,,man. Snowmobiling was the same. It was a blessing when the groomer went through. Rubber tires are a bit unusual, probably upGRADEd later, as most of these were on steel.
To partially summarize how all these machines got started, Plato(who?) once wrote “Necessity is the Mother of invention”, and the operators life got a LOT easier with this machine. Jim R. will certainly agree. Great post.
If the thing ran, I’d grade it a B
When I saw this on Fast Finds I was really hoping to see it get written up. First off, Michele, you did a tremendous job researching this write up. I know I’m wearing out the phrase that I learn something new on Barnfinds every day, but it’s true. It looks like someone restored this at one point, and I’m guessing it sitting on gravel is keeping it somewhat clean. The torque of that 4 cylinder is very impressive for its day. I know about the small gas engine Pony Motors Howard mentions. I worked on gas pipelines for a time in the early 90’s and there were what they called Side booms to lower the 48 inch mains into the ground. They were Catapillars and there was an old one there, I distinctly remember the sound of that little Pony motor starting up and then hearing it fire up the huge Diesel to life. Hopefully there’s someone out there with the ability and the parts to get this fired up again. Old equipment like this is fascinating, all the time and engineering that went into machines like this, and they worked really well. Once again, great write up Michele I really enjoyed this over my morning cup of coffee. It’ll be neat to see the comments on this one too.
Excellent write-up Michelle. Good history lesson on a piece of equipment I knew nothing about.
Michelle, you continue to wow us with your knowledge. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Howard and Driveinstile, you two too have experiences that you share that are unique and your imparting those are much appreciated.
Very cool old grader. Hopefully it’ll be bought by someone who will at the very least put it prominently on display.
Thank you for the kind words Nevadahalfrack. Truth be told, I have the same viewpoint as you do about your comments as well and also, thr many others on here with WAAAAAAYYYYYY more experience than me.
-Dave
Excellent feature Michelle.. Howard makes a good point about that motor and its power. 4cyl mills are some of the toughest in my experience. I took a commercial truck driving, heavy equipment operator training decades ago. Ran various equipment for about 5 yrs before just going driving. I witnessed some amazingly skilled operators. What a difference they make on the jobsite. One old Italian lad could ash your cigarette 🚬 with the backhoe shovel lol. Graders are a favorite, usually dual axles on the back, don’t recall seeing many singles like this one ever.. Anyways the best operator we had was a woman from Newfoundland, tremendous and easy on the equipment as well. Great site seeing a grader plowing snow ❄️ Awesome machines.
I’m with you Stan, if you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with a good operator, there are men and women who can run things litterally like the back of their hand. I’m unfortunately not that good. Lol.
-Dave
No a/c or cup holders, i am out.
…or GPS on each side of the scraper. I geek out observing construction sites, road work etc. My mother’s home town is Manitowoc Wisconsin… unfortunately Manitowoc has no manufacturing presence there anymore.
IT DOES HAVE AC, ISNT THAT WHAT YOU CALL NO WINDOWS?
WOW! What a neat piece of equipment! If you’ve ever been to a steam and gas meet and watched two guys spinning hand wheels to change blade angle or depth you’d know what an improvement this is! Diesel engines can “sit” longer then gas engines and still be OK as long as it hasn’t got water in the cylinders or froze from lack of antifreeze it might be OK. Unfortunetly, guys that collect equipment are few and far between.
Good write-up Michelle! Information on these is getting less and less all the time.
I remember seeing a couple of these still operating when I was a kid in the 50s. Our town had a Champion that was powered by a UD14 International engine, but a couple of neighboring communities ran Model 10s. I always thought they were kind of strange because they were equipped with a single rear axle, instead of they typical tandem arrangement.
The engine in this one is essentially the same as the early D-2 crawler. Parts are hard to come by but there are some sources that can still find them. The pony engine is definitely the early version of that. You need to be on your toes to make sure you get the proper parts. A lot of them get the crankshaft thrust surfaces worn out and you can end up with over a quarter of an inch of crankshaft end play. You might need to get friendly with a local machine shop. Get it tuned up and running and it will go for a long time…
Many may not know, the tandem drive tires on almost all graders is chain drive! This appears to be a conventional single gear drive axle, and not sure why graders still use the chain drive setup. I’ve heard many called, graders, road graders, scrapers, tractor graders and motor graders. It was a highly sought after job, paid well, and the machine did all the work, you just pulled the leeevers. I read, a new motor grader today costs between $350K-$750K, depending on size.
Wonderful piece of machinery. Get it running, and you got something, besides a yard ornament.
Great write up. Retired builder who was fascinated by my grader. Best trackhoe operator I’d ever seen. Could spend hours just watching. Always said he could pick up a wine glass and set it aside…
I love it. While the HP number was on the low side, the TORQUE that engine put out is astounding !
Well, it’s not running. If it were rusty and cheap, Matt at Diesel Creek would probably bid on it. He has a way with bringing these back to life.
seen ‘em do more’n just grade. One like this could B bought for a single-job (just)-won-on-contract. Seems spindly by today’s standards, I can bet it aint.
One Deere on neighbors property (he’s got all yrs & models, just 2 cyl diesels I think) we call the heavy metal museum, a “750” hasa 4 cyl gas pony seen on ‘chillers’ to run the 18 wheeler fridge unit. I can see it able to run a 2T car !
When I was a kid in the 60s our town had a few of these and used them for plowing snow at night. It was always cool to see and hear them at work.
I’ve told the story before of buying a ’50 Chevy hearse (used as an ambulance at an old 1/4 mile dirt track) Also behind the stands at the defunct track was a Cat motor patrol very much like this one. It had a 4 cylinder gas engine and wooden doors on the cab that had enough yellow paint on them to actually be in good shape. The owner didn’t want to sell it and I really don’t know what I would have done with it, but doesn’t everybody need a vintage motor patrol? I suspect it eventually was scrapped.
While on business in Calgary in February. (I know what kind of fool goes to Calgary in the winter.) My flight home didn’t leave until mid-afternoon So I decided to sleep in as the party the night before lasted quite late. I was awakened by a phone call from the airport at 5 AM asking if I had seen the snowfall they received. (and it was still snowing) Because they expected alot more and needed to get me out of there as soon as possible. I looked out the hotel windows to see a regiment of graders attacking the streets. Every road that I could see from my hotel window had a grader on it moving snow. I could use one on my property for a couple of days. But the cost is astronomical!
“I’m going on vacation to Calgary”..said no one, ever.
Not even “The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth?” The Calgary Stampede. Calgary is only 220 miles north of where I grew up. Been to “THE STAMP” a couple of times myself. The first time was 1960. Don’t remember much about it other than us hellions were with the folks watching the horse races and right behind us was Bing Crosby and his entourage. About 15 years ago my wife latched onto some tickets to see The Eagles, Kenny Chesney and George Strait. Eagles and Strait were fabulous shows but Chesney was ruined by a bunch of drunk teeny-boppers sitting behind us singing completely out of tune. I’ve met people from all over the world, heading for the Stampede, and even attended some GM update schools at the Calgary Zone headquarters.
Anyways, to sort of qualify my previous statement, back when I was a kid, they used a bank of motor graders to prep the race track for the horse races and the “Rangeland Derby,” the Chuckwagon Races (one of the main events at the Stampede). I remember seeing Cat 112s but never the single-axle Model 10s. I’m sure the 10s were way before my time…
NO AC? I SEE NO WINDOWS, ISNT THAT THE SAME AS AC?
NO WINDOWS? ISN’T THAT LIKE AC
We have a science museum here in Georgia that displays heavy equipment like this out in the parking lot. When I saw the way this was displayed, and the building in that background, I thought for a minute that this may have been displayed there at some point. Turns out it is what they describe as a “Corporate Mascot – Lawn Ornament”
It was get to get up close to them, and my 7 year old nephew thought it was great.
One of the things I love most about this grader is that it looks so delicate, and yet it’s as tough as nails and weighs a few tons. I’d rather see it running, but I’m glad someone at least spruced it up cosmetically and has shown it off ever since.
Clean it up, maybe get it running and show it off. Not something good f0r a sunday drive,
For anyone interested there is a museum for all things Cat at Western Antique Powerland at Brooks Or. For full info check the Western Antique Powerland website. The place is Toyland FOR all things mechanical.
The Cat museum has everything from Huge earth movers to little toys
Wow, talk about over priced. You can buy graders on municipal auctions, low hrs, and running great for half that price. They are an obsolete piece of equipment around my area. Nobody has dirt roads anymore.