Gradall started making its famous excavator in the 1940's, during a time wherein WWII had created a shortage of workers. 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 known as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda experienced this specific problem first hand. Two brothers, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had moved to the USA from the Netherlands. They were partners in the firm that had become one of the leading highway contractors within Ohio. The Ferwerdas' set out to build an equipment that will save both their company and their livelihoods by inventing a unit which would do what had before been physical slope work. This creation was to offset the gap left in the workplace when lots of men had joined the army.
The brothers first created an apparatus that had 2 beams set on a rotating platform, that was connected on top of a second-hand truck. They utilized a telescopic cylinder to be able to move the beams out and in. This allowed the attached blade at the end of the beams to push or pull dirt.
After a short time, the Ferwerda brothers improved on their first design. They created a triangular boom to create more strength. Then, they added a tilt cylinder which allowed the boom to turn 45 degrees in either direction. This new unit could be outfitted with either a blade or a bucket 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 much work to be done.
Not a long time after, numerous digging buckets were introduced on the market. These buckets came in 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch sizes. There was additionally a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket that was also offered.