- Doepke Construction Toys
| tnttoytrucks.com |
#2001 Barber-Greene Bucket Loader
A wonderful, complicated, and intriguing toy!
Fritz Doepke reports that the company spent
$50,000 developing the prototype.
Introduced in 1946 and offered through 1950,
the Bucket Loader underwent numerous changes
throughout its production run. There are four
basic versions.
The examples shown below illustrate many of
the variations that occurred over time.
A wonderful, complicated, and intriguing toy!
Fritz Doepke reports that the company spent
$50,000 developing the prototype.
Introduced in 1946 and offered through 1950,
the Bucket Loader underwent numerous changes
throughout its production run. There are four
basic versions.
The examples shown below illustrate many of
the variations that occurred over time.
| Version #1 - 1946 |
Commonly referred to as the "Swivel Chute," this 1946 first version toy used a wheel, string, and
pulley system to move the discharge chute from side to side.
pulley system to move the discharge chute from side to side.
| The white waxed string passed through a small hole drilled in the wheel shaft - which frequently broke at this weakened point. |
| Another feature found only on Version #1 bucket loaders was this spring-loaded chain tensioner. |
| The tension arm for the tracks was also spring-loaded on Version #1 toys. |
| The bucket tower lift arms were riveted to the wheel shaft flange. |
| Version #2 - 1947 |
The swivel chute feature was soon dropped, most likely due to complaints that the swivel control
wheel shaft broke very easily. However, the forward wheel, which was used to tilt the bucket tower
forward for transport, remained on the left side for 1947. The auger assembly remained unchanged
throughout production.
wheel shaft broke very easily. However, the forward wheel, which was used to tilt the bucket tower
forward for transport, remained on the left side for 1947. The auger assembly remained unchanged
throughout production.
| Note that the tower lift arms are connected by a shaft in place of the rivets used in 1946. |
| The spring-loaded track tension arm used in 1946 was omitted in favor of an arm that was simply spot-welded in place. |
| The spring-loaded chain tensioner was also omitted for 1947. |
| The hole for the chain tensioner shaft was never eliminated on later production models. |
| #2001 Barber-Greene |