Masonry Magazine June 1997 Page. 29
One of the earliest power buggy type forklifts manufactured by Koehring, circa 1949. The greatest feature of this unit was the lift capacity of 1,000 lbs. to a height of 20 inches.
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When the power buggy had gained almost widespread acceptance at the outset, the same could not be said for its later counterparts. Mason contractors were hesitant to purchase these strange and untried pieces of equipment, for not only was the investment substantial but the success of the machines was uncertain.
It was also difficult for mason contractors to get materials palletized or get them palletized in the 24" x 32" pallet size which the small forklifts could handle. Either the block or brick were not palletized at all or they came in a variety of pallet sizes.
The impetus for expanded use of mechanized materials handling equipment came from a handful of progressive men who were impressed with the power buggy's cost-saving capabilities. On the West Coast, brothers Mike and Tom Simovich started the Champ Corporation in 1953 to supply towable vertical forklifts for rough terrain use. They soon found a ready market for their equipment among West Coast mason contractors as well as brick, block and building material suppliers.
In 1955, a progressive Cleveland mason contractor, Stan West, founded the West Brick Buggy Corporation and with it the West System of material handling. The West Brick Buggy differed from the conventional power buggy Continued on next page
Palletizing of materials on the job site in the early 50s, prior to gereral use of pallets and standardization of sizes.
MASONRY-MAY/JUNE, 1997 29