Caterpillar Chronicle: History of the Greatest Earthmovers [Hardcover]

Eric C Orlemann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2000

With unprecedented access to Caterpillar archives, Eric Orlemann delivers the hard-working history of Caterpillar, from the earliest Best- and Holt-built steam traction engines up through today's massive earthmovers. Witness the post-war construction boom and see how these giant earthmoving machines grew and evolved to meet demand. CAT's incredible machines power through the pages of time to reveal the full and fascinating Caterpillar Chronicle.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: MBI (June 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760306672
• ISBN-13: 978-0760306673
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 10.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caterpillar Chronicle, July 13, 2000

By 

Jeff Solley (New Galilee, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caterpillar Chronicle: History of the Greatest Earthmovers (Hardcover)

Caterpillar Chronicle is another Eric Orlemann book that has hit the mark with pinpoint precision. Using his usual perfection and attention to small detail, Eric will take from the start with Holt and Best through today. To any person interested in the big iron this book will not disapoint.

The section on the development of the hi-drive D10 is full of information on how it was done and just what a gamble it was for Cat.

Prototypes-What an assortment. It's amazing to see all the different things that go on in product development, from the hi-drive D9G test machine to the mobil-trac batmobiles. Included in this section are numerous pictures of things that Cat tried and scrapped. Some of these contraptions make the hi-drive idea look tame.

Each turn of the page brings a new treat of Cat yellow. Some models you may have seen or even operated, and others you may never see but in pictures. A true pleasure.

If heavy equipment is your hobby, and Eric's name is on the cover, BUY THE BOOK!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If its Big and Yellow, its in here!, June 9, 2000

By 

Chris Frizell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caterpillar Chronicle: History of the Greatest Earthmovers (Hardcover)

Once again, Eric Orlemann has come up with the goods. "Caterpillar Chronicle" is a superbly illustrated volume full of wonderful photographs of all kinds of Caterpillar Machinery. A fan of Caterpillar for years, I found it a joy to turn each page in anticipation, to be rewarded with another stunning photograph.

From the "Best Steamer" to the massive Caterpillar 797 dump truck, "Caterpillar Chronicle" contains something for everyone who ever loved Caterpillar machinery. I found the photographs of the prototypes and pre-production machines especially interesting. To trace the history of the famous Cat D10 tractor through its development is one of the highlights of the book. I am sure that one could write a whole book devoted to the prototypes, one offs and the concepts that never made it to production.

The text is well written and tells the story of the history of these machines well, with lots of detail. The large format of the book is great, as well as its quality. Well bound and protected by its hard cover, it will be the centre of my collection for many years, and last as long as these wonderful machines.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caterpillar Chronicle, June 9, 2000

By 

Chris Frizell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caterpillar Chronicle: History of the Greatest Earthmovers (Hardcover)

Once again, Eric Orlemann has come up with the goods. "Caterpillar Chronicle" is a superbly illustrated volume full of wonderful photographs of all kinds of Caterpillar Machinery. A fan of Caterpillar for years, I found it a joy to turn each page in anticipation, to be rewarded with another stunning photograph. Dozers, Scrapers, Loaders, massive dump trucks, its all in here, richly illustrated with sensational photgraphs.

From the Best Steamer to the massive Caterpillar 797 dump truck, "Caterpillar Chronicle" contains something for everyone who ever loved Caterpillar machinery. I found the photographs of the prototypes and pre-production machines especially interesting. To trace the history of the famous Cat D10 tractor through its development is one of the highlights of the book. I am sure that one could write a whole book devoted to the prototypes, one offs and the concepts that never made it to production.

The text is well written and tells the story of the history of these machines well, with lots of detail. The large format of the book is great, and is of high quality. Well bound and presented, "Caterpillar Chronicle" will be the centrepiece of my book collection for many years to come.

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