Gradall began producing its famous excavator during the 1940's, during a time in which World War II had caused a scarcity of workers. This decline in the labor force brought a huge need for the delicate work of grading and finishing highway projects.
Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda was a Cleveland, Ohio based construction company that experienced this particular problem first hand. Ray and Koop Ferwerda were brothers who had relocated from the Netherlands. They were partners in the business which had become one of the major highway contractors in Ohio. The Ferwerdas' set out to make an equipment that will save both their business and their livelihoods by inventing a model that would carry out what had previously been physical slope work. This creation was to offset the gap left in the workplace when so many men had joined the army.
The first device these brothers created had 2 beams set on a rotating platform and was fixed directly onto the top of a truck. They utilized a telescopic cylinder to move the beams out and in. This allowed the fixed blade at the end of the beams to pull or push dirt.
After a short time, the Ferwerda brothers improved on their initial design. They made a triangular boom to create more power. Then, they added a tilt cylinder which enabled the boom to rotate 45 degrees in either direction. This new model can be outfitted with either a blade or a bucket and the attachment movement was made possible by placing a cylinder at the rear of the boom. This design powered a long push rod and allowed a lot of work to be done.
Many digging buckets were introduced to the market not long after. These buckets in sizes varying from 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch buckets. There was additionally a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket which was also offered.