Gradall started producing its famous excavator in the 1940's, during a time wherein the second World War had caused a shortage of laborers. This decline in the labor force brought a huge demand for the delicate work of finishing and grading highway projects.
A Cleveland, Ohio construction business referred to as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda faced this particular dilemma first hand. Two brothers, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had relocated to the United States from the Netherlands. They were partners in the business which had become amongst the major highway contractors within Ohio. The Ferwerdas' set out to build a machine that will save both their business and their livelihoods by making a unit which would do what had previously been physical slope work. This creation was to offset the gap left in the worksite when so many men had joined the army.
The brothers first invented a device which had 2 beams set on a rotating platform, which was connected on top of a used 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 pull or push dirt.
The Ferwerda brothers improved on their initial design by creating a triangular boom to create more power. Then, they added a tilt cylinder which allowed the boom to rotate 45 degrees in either direction. This new model can be outfitted with either a bucket or a blade 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 a lot of work to be finished.
Numerous digging buckets became available on the market not long after. These buckets in sizes varying from 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch buckets. There was also a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket which was offered too.