Gradall began producing its famous excavator during the 1940's, during a time in which the second World War had created a shortage of workers. This decline in the work force brought a huge need for the delicate work of finishing and grading highway projects.
A Cleveland, Ohio construction company known as Ferwerda-Werba-Ferwerda faced this specific dilemma first hand. Two brothers, Koop and Ray Ferwerda had moved to the USA from the Netherlands. They were partners in the business that had become amongst the major highway contractors within Ohio. The Ferwerdas' set out to build an equipment which will save their business and their livelihoods by making a unit that will carry out what had before been physical slope work. This creation was to offset the gap left in the workplace when lots of men had joined the army.
The first device these brothers invented had 2 beams set on a rotating platform and was connected directly onto the top of a truck. They utilized a telescopic cylinder to be able to move the beams in and out. This allowed the connected 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 strength. After that, they added a tilt cylinder which enabled the boom to turn forty-five degrees in either direction. This new unit 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 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 that was also available.