In the last two issues of Oliver Heritage we told you about Ware Machine Works’ successful loaders for the Oliver crawler and wheel tractors. There is more yet to tell. So pull up a chair and sit down while we tell you about Ware’s successful line of Hydro-Trenchers or more commonly known as backhoes.

Ware Model BH Series
Around 1949, Ware Machine introduced a large Hydro-Trencher known as the model BH, which was mounted on the Oliver 77 and 88 industrial tractors. Normally it was recommended that the tractor be equipped with dual rear wheels for additional flotation and stability to properly carry this heavy unit. The Hydro-Trencher actually more than doubled the weight of the bare tractor for a total operating weight of 16,000 pounds.

The boom and dipperstick was built of square and rectangular tubing. The boom featured a 200-degree swing, which was operated by two long hydraulic cylinders mounted on each side of the tractor extending all the way up to the front. They two cylinders were coupled to a heavy roller chain, which rotated the turret that was mounted on large bronze bushings. This early backhoe lacked the ability to curl the bucket hydraulically. This was a throwback from the earlier cable machines. Individual hydraulically controlled outriggers stabilized the tractor while digging. For some reason these were soon discontinued and replaced by a rear blade, which was also controlled by two individual cylinders for better stability. This backhoe was powered by a twenty GPM hydraulic pump and was able to dig up to a maximum depth of ten feet.

Read the rest of these facts go to issue #21 or order it off the site