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John, Thanks for the info. I will check into it. I appreciate everyone's help. At this point I wanted to update some of the people here ( New Jersey ) who were interested in this, so I passed this on to them tonight. Hopefully, I am somewhat accurate on what I have come up with. All, Those members who have visited the Swamp Monster may be interested in
some information I have dug up on that particular piece of equipment, and other pertinent info on it.
The Swamp Monster was manufactured by the "Unit" Crane and Shovel
Corporation of Waukesha (Milwaukee) Wisconsin, with offices or
manufacturing plants in other cities. They produced several different
models with different attachments on each one. Some were shovels, some
were cranes, and there is an attachment with a magnet to move around
scrap metal. So which particular model is ours?
In order to find that out, I took a photo of the serial number on a
recent visit there, and started asking questions. Here is what I have found. Up until 1946, Unit used a common number system for all of their
equipment, with the last piece made that year being serial number 2663. In 1947 they started using the last two digits of the year of completion
as the serial number prefix, which then would be followed by the
quantity number of the piece made to date. Here is the serial number of
the Monster: Link So given that number is 51802, we now know that it was produced in 1951.
I also learned that more than likely, it was built in November or
December of that year because the 802 is slightly less than the machines
built that year. I have not found out how many were actually built that
year. I also learned that the two model numbers were the 514 and the 614, but
I have not learned as of yet how that is determined. But from the
photo's I have of it there is a clear consensus that it is a 614 which
has a capacity of 5/8 of a yard. I would then assume that the 514 was
the smaller one, with a capacity of 1/2 yards, and the size determines
the model. Most of these units had the cab set a few feet above the deck gear hood
which made for good visibility. But why was it left there and when? If anyone knows that I would be
interested in that information. One would think that if it was new
machine, the owners would not have left it there, and would have had it
repaired if it had broke down. I have found out that this machine was
made at least until 1960, so there would have most likely been parts for
it available. Could it have been left there in the 60's?
Here is a photo of a keychain showing the pre 1950 model.
Link Guy
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