Another Mutant Model G

Iv never seen one of those before but it would shure turn short. And It is very cool!

I dunno - that just looks.......disturbing somehow.  Seems like you could put a pretty serious load on the frame / axles if you weren't careful.

It also has a shortened wheel base, must be a fantastic turning radius.

I wonder if those G's were used by the nestle company in Waverly for unloading rail cars way back when.

Edited by Scott(GA) - 21 Mar 2011 at 9:30pm

Scott, thanks for posting the photos.  This loader was mfged by Midwest (initially located in Maquoketa, Ia, then relocated to Clinton, Ia).  The initial application was unloading bulk fertilizer from railroad boxcars (as David mentioned); and the immediate market was eastern Iowa. Midwest developed the design (which included strengthening of the frame (Creek mentioned), did the manfacturing and much of the marketing (they had a Sales Mgr). Shortening the G approx 2' improved its maneuverablity.  The unit has live hydraulics (pump is driven be an external pulley secured to the motor crankshaft). My G has lifted a known 400# stone.  The above is from several conversations with the fellow who was Midwests plant mgr in the '50s.  I also visited with him after the Marshalltown, IA G.O.O. in July 1998; he was 86 then.  Herb 

Nestle would've been a likely user, but these little loaders, as well as those used on garden tractors (Kwik-Way, Johnson, Danuser, etc) were popular for cleaning out the aisles of dairy barns- they had muscle to lift heavy manure, and maneuverability... and the ability to fit through doorways that full-sized tractors could never do.

Early skid steers eventually replaced little loaders, however, once skidders went to ROPS, most old-style dairy barns became off limits, as visibility was hindered enough so that the skidder operator was highly likely to back into a post.  With dairy operations dropping off, and new dairy-handling methods being built, the need fell away... but a few of us still make good use of 'em.  I've got a full-hydraulic Johnson Workhorse 20 on my IH Cub Cadet, fabricated a seriously heavy-duty front axle with hydraulic power steering, and if I were cleaning out a dairy barn, I'd take it over a skid-steer any day of the week.

(oh, and I'm from Iowa, and I approve this message)


Edited by DaveKamp - 21 Mar 2011 at 9:56pm

Scott; the old plant mgr did not remember production numbers and would not make an estimate.  I am going to guess somewhere between 200 and 400.  I have seen them in PA, OH, IA, IL, KS, GA. 

Herb(GA) wrote: Scott; the old plant mgr did not remember production numbers and would not make an estimate.  I am going to guess somewhere between 200 and 400.  I have seen them in PA, OH, IA, IL, KS, GA.  At $3750, that unit at Dieke may be there for a while. Regards, HerbJr.

HagerAC wrote: Herb now you also know of one in MN.  I am not sure where my dad located ours, but it may be worth fixing up, but we used the transmission out of it along with some other parts for our standard G.