Thursday, February 23, 2023

1945 Monighan 200-W draglines were initially built in Chicago, IL

I have not been able to determine the location of the Chicago factories for either Monighan or Page.

PAmining posted
In 1945, Bucyrus-Monighan introduced the 6 cubic yard, 200-W walking dragline. This turned out to be a popular model, as over 50 machines were produced before the Monighan Chicago plant closed in 1958. Production was then transferred to the South Milwaukee plant, but no more 200-Ws were built.
 This particular unit was owned by Jader Fuels of Illinois, and is seen here idled in 1982.
Trevor Harbor: Hi All there were 3 of these machines in NSW Australia . used through out the state to construct irrigation channels. they were last used around the early 60's . There is a Town named Coleambally in NSW and the local community in the 80's restored 1 and it runs every 2yrs they have a local fair with the main event being the starting of the bucyrus,
Franz Sontag: Trevor Harbor is steam or electric over diesel

Dennis DeBruler commented on Franz's comment
I presume the fan and radiator on the back are for a diesel engine.
 https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m7!1e1!3m5...

Andrew Davidson, Jan 2018

And here is a predecessor for the 200-W.
PAmining posted
Just 1 of 8 built between 1926 and 1932, the Bucyrus Monighan 4-W was one of the first machines to sport the improved Martinson walking mechanism!
The 4-W weighed in around 230 tons, and was supplied with bucket capacities ranging from 3-5 cubic yards, and boom lengths anywhere from 80-120 feet.  
Matt Scarff: 230 ton machine to do less work than a 50 ton hydraulic excavator today. Nonetheless, these were impressive beasts in their day.
Desmond Poole: What engine powered these big guys?
PAmining: Desmond Poole 3 cylinder Fairbanks Morse.
Dan Konz: Look through this link. There are two photos of one of these digging the Loup Power Canal in Nebraska during the 30's. https://loup.com/wp-content/uploads/85History_1.pdf  The bucket is still at the northeast corner of Lake North near columbus NE.

Draglines are another example of "necessity is the mother of invention." John W. Page invented the dragline in 1904 to help him with a contract for work on the Chicago Canal. In 1907, Page placed an order with Monighan's Machine Works of Chicago for hoisting machinery. In 1908, Monighan changed the name to Monighan Machine Co. and started building draglines himself. "In 1913, a Monighan engineer named Oscar Martinson invented the first walking mechanism for a dragline....This gave Monighan a significant advantage over other draglines and the company prospered.... So popular were these machines that the name Monighan became a generic term for dragline.....Bucyrus purchased a controlling interest and the joint company became known as Bucyrus-Monighan until the formal merger in 1946." Draglines were like tractors and generators in that there were several manufatures of them when they were new but now there are only two. [liquisearch]

EquipmentJournal
Bucyrus-Erie 200W dragline at the Canada Cement Company plant in 1958
Page Engineering Ltd. was also based in Chicago in 1910 when Bucyrus started "manufacturing medium to large-sized draglines for surface mining operations." Bucyrus aquired Monighan in the 1930s to acess its dragline walking system.

PAmining posted
This diesel powered Bucyrus-Monighan 9-W uncovered anthracite coal on the side of the mountain, overlooking the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County PA about 70 years ago! 
Tim James: Is this a walking drag line? Looks like it from the picture.
Glen Kayser: Tim James yes it's a walker, and was a very popular one. I believe the diesel models originally had low rpm motors like Cooper Bessemer or maybe even a Fairbanks Morse.
David Stigall: fairbanks morse locomotive engine . guess who had to take the oil plug.
Alan Engnes: Boy that sure brings back memories! Back in the 60's worked on two Monigan's near Pella,Iowa. Both were powered by FairBanks Morse engines, and Cat D315 powered generators . One Fairbanks blew up and replaced it with a 6-110 Detroit. Remember the noise it created was off the charts compared to the constant thumping of the Fairbanks. Both machines worked 20 hours a day, 6 days a week. Both machines were scraped mid/ late 70's. Thanks again for the memories.





2 comments:

  1. 2135 Carrol ave chicago IL

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    1. Monighan Foundry was purchased by Noonan Malstrom in 1935

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