Gradall started producing its well-known excavator during the 1940's, during a time wherein World War II had caused a shortage of laborers. This decline in the work force brought a huge demand 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, Ray and Koop Ferwerda had moved to the USA from the Netherlands. They were partners in the firm which had become amongst the major highway contractors within Ohio. The Ferwerdas' started to make a machinery that will save their livelihoods and their business by making a model that will carry out what had before been physical slope work. This creation was to offset the gap left in the worksite when so many men had joined the army.
The first device these brothers invented had 2 beams set on a rotating platform and was attached directly onto the top of a truck. They utilized a telescopic cylinder in order to move the beams out and in. This enabled the fixed 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 that allowed the boom to rotate 45 degrees in either direction. This new unit could be outfitted with either a bucket or a blade 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 much work to be completed.
Not a long time after, many digging buckets became available on the market. These buckets came in 15 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and 60 inch sizes. There was additionally a 47 inch heavy-duty pavement removal bucket which was available as well.